JPH09175641A - 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, more than three antennas 27a to 27e which are arranged at least on two side faces in the vicinity of two diagonal corners on the bottom face and side faces of the conveyance case main body 21 and are wound spirally, a connection wire 29 which connects each antenna 27a to 27e in series, and a data carrier 13 which is attached in the vicinity of the antenna 27e positioned on the bottom face and is connected with the antenna 27e magnetically.

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. 6 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. An interrogator 7 that transmits and receives a wireless signal to and from a data carrier, which will be described later, attached to a transport case 5 that is transported on the top, and an interrogator 7 that comprehensively controls the sorting device based on the interrogation result by the interrogator 7. And the controller 9 for controlling

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. 7 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional transport case 5, interrogator 7, and 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 containing the parcel is sent on the main carrying path 1 shown in FIG. 6, 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. 9, 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. However, this method has a drawback that the arrangement of the interrogator 7 is troublesome.

There is also a method of arranging the data carriers 13 on all four side surfaces as shown in FIG. 10, but this method is disadvantageous in terms of cost because it is necessary to prepare four data carriers 13. . 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 transport the luggage to a desired point, a transport case body having a box shape having a bottom surface and four side surfaces, and a pair of bottom and side surfaces of the transport case body. Three or more spirally-wound antennas arranged on at least two side faces near two corners, a connecting line connecting each antenna in series, and an antenna attached near the antenna located on the bottom surface. It has a data carrier magnetically connected.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transport case for accommodating a parcel and transporting the parcel to a desired point by being moved on a conveyor and having a box shape having a ceiling surface, a bottom surface and four side surfaces. A case body, three or more spirally-wound antennas arranged on at least two side surfaces near two diagonal corners of the ceiling surface and side surfaces of the case body, and a connecting wire that connects each antenna in series. And a data carrier attached near the antenna located on the ceiling surface and magnetically connected to the antenna.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the carrying case according to the first or second aspect, the two antennas arranged near each corner have different mounting heights. According to a fourth 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. And a transmission / reception unit which is arranged in the vicinity of the conveyor and faces the data carrier or the antenna when the conveyance case is conveyed and transmits / receives data to / from the data carrier. It is characterized by.

(Operation) In the invention according to claims 1 to 4, when the carrying case is carried by the conveyor to the transmitting / receiving means, one of the antennas 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. Then, since each antenna is connected in series with the antenna on the bottom surface or the ceiling surface via the connection line, an induced current also flows through the antenna on the bottom surface or the ceiling surface. It becomes possible to send and receive data between them.

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. This carrying case can be carried to a desired point. Of course, new data can be written in the storage unit of 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 a configuration of an embodiment of a carrying case according to claim 1. FIG.
The same parts as those of the devices, devices and parts shown in FIG. 8 are designated by the same reference numerals. The transport case 20 is the transport case body 2
1 and the side surfaces 23a, 23b of the carrying case body 21,
Five spiral antennas 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d, 27e arranged in series on the corners of 23c, 23d and the bottom surface 23e via a connecting line 29, and the upper part or the vicinity of the antenna 27e. Antenna 27
e and a data carrier 13 that is magnetically connected.

The carrying case body 21 has bottom faces 23e and 4e.
It has a box-like shape having two side surfaces 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d, and the top is open. 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, 2
7d and 27e are connected by a connecting wire 29 so as to be joined in series, and these wires are connected to the carrying case main body 21.
Is embedded inside each side surface and bottom surface.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a sorting apparatus according to claim 3 using the carrying case according to claim 1 shown in FIG. The same parts as those of the devices, equipments and parts shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 are designated by the same reference numerals.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram 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, regardless of the orientation of the transport case 20, either antenna 27a, 2
7b, 27c, and 27d will face the interrogator 7 as a transmission means. Then, for example, when the antenna 27d of the transport case 20 and the interrogator 7 face each other, the magnetic flux output from the interrogator 7 interlinks with the antenna 27d, and an induced current flows through the antenna 27d. And the antenna 27d
3 is connected to the antenna 27e on the bottom surface 23e via the connection line 29, the induced current also flows to 27e, and the antenna 27e and the antenna 17 of the data carrier 13 are magnetically coupled to each other. When the antenna 27d is included in the readable range A by the interrogator 7, as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line, the signal transmitted from the interrogator 7 as a result is transmitted to the data carrier 13 via the antenna 27e. As a result, data can be transmitted and received between the interrogator 7 and the data carrier 13.

As a result, the data such as the destination stored in the IC chip 15 of the data carrier 13 is sent to the interrogator 7.
Then, the sorting work is performed between the main transport path 1 and the branch transport path 3 under the control of the controller 9, and the luggage of the transport case 20 is transported to a desired point. 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. Further, when the destination of the package is changed or the package is given a name, data can be sent from the interrogator 7 and written in the IC chip 15.

Further, the antennas 27a and 27d and the antenna 2
Since 7b and 27c have different mounting heights as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, magnetic coupling is weak even when the space between adjacent transport cases 20 is extremely narrow, and the other transport case is the other. It does not read 20 data. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the plurality of transport cases 2
Even when 0s are continuously conveyed at narrow intervals, data can be transmitted and received accurately between the conveyance case 20 and the interrogator 7.

Since the data carrier 13 is provided on the bottom surface 23e, the data carrier 13 will not be damaged even if the carrying case 20 collides with it. Furthermore, by providing the data carrier 13 in the strengthened part,
There is no risk of damage to the contents of the transport case 20.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the construction of an embodiment of the carrying case according to the second aspect. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a sorting apparatus according to claim 3 using the carrying case according to claim 2 shown in FIG. Since the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has the same configuration except that the antenna 27e in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is provided on the ceiling surface 23f, the details are omitted.

Also in this embodiment, it is possible to obtain the same effects as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS.
When the carrying direction of the carrying case 20 does not shift by 90 ° (when the carrying directions of the long side surface and the short side surface are fixed) and when the adjacent carrying cases 20 do not approach each other, the antenna 27a, 27d and antenna 27b,
The mounting height of 27c may be the same, or the antenna 27
Either a or 27d may be omitted. Similarly, either antenna 27b or 27c may be omitted.

[0026]

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 sorting is performed. You will be able to make reliable sorting without mistakes. Further, since the data carrier is provided on the bottom surface or the ceiling surface of the carrying case, it is possible to avoid an accident such as damage when the carrying case collides with other carrying cases or other objects.

[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 read range 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 configuration of another embodiment of a carrying case according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of another 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. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a sorting device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional transport case and an interrogator and a controller for performing data communication with a data carrier of this transport case.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of a data carrier.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the data carrier is arranged on the bottom surface of the transport case.

FIG. 10 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 Transport Path 3 Branch Transport Path 7 Interrogator (Transmitting / Receiving Means) 9 Controller 11 Sorting Point 13 Data Carrier 15 IC Chip 17 Antenna 20 Transport Case 21 Transport Case Body 23a-23c Side 23d Bottom 23e Ceiling 27a-27e Antenna 29 Connection line

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A transport case for accommodating parcels, which is moved on a conveyor to convey the parcels to a desired point, the transport case body having a box shape having a bottom surface and four side surfaces, and the transport case body. Three or more spirally-wound antennas arranged on at least two side faces near the two diagonal corners of the bottom face and side faces, a connection line that connects each antenna in series, and an antenna located on the bottom face. A carrying case, characterized in that it has a data carrier attached and magnetically connected to the antenna. 2. A transport case for accommodating luggage, which is moved on a conveyor to transport the luggage to a desired point, and a transport case main body having a box shape having a ceiling surface, a bottom surface and four side surfaces, and this transport Three or more spirally-wound antennas arranged on at least two side faces near the two diagonal corners of the case body and side faces, a connecting line that connects each antenna in series, and a position on the ceiling face And a data carrier that is attached near the antenna and is magnetically connected to the antenna. 3. The carrying case according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two antennas arranged near each corner have different mounting heights. 4. A sorting device, wherein 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. Any one of the carrying cases, and a transmission / reception means which is arranged in the vicinity of the conveyor, faces the data carrier or the antenna when the carrying case is carried, and transmits / receives data to / from the data carrier. Sorting device.