JPH09175640A - Conveyance case and sorting device which uses it - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveyance case which can transmit and receive data by one data carrier by a simple configuration irrespective of the direction of a side face of the conveyance case and a sorting device which uses the conveyance case. SOLUTION: A conveyance case 20 which stores a cargo and moves on a conveyor to convey the cargo to a desired point has a conveyance case main body 21 which has a bottom face and four side faces and a boxlike shape, three antennas 27a to 27c which are provided at two corners of the conveyance case main body 21 orthogonally and are wound spirally, a connection wire 29 which connects three antennas 27a to 27c in series, and a data carrier 13 connected with the antennas 27a to 27c magnetically. As for the antennas 27a to 27c, one antenna is provided at one corner and two antennas are provided at an opposing corner of the conveyance case. Two antennas 27b, 27c are provided on adjacent side faces, and their mounting height is changed. The data carrier 13 is attached to one antenna 27a at one corner.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting device for sorting a plurality of packages based on data unique to packages such as a delivery destination, and a transport case for storing and transferring the packages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a product shipping process in a factory or a courier collection point, it is necessary to classify a large number of packages based on classification data such as destinations. Since an extremely large amount of labor is required, recently, a sorting apparatus which attaches data unique to the package to the package, reads the data, and automatically sorts is often used.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view schematically showing the structure of such a sorting device. As shown in FIG. 1, this sorting apparatus includes a main transport path 1 for transporting a transport case 5 in which luggage is stored, a plurality of branch transport paths 3 branched from the main transport path 1, and a main transport path 1. Transport case 5 transported over
An interrogator 7 which transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from a data carrier described later attached to the interrogator 7, and a controller 9 which comprehensively controls the sorting device based on the interrogation result by the interrogator 7. Has been done.

Then, the transport case 5 transported on the main transport path 1 has a diverter, a running scraper and a slide shoe (not shown) at a sorting point 11 between the main transport path 1 and the branch transport path 3. Is branched to each branch conveyance path 3 side. FIG. 11 shows a conventional transport case 5,
It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the interrogator 7 and the controller 9.

A data carrier 13 is attached to one side surface of the carrying case 5. Also, this data carrier 1
An interrogator 7 is arranged at a position facing the side surface to which the 3 is attached, and the interrogator 7 is connected to the controller 9. The data carrier 13 is based on the well-known electromagnetic coupling method. In the electromagnetic coupling method, the coil connected to the data carrier 13 and the coil on the interrogator 7 side are magnetically coupled, and communication is performed by transformer coupling using mutual induction.

This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, in the center of the data carrier 13, a storage unit for storing data specific to the package housed in the transport case 5 and an IC chip 15 serving as a transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving this data are mounted, and its peripheral portion. An antenna 17 for transmission and reception is swirled in a spiral shape.

Then, when the carrying case 5 accommodating the luggage is sent on the main carrying path 1 shown in FIG. 10, the data carrier 13 mounted on the carrying case 5 and the interrogator 7 are located at opposite positions. At, a coil (not shown) provided in the interrogator 7 and the antenna 17 are magnetically coupled, and data is transmitted from the interrogator 7 to the data carrier 13 side. And
This data is sent to the IC chip 15 via the antenna 17. On the contrary, the contents stored in the IC chip 15 are transmitted to the interrogator 7 via the antenna 17.

As a result, the controller 9 recognizes the destination of the carrying case 5 and switches the branch point 11 to branch the carrying case 5 to a desired branch carrying path 3.
In addition, when changing the destination of luggage or giving a name to this luggage, data is sent from the interrogator 7 and the IC chip 15
The process of writing in can be performed.

[0009]

However, in such a conventional carrying case 5, since the data carrier 13 is arranged on only one side surface, the direction of the side surface of the carrying case 5 must always be constant. .

If the side surface of the data carrier 13 attached to the data carrier 13 does not face the interrogator 7, data cannot be transmitted and the destination of the parcel contained in the carrying case 5 cannot be recognized. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 13, a method of arranging the data carrier 13 at the bottom of the carrier case 5 and arranging the interrogator 7 below the main carrier path 1 to communicate data. Was devised,
This method has a drawback that the data carrier 13 is easily damaged by the load.

There is also a method of arranging the data carriers 13 on all four side surfaces as shown in FIG. 14, but this method requires four data carriers 13 to be prepared, which is disadvantageous in terms of cost. . The present invention has been made in order to solve such conventional problems, and the purpose thereof is, regardless of the direction of the side surface of the carrying case,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a transport case capable of transmitting and receiving data with a single data carrier with a simple configuration, and a sorting device using this transport case.

[0012]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In a transport case for accommodating luggage and moving it on a conveyor to a desired point, a transport case body having a box shape having a bottom surface and four side surfaces, and two diagonal corners of the transport case body. The antenna has three spirally swirled antennas that are arranged, a connecting line that connects the three antennas in series, and a data carrier that is magnetically connected to the antenna. , Two antennas are provided at opposite corners of the transport case, and the two antennas are arranged on adjacent side surfaces and have different mounting heights.
The data carrier is characterized in that it is attached to one antenna at one corner.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sorting device in which a box-shaped transport case for storing luggage is placed on a conveyor and the conveyor is automatically controlled to transport the luggage to a desired point. The transport case according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission / reception unit, which is disposed in the vicinity of the conveyor and faces the data carrier or the antenna when the transport case is transported and transmits / receives data to / from the data carrier. It is what

(Operation) In the inventions according to claims 1 and 2, when the carrier case is conveyed to the transmitting / receiving means by the conveyor, the data carrier faces the transmitting / receiving means. The magnetic flux emitted from the transmitting / receiving means interlinks with the antenna, and an induced current flows through the antenna. Further, since the antenna and the antenna of the data carrier are magnetically coupled, as a result, the signal transmitted from the transmitting / receiving means is transmitted to the data carrier via the antenna, whereby the transmitting / receiving means is connected. It becomes possible to send and receive data to and from the data carrier.

Thus, the data such as the destination stored in the storage unit of the data carrier is read by the transmitting / receiving means, and the sorting work is performed between the main transport path and the branch transport path under the control of the controller. The parcel contained in the carrying case can be carried to a desired point. Of course, new data can be written in the storage unit of the data carrier.

Further, even if the direction of the carrier case is different and the transmitting / receiving means and other antennas face each other, since these antennas are connected via the connecting line, they face or are close to the antenna of the data carrier. An induced current also flows through the antenna located at, which enables data transmission / reception between the transmitting / receiving means and the data carrier.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a carrying case according to the present invention. Note that FIG.
The same parts as those of the devices, devices and parts shown in FIG. 12 are designated by the same reference numerals.

The carrying case 20 includes a carrying case body 21.
And the diagonal side surfaces 23a, 23 of the carrying case body 21.
Antennas 27a, 27 swirled in three spirals arranged in series at the corners of b, 23c via connecting wires 29
b, 27c, and a data carrier 13 which is added to the upper part or the vicinity of the antenna 27a and is magnetically connected to the antennas 27a, 27b, 27c.

The carrier case body 21 has a box-like shape having a bottom surface 25 and four side surfaces 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, and an open top. And the side surface 23
a and 23c are short side surfaces, and side surfaces 23b and 23d are long side surfaces. Each antenna 27a, 27b, 27c is
The wires are connected by a connecting wire 29 so as to be joined in series, and these wires are embedded inside the side surfaces of the carrying case main body 21.

Further, a data carrier 13 is arranged in parallel with the installation site of the antenna 27a. Then, the antenna 27a and the data carrier 13
The spiral antenna 17 is magnetically coupled.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a sorting apparatus according to the present invention using the transport case according to the present invention shown in FIG. The devices and equipment shown in FIGS.
The same parts as the parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a plurality of transport cases 20 (two in the figure for simplicity) are continuously transported on the main transport path 1. Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, when the transport case 20 is transported on the main transport path 1, any one of the data carrier 12 and the antennas 27b and 27c is responsive to the interrogator 7 regardless of the orientation of the transport case 20.
Into the transmittable / receivable range A. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the data carrier 1 attached to the carrying case 20.
3 is the transmittable / receivable range A of the question box 7 indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG.
When entering, the magnetic flux output from the question box 7 intersects with the antenna 17 of the data carrier 13 to perform transmission / reception by electromagnetic coupling.

As a result, the data such as the destination stored in the IC chip 15 of the data carrier 13 is transferred to the interrogator 7.
And the sorting work is performed between the main transport path 1 and the sub transport path 3 under the control of the controller 9 so that the parcels accommodated in the transport case 20 are transported to a desired point. Become. That is, the controller 9 recognizes the destination of the transport case 20 and switches the branch point 11 to branch the transport case 20 to a desired branch transport path 3.
In addition, when changing the destination of luggage or giving a name to this luggage, data is sent from the interrogator 7 and the IC chip 15
The writing process can be performed inside.

If the carrying case 20 has a different orientation,
When the interrogator 7 and the other antenna 27b or 27c face each other, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the magnetic flux of the interrogator 7 crosses the antenna 27b or 27c to generate an induced electromotive force, and the connecting line 29 Antenna 27a connected via
An induced current also flows. This current causes the antenna 27a
Generates a magnetic flux and is electromagnetically coupled data carrier 1
It is also transmitted to 3. Similarly, the response of the data carrier 13 is also returned to the interrogator 7 via the antennas 27a, 27b, 27c, and data can be transmitted and received.

At this time, the antennas 27b and 27c are the same as those shown in FIG.
Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the mounting heights are different, and the antennas 27a and 27c have the same mounting height. Therefore, even when the plurality of transport cases 20 are continuously transported at narrow intervals, the transport case 20 and the question box 7 can be accurately delivered.
It is possible to send and receive data to and from. FIG. 6 is a diagram when the transport cases 20 are continuous in the same direction, and FIG. Also, in FIG.
It is a figure when the direction is different.

In this way, according to the present embodiment,
Even when the plurality of transport cases 20 are continuously transported at narrow intervals, data can be transmitted and received accurately between the transport case 20 and the interrogator 7. 7 and 9
Shows a state where the carrying case 20 according to the present invention is approaching. 7 shows a case where the transport cases 20 shown in FIG. 1 approach each other, and FIG. 8 shows a case where the transport case 20 shown in FIG. 1 approaches the transport case 20 shown in FIG. 1 and the transport case 20 shown in FIG.

As can be understood from these, even when the transport cases 20 approach each other, when the data carrier 13 attached to one of the transport cases 20 is read or written by the interrogator 7, the transport cases 20 adjacent to each other. The data carrier 13 of is not read or written by mistake. Further, even when the side surfaces of the carrying case 20 are not in the same direction and are carried, data can be reliably transmitted.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a carrying case according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the antenna 27a is provided on the side surface 23d. In the above embodiment, the antenna 27b is replaced by the antenna 2 in FIG.
Antenna 27b is lower than 7c but antenna 27c
It may be higher.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Regardless of the carrying direction of the carrying case, one data carrier can reliably perform data communication between the carrying case and the transmitting / receiving means, so that the accuracy of data communication is improved and there is no misclassification. Sorting can be done. Further, even when a plurality of transport cases are continuously transported at narrow intervals, data communication between the transport cases and the transmitting / receiving means can be reliably performed, so that the accuracy of data communication is improved and no sorting error occurs. The effect is that reliable sorting can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a carrying case according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a sorting device according to the present invention and showing a state in which a plurality of transport cases are transported on a transport path.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a reading state of a data carrier according to an embodiment of the sorting apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a reading state of a data carrier of the sorting apparatus according to the present invention in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a reading range of a data carrier according to an embodiment of a sorting device according to the present invention.

6 is an explanatory diagram showing a reading range of a data carrier of the sorting apparatus according to the present invention in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a situation where the transport cases in FIG. 1 are close to each other.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a situation where the transport cases in FIG. 1 are close to each other.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a carrying case according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sorting device.

FIG. 11 is a conventional transport case and an interrogator for performing data communication with a data carrier of this transport case;
It is explanatory drawing which shows a controller.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of a data carrier.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the data carrier is arranged on the bottom surface of the carrying case.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which data carriers are arranged on each side surface of a carrying case.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 main carrier 3 branch carrier 7 interrogator (transmitter / receiver) 9 controller 11 sorting point 13 data carrier 15 IC chip 17 antenna 20 carrier case 21 carrier case body 23a-23d side 27a, 27b, 27c antenna 29 connection line

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transport case for accommodating luggage, which is moved on a conveyor to transport the luggage to a desired point, and a transport case body having a box shape having a bottom surface and four side surfaces, and a transport case body of the transport case body. The antenna has three spirally-wound antennas arranged in two diagonal corners, a connecting line connecting the three antennas in series, and a data carrier magnetically connected to the antenna. , One is provided at one corner and two are provided at opposite corners of the transport case, and the two antennas are arranged on adjacent side surfaces and have different mounting heights. A carrier case, which is attached to one antenna at a corner of the carrier. 2. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein a box-shaped transport case for accommodating luggage is placed on a conveyor, and the conveyor is automatically controlled to transport the luggage to a desired point. A sorting device comprising: a case and a transmitting / receiving unit which is disposed near a conveyor and faces a data carrier or an antenna when the transport case is transported and transmits / receives data to / from the data carrier.