JPH10152219A - Conveyed material sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the generation of a sorting error by reading data of recording means, added every placing part, by a data reading means, and sorting conveyed material on the basis of read data. SOLUTION: A large number of received fruits and vegetables A are placed in a dispersing conveyor 2, and the respective fruits and vegetables A dispersed by the dispersing conveyor 2 are successively transferred onto each aligning conveyor 3. The fruits and vegetables A aligned by each aligning conveyor 3 are successively placed on each sorting conveyor 4. The grades of the respective fruits and vegetables are judged by a grade inspecting device 5 disposed in an inspection position (a) on the sorting conveyors 4. On the basis of the judgment, the respective fruits and vegetables A are discharged by grades to distributing conveyors 6 disposed in sorting positions b-f on the sorting conveyors 4, and off-specification fruits and vegetables A are discharged to a recovery conveyor 7 disposed in a sorting position (g).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, fruits and vegetables such as tangerines, apples, pears, persimmons, peaches, cucumbers, and eggplants, marine products, foods, electric appliances, parts and other articles, bags and boxes. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for sorting conveyed articles such as sorted packages.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables as in the above-mentioned example, for example, fruits and vegetables placed on each mounting portion of a sorting conveyor are imaged by an imaging camera, and the images are taken. Based on the image data, the class of each fruit and vegetable is individually determined by the determination device. There is a device that sorts each fruit and vegetable product placed on each placing portion according to the grade when moving to each sorting position corresponding to the determination, based on the determination by the determination device.

[0003]

However, the above-described sorting conveyor rotates a chain stretched between sprockets in a feed direction by a driving force of a feed motor, and a large number of bridges mounted on the chain are rotated. Each mounting part is made to rotate in the feed direction. At the same time, the rotation amount of the sprocket is detected by a detector such as a rotary encoder, and the moving distance of the chain is calculated based on the detection signal output from the detector. When it is determined that the movement distance to each sorting position stored in the determination device in advance and the movement distance of the chain are the same, the fruits and vegetables placed on each placement unit are released based on the determination. However, the moving distance is displaced by the gap generated at the meshing portion between the sprocket and the chain, and the longer the transport distance of the sorting conveyor, the greater the extension of the chain, and the moving distance calculated based on the detection by the detector, Due to an error in the movement distance of the chain, fruit products placed on each placing part may be erroneously released immediately before or immediately after passing through each sorting position, and each sorting corresponding to the judgment It is difficult to accurately release fruit and vegetables to the position, and there is a problem that many sorting errors occur.

[0004] Further, when the length of the entire length of the chain generated in the unit length is calculated to measure an appropriate moving distance until the fruit or vegetable reaches each sorting position, it takes time to process the data. Can not release each fruit and vegetable immediately. If the feeding speed by the sorting conveyor is increased, the sorting error as described above occurs, so that there is a problem that the sorting ability is limited.

In view of the above problems, the present invention reads data of recording means provided for each mounting section by data reading means and sorts the conveyed articles based on the read data. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transported product sorting apparatus capable of reliably preventing occurrence of the transported product and performing accurate and prompt sorting of the transported product.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A recording means for recording individual data corresponding to each of the placement sections is attached to the transport band or each of the placement sections, and an inspection position for inspecting the transported article and a sorting position for sorting the transported article, Data reading means for reading data of the recording means attached to each of the placing sections is provided, and the placing section is moved to a sorting position corresponding to the inspection based on the data read by the data reading section. It is characterized in that it is a conveyed goods sorting apparatus provided with a judging means for judging whether or not to drive the sorting means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the recording means is constituted by a recording body on which individual data can be written and read for each of the mounting portions,
The data reading means may be a conveyed article sorting device comprising data communication means for writing and / or reading data in a non-contact state with respect to a recording medium attached to each of the mounting portions.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the recording means is constituted by a bar code in which individual data is recorded for each of the mounting portions, and the data reading is performed. The means is a conveyed goods sorting apparatus comprising bar code reading means for reading bar code data attached to each of the mounting portions.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the recording means is constituted by a magnetic recording medium capable of writing and reading individual data for each of the mounting portions. The data reading means is a conveyed article sorting apparatus comprising magnetic reading means for writing and / or reading data to / from a magnetic recording medium provided for each of the mounting portions.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the recording means is constituted by an identification body on which individual data is recorded for each of the mounting portions, and the data reading is performed. Preferably, the means is a conveyed article sorting apparatus comprising identification body reading means for reading data of the identification body attached to each of the mounting portions.

[0011] The invention according to claim 6 is the above-described claim 1,
In addition to the configuration according to the second, third, fourth or fifth aspect, the above-mentioned mounting portion is formed by arranging a large number of rotating bodies at right angles to the feed direction on a transport side edge of an endless belt provided on one side of the transport path. A transporting material sorting apparatus, which is constructed so as to be capable of swinging up and down, and that each of the rotating bodies is arranged in the feed direction at an interval in which the transported material is placed between the rotating bodies. I do.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveyer sorting apparatus comprising:
Plates, dishes, bowls, etc., on each of the placement sections of the transport band, to place and transport the goods such as fruits and vegetables, goods, when the placement section is moved to the inspection position, Inspection is carried out by inspection means (for example, an imaging camera and visual observation of an operator) on the conveyed object placed on the mounting portion, and data reading means is opposed to recording means provided for each mounting portion, and the inspection is performed. The data corresponding to the inspection by means (for example, class, address, etc.) is recorded. Alternatively, the data recorded in the recording unit in advance and the inspection data are associated with each other and stored in the determination unit. When the receiver is moved to the sorting position, the data of the recording means attached to each receiver is read by the data reader, and based on the read data, the data is placed at the sorting position corresponding to the inspection. The determination unit determines whether the unit has been moved, and when it is determined that the unit matches the inspection, the sorting unit is driven to discharge the conveyed object placed on the mounting unit to the lower side or the side and perform the sorting process. In addition, the sorting operation of the conveyed articles can be performed accurately and quickly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the transported article sorting apparatus causes the recording medium provided for each mounting portion and the data communication means to face each other in a contact or non-contact state. (E.g., class, address) to send and receive data, so that it is determined that the placement unit and / or the transported object has been moved to the sorting position corresponding to the inspection based on the data of the recording medium read by the data communication means. The detection can be performed accurately and reliably, and the sorting operation can be performed accurately.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the conveyed article sorting apparatus causes the bar code reading means to face the bar code attached to each mounting portion in a contact or non-contact state. Bar code data (for example, an address), and stores the read data and inspection data in the determination means in association with each other. Therefore, based on the bar code data read by the bar code reading means, the sorting corresponding to the inspection is performed. It is possible to accurately and reliably detect that the placement section and / or the conveyed object has been moved to the position, and to perform the sorting operation accurately.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the function of the first aspect, the transported article sorting apparatus causes the magnetic reading means to contact or not contact the magnetic recording medium attached to each mounting portion. Therefore, it is possible to accurately and reliably detect that the receiver and / or the conveyed object has been moved to the sorting position corresponding to the inspection based on the data of the magnetic recording medium read by the magnetic reading means. As a result, the sorting operation can be performed accurately, and the data recorded on the magnetic recording medium can be rewritten according to the inspection status.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect, the transported article sorting apparatus causes the identification body reading means to face the identification body provided for each mounting portion in a contact or non-contact state. (E.g., characters, embosses, color arrangements, etc.), the placement unit and / or the conveyed object is moved to the sorting position corresponding to the inspection based on the data of the identification object read by the identification object reading means. Can be accurately and reliably detected, and the sorting operation can be performed accurately.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, the conveyed object sorting apparatus has a conveyed object placed thereon based on inspection by inspection means. Only the rotating body is swung up and down, and the transported object moved to the position corresponding to the inspection is released, so that the mounting posture of the transported object placed on each of the front and rear rotating bodies is displaced and other A malfunction of the rotating body can be prevented, and the work of sorting the conveyed goods can be accurately performed.

[0018]

According to the present invention, the data of the recording means attached to each mounting portion is read by the data reading means, and based on the read data, the data is moved to the sorting position corresponding to the inspection by the inspection means. Since it is determined whether the mounting portion has been moved, data processing for calculating the moving time and the moving distance of the mounting portion by the detection means such as a rotary encoder as in the conventional example is unnecessary, and the operation time required for the data processing is eliminated. Can be processed shortly and easily.

In addition, it is possible to accurately and reliably detect that the placement section and / or the transported object has been moved to the position corresponding to the inspection, and immediately discharge the transported article when the placement section is moved to the position. Therefore, erroneous release of the conveyed material immediately before or immediately after the sorting position can be reliably prevented, and the sorting operation can be performed accurately and quickly. In addition, the inspection data is recorded in the recording means attached to each mounting portion, or the data recorded in advance in the recording means and the inspection data are stored in the determination means in association with each other, so that the data is stored on the basis of the data. As a result, it is possible to carry out the sorting process of the conveyed product accurately, and it is possible to reliably prevent the sorting error from occurring.

Further, by making the recording means and the data reading means oppose each other in a non-contact state, writing and reading of data can be easily performed, and the location where the recording means is attached is not limited, and the installation condition or specification of the apparatus is not limited. Depending on the location, it can be selectively attached. Since data is written and / or read while the mounting portion is moved, the efficiency of the sorting operation and the processing capacity can be improved. Furthermore, only the rotating body on which the article is placed is swung up and down to release, so that the loading posture of the article placed before and after is displaced, and other rotating bodies may malfunction. Can be prevented, and the work of sorting the conveyed goods can be accurately performed.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The drawings show, as an example of a conveyed product, a conveyed product sorting device used for sorting fruit and vegetables by equal rank. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the conveyed product sorting device 1 is received. A large number of fruit vegetables A are placed on the dispersion conveyor 2, and the fruit vegetables A dispersed by the dispersion conveyor 2 are arranged.
Are sequentially transferred to the respective sorting conveyors 3..., And the fruits and vegetables A... Arranged by the respective sorting conveyors 3 are sequentially placed on the respective sorting conveyors 4. Each fruit and vegetable product A by the grade inspection device 5 arranged at the inspection position a on the sorting conveyor 4
Are determined, and on the basis of the determination, fruit and vegetable products A are released for each distribution class to each of the distribution conveyors 6 disposed at the respective sorting positions b to f on the sorting conveyor 4. ,
In this configuration, the non-standard fruit and vegetable A is released to the collection conveyor 7 disposed at the sorting position g.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the above-described sorting conveyor 4 has endless belts 18, 18 composed of, for example, chains, belts, etc., on the lower side of one side of the conveying path, and has a feed-side starting end and Sprockets 19,1 supported at the feed end
9, the sprockets 19, 19 have their shaft ends fixed to the rotation centers of the return plates 20, 20, and the sprockets are driven by the driving force of a feed motor 21 with a speed reducer disposed at the lower part on the starting end side. Via 22, 23 and the drive chain 24,
The endless belts 18, 18 and the return plates 20, 20 are rotated in the feed direction. In addition, each rotating body 25, which will be described later, is circulated in the feed direction faster than the feed speed of the alignment conveyor 3,
It is rotated back and forth by the rotating machine 56 disposed between the starting end of the feeding side and the inspection position a and between the front and rear inspection areas set in the inspection position a. The outer peripheral edges of the return plates 20, 20 are formed to have an outer diameter dimension at which the rotating bodies 25, which will be described later, are rotated and returned to a horizontal posture, and between the upper edges of the endless belts 18, each described later. The mounting members 26 are fixed at equal intervals in the feed direction.

The lower end of the mounting member 26 is
7 is pivotally mounted in the direction perpendicular to the feed direction, and the base end side shaft portion of the support shaft 28 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft support member 27 in the direction perpendicular to the feed direction. On the free end side shaft portion, a hollow or solid rotator 25 is freely rotatably supported, and a large number of rotators 25 are arranged at intervals before and after fruit and vegetables A are placed in the feed direction. They are arranged at a distance and are pivotally mounted so as to be able to swing up and down in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction.

A locking lever 29 is pivotally attached to the upper end of the mounting member 26 so as to be rotatable. Due to the elasticity of the spring member 30 which is compressed and loaded between the opposing surfaces of the mounting member 26 and the locking lever 29, Locking shaft 3 fixed to the upper end of shaft support member 27
1, the locking claw 32 formed at the distal end of the locking lever 29 is rotationally urged in the locking direction, and locked to the regulating shaft 33 fixed to the upper end of the mounting member 26 with the shaft support member 27. Lever 2
9, the rotation is restricted to a position where the locking shaft 31 and the locking claw 32 are locked. By locking and unlocking each other, the rotating body 25 swings up and down between the horizontal posture in which the fruit vegetables A are placed and the discharge posture in which the fruits and vegetables A are discharged. The restricting projection 34 formed on the lower end of the shaft support member 27 and the synthetic rubber contact member 35 fixed to the front end surface of the mounting member 26 are brought into contact with each other, and the rotating body 25 is swung obliquely downward. Regulations.

On the lower surface of the mounting member 26, support members 26a are vertically provided in correspondence with the rotating members 25, and on the lower surface of the support members 26a, recording members 63 described later are provided. …
Is fixed so that data can be written and read. Long lifting members 36, 36 are pivotally mounted on a support shaft 27a that supports the shaft supporting member 27 so as to be vertically swingable, and one lifting member 36 is provided with a lifting member 36 formed in a short shape. Connected. The lifting members 36 are formed or connected integrally with each other at intervals that are allowed to protrude and retract between the rotating bodies 25 and that have a shape and an interval at which the fruit vegetables A are supported in a horizontal posture. .

The above-described rotating body 25 and lifting member 36
Is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin, metal, wood, ceramics, or the like, and the whole of the rotating body 25 and each of the lifting members 36 or the portion that comes into contact with the fruit and vegetable A is made of, for example, synthetic rubber, soft resin, leather, By forming or covering with a member such as a cloth, it is possible to reliably prevent the fruit and vegetable A from being scratched. Further, by forming or covering with a member having a large contact resistance, it is possible to reliably prevent the fruit and vegetable A from being rotated by 180 degrees and the position and posture of the fruit and vegetable A from being displaced. The rotator 25 is formed in a shape having a large diameter from the outer peripheral surface at the central portion toward the outer peripheral surface at both ends, and is formed into a shape having the same outer diameter from the outer peripheral surface at one end toward the outer peripheral surface at the other end. You may.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lower edge of each lifting member 36 is engaged with a guide member 39 provided at the starting end on the feed side and the front-rear inspection area, respectively. , Each of the rotating bodies 25 in the horizontal posture
, The upper edge of each lifting member 36 projects slightly upward, and the height at which the fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 is pushed up. Is guided from the outer peripheral surface to a projecting position where at least a part or all of the fruit and vegetable product A floats in a non-contact state.

When each lifting member 36 falls off from the guide member 39, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper end of the lifting member 36 at the base end side contacts the supporting shaft 29a that supports the locking lever 29. Each lifting member 36 is slightly lower than the space between the rotating bodies 25 in the horizontal posture and between the rotating bodies 25 in the discharging posture.
, The height of which the fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 are pushed up, the height at which the fruit vegetables A are discharged in the discharge direction, and the immersion position at which the fruit vegetables A are inclined. The rotation is restricted. The guide member 39 is erected at a height such that the middle portion is horizontal in the feed direction, the starting end is inclined so as to gradually increase in the feed direction, and the rear end is gradually set in the feed direction. It is oblique so as to be lower.

The above-described class inspection apparatus 5 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the entire inspection position a set on the sorting conveyor 4 is surrounded by the light-shielding box 40, and the light-shielding cover 41 provided in the front inspection area in the light-shielding box 40 includes the upper periphery of the fruit and vegetable A. Imaging camera 45 facing the surface
Is arranged, and an imaging camera 46 is arranged opposite to the left peripheral surface thereof, and an imaging camera 47 is arranged inside the light shielding cover 42 opposite to the upper peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A. I have. In the light-shielding cover 43 disposed in the rear inspection area, fruit vegetables A
An imaging camera 48 is disposed facing the upper peripheral surface of the camera, and an imaging camera 49 is disposed facing the right peripheral surface thereof. An imaging camera 50 is disposed to face the camera.

The above-mentioned imaging cameras 45 to 50 are composed of, for example, imaging means such as a CCD camera and a picture element (CCD). Monitor 52 for projecting the image of A
And connected to. The determination device main body 51 is located at the inspection position a.
And each data communication device 6 arranged in the
, And each of the data communication devices 62 and the unlocking devices 55 arranged at the sorting positions b to g. The data communication devices 61 and 62 are connected to the determination device via the communication device 64. It is connected to the main body 51. The fruit vegetables A moved into the light-shielding covers 41 and 43 are illuminated by illuminators 53 composed of, for example, a halogen lamp or the like.
The fruits and vegetables A moved into the inside 44 are illuminated by illuminators 54.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the main body 51 of the determination device. The same device, for example, each of the imaging cameras 45 to 45 according to a program stored in a storage device such as a ROM.
50, the article detection sensor S, the communication device 64, and each of the lock releasers 55..., And when the data communication devices 61 and 62 face the recording body 63, for example, , And data corresponding to the sorting process of equal classes, addresses, and the like.

Article detection sensor S and data communication device 61
As shown in FIG. 3, each of the imaging cameras 45, 46 and the imaging area of the imaging camera 47, and each of the imaging cameras 48,
49 and the imaging area of the imaging camera 50, and each data communication device 61, 62 includes a recording body 63 attached to each rotating body 25, as shown in FIG. The article detection sensors S are provided at the respective positions a to g so as to face each other.
Is composed of, for example, optical detection means such as a light projection type sensor, a reflection type sensor, etc., detects the movement of the fruit and vegetable A placed between the rotating bodies 25... 51.

Each of the data communication devices 61 and 62 is constituted by communication means such as an optical communication device, a radio communication device, and an electromagnetic induction communication device, and faces the lower surface of the mounting member 26 moved to each of the positions a to g. At a position where the data can be written and read in a non-contact state with respect to the recording body 63 in a non-contact state. It is connected to the determination device main body 51 via a communication device 64 composed of a host computer or the like. When facing the recording body 63, the recorded data is read and output to the communication device 64. The data output from the communication device 64 is transmitted and recorded on the recording body 63. That is, based on the determination by the determination device main body 51, data output from the communication device 64 (for example, data corresponding to sorting processing such as equal rank, address, etc.) is transmitted to the recording body 63 in a non-contact state, and Write or read.

The recording body 63 is composed of a non-contact information recording device such as a magnetic card, a semiconductor element, an ID tag, and an electromagnetic induction tag. When the recording body 63 faces the data communication devices 61 and 62, the data is in a non-contact state. It transmits and receives data, outputs previously recorded data, and records new data. Further, the recording body 63 is fixed in a state in which data can be written and read on a support piece 26a suspended from the attachment member 26 or on the lower surface side of the attachment member 26. As another attachment method, for example, At the time of molding or assembly,
a whole or a part of the recording body 63 is embedded and fixed to the supporting member 26a, the recording body 63 is fixed to the supporting piece 26a by an adhesive or an adhesive, or is fixed by pressing with a screw member or a nail member. Alternatively, the recording body 63 may be provided so as to be able to be fitted or inserted into the support piece 26a.

The communication device 64 transmits, to the data communication devices 61 and 62, data corresponding to sorting processing such as, for example, equal classes and addresses, based on the determination by the determination device main body 51.
Data corresponding to the determination by the determination device main body 51 is readablely written and recorded on each of the recording bodies 63 attached to each of the rotating bodies 25. In addition, the data read by the data communication devices 61 and 62 are output to the determination device main body 51, and the determination device main body 51 outputs the fruits and vegetables placed between the rotating bodies 25 based on the read data. Determine the class of A.

At the inspection position a, based on the detection by the article detection sensor S, the fruits and vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 are imaged by the imaging cameras 45 to 50, and the cameras 45 to 50 are imaged. The class is inspected based on the image data picked up by 49, and the rot is inspected based on the image data picked up by the cameras 47 and 50. In other words, the image data is compared with the class and rotten grade data stored in the determination device body 51, and the grade (for example, color, sugar content, scratch, decay,
Outer diameter, shape, height, width, volume, flatness, maturity, non-equivalent class) are determined. At the same time, each rotating body 2
Data communication device 61 is attached to each recording body 63 attached to each 5.
Are transmitted and received in a non-contact state, and based on the determination made by the determination device main body 51, data corresponding to sorting processing of equal classes, addresses, etc. is output from the communication device 64 to the data communication device 61, and each record is output. Data is readablely recorded on the body 63.

At each of the sorting positions b to g, each rotating body 2
5 is provided with a data communication device 62 on each recording body 63.
Are transmitted and received in a non-contact state, the data recorded in each recording body 63... Is read by the data communication device 62, and the read data is output to the communication device 64.
Based on the data output from the communication device 64, the determination device main body 51 determines whether the data is data corresponding to each of the sorting positions b to g, and the fruit and vegetable A moves to each of the sorting positions b to g corresponding to the determination. , The unlocking devices 55 arranged at the sorting positions b to g are independently operated to swing only the rotating bodies 25 on which the fruit and vegetables A are placed to the release posture. On the other hand, when the data is different, the respective unlocking devices 55 are not operated, and the rotating members 25 are moved around in the horizontal posture.

The above-mentioned unlocking device 55 is moved to the sorting position b.
-G is disposed on one side, for example, an unlocking device 55 composed of an electromagnetic solenoid, an air cylinder, etc., and the unlocking device 55 is independently operated based on the determination by the class inspection device 5, The rear end of the locking lever 29 is continuously depressed by the release member 55a to release the locking of the locking shaft 31 of the shaft support member 27 and the locking claw 32 of the locking lever 29, and the fruit vegetable A is placed. Are rotated to the release posture. On the other hand, each rotating body 2
5 and each lifting member 36 are circulated while engaging with the outer peripheral edge of the return plates 20 and 20 to lock the locking shaft 31 and the locking claw 32, thereby moving the rotating bodies 25 horizontally. At the same time, the lifting member 36 is returned to the posture.
The lower edge is engaged to rotate and return to a substantially horizontal posture. The rotating bodies 25 may be rotated and returned by a return means such as a dead weight or a spring.

As shown in FIG. 8, the rotating machine 56 is disposed at a lower part in front of the inspection position a and at a lower part in the middle of the front and rear inspection area. A rotation imparting belt 57 formed of an elastic member having a large contact resistance, such as synthetic rubber, soft resin, or leather, is stretched in parallel with the feeding direction at a height and a position where the belt is pressed against the rotation imparting belt. Are stretched between the drum rolls 58, 58 pivotally supported at the feed-side start end and the feed-side end, and are driven by a rotation motor 59 with a reduction gear so as to coincide with the orbital direction of each of the rotating bodies 25. Is rotated at a high speed in the direction (more than the feed speed), or is rotated at a low speed or stopped in a direction opposite to the orbital direction, and the orbiting members 25... By doing, each of the rotating bodies 25 ... The peripheral speed difference occurring diameter peripheral surface portion and the large diameter side peripheral surface portion, it can be reversed in the longitudinal direction of the fruit vegetables product A large and small placed between the rollers 25 in the same region (e.g., 180 degrees). Since the rotating ends of the rotating bodies 25 are slightly lifted and rotated while being tilted to one side, the oblique or upright fruit vegetables A are tilted to a horizontal posture. As another rotation method, as shown in FIG.
7 are rotated while pressing against the rotation imparting pad 60 formed of the same member as that of the rotator 7 in the same manner as described above. Is rotated.

The illustrated embodiment is constructed as described above, and the operation of sorting a large number of fruits and vegetables A by equal classes by the conveyed goods sorting apparatus 1 will be described below. First, as shown in FIG. 1, a large number of fruits and vegetables A to be received are discharged to the dispersion conveyor 2 and
Each fruit and vegetable A ... dispersed by the conveyor 3 for each alignment ...
And the fruits and vegetables A arranged by the sorting conveyors 3 are transferred one by one to the sorting conveyors 4.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the rotating bodies 25 of the sorting conveyor 4 are rotated by the rotating machine 56, and the fruit and vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 are rotated in the front-rear direction. At the same time, the oblique or standing fruit vegetable A is turned over and transported in a fixed posture. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5, each lifting member 36... Projects slightly above the space between the rotating bodies 25. The large and small fruits and vegetables A conveyed while being sandwiched, oblique or standing upright are corrected to the horizontal posture.

Next, when each of the fruits and vegetables A is moved to the inspection position a, as shown in FIG. The front peripheral surface and the left peripheral surface of the vegetable Vegetable A are imaged by the imaging cameras 45 and 46, the front peripheral surface of the Fruit Vegetable A is captured by the imaging camera 47, and based on the captured image data, the fruits and vegetables are produced. Apparatus body 51 for determining the class of object A
Determined by At the same time, the data communication device 61 is brought into non-contact with each of the rotating bodies 25 on which the fruit and vegetables A are placed, and the recording bodies 63 attached to each of the rotating bodies 25. Data corresponding to the determination by 51 (for example, class, address, etc.) is transmitted from the communication device 64 to the data communication device 61, and the data is recorded on each recording body 63.

Next, the lifting members 36 are temporarily immersed, and the fruit vegetables A are placed between the rotating bodies 25 and transported.
Immediately after the front inspection area, the rotating bodies 25 are rotated by the rotating machine 56 in the same manner as described above, and the fruits and vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 are rotated in the front-rear direction and turned upside down. I do. After the reversal, the lifting members 36 are projected, the fruit vegetables A placed between the rotating bodies 25 are once lifted, and the fruit vegetables A are corrected to a horizontal posture (see FIG. 5).

Next, in the rear inspection area, based on the detection by the article detection sensor S, the back peripheral surface and the right peripheral surface of the fruit and vegetable A are imaged by the imaging cameras 48 and 49, and the fruit and vegetable A
Is imaged by the imaging camera 50 and the class of the fruit and vegetable product A is comprehensively determined by the determination device body 51 based on image data captured by the imaging cameras 45 to 50. At the same time, the data communication device 61 is brought into non-contact with each of the recording members 63 attached to each of the rotating members 25.
Data corresponding to the determination by the determination device body 51 (for example, class, address, etc.) is transmitted from the communication device 64 to the data communication device 61, and the data is recorded on each recording body 63.

Next, the lifting members 36 are immersed, and the fruit vegetables A corrected in the horizontal posture are conveyed while being placed between the rotating bodies 25. When each rotating body 25 is moved to each of the sorting positions b to g, as shown in FIG. 6, the data communication device 62 is brought into a non-contact state with each recording body 63 attached to each rotating body 25. The data recorded on each recording body 63... Is read by the data communication device 62, and the data is transmitted from the communication device 64 to the determination device main body 51. The judging device main body 51 has the sorting positions b to g corresponding to the inspection.
.. Has been moved, and when it is determined that each of the rotating bodies 25... Coincides with the inspection, the unlocking device 55 disposed at that position is actuated, and each of the rotating bodies 25 on which the fruit and vegetable A is placed is actuated. …
Only swings to the release position and releases. Hereinafter, similarly, based on the determination by the determination device main body 51, each of the sorting positions b to
g to be moved to g, each fruit vegetable A... is released by each rank, and each fruit vegetable A.
Are conveyed to the next step (for example, a box packing step) by each of the distribution conveyors 6 arranged in the same area, and each of the non-standard fruit and vegetables A ...
Is transported to the recovery step by the recovery conveyor 7 disposed at the sorting position g.

As described above, data is transmitted and received by the data communication devices 61 and 62 facing the recording members 63 attached to each of the rotating members 25 and the data transmitted and received by the data communication devices 61 and 62. , Each rotator 25 at each of the sorting positions b to g corresponding to the inspection by the determination device main body 51.
Is determined, the data processing for calculating the moving time and moving distance of each of the rotating bodies 25 by the detecting means such as the rotary encoder as in the conventional example is not required, and the operation time required for the data processing is reduced. Short and easy to process. In addition, it is possible to reliably detect that the rotating body 25 and / or the fruit and vegetable A have been moved to the position corresponding to the inspection, and to immediately release the fruit and vegetable A when the rotating body 25 is moved to that position, Improper release of fruit vegetables A immediately before or immediately after each of the sorting positions b to g can be reliably prevented, and the sorting operation of fruit vegetables A can be performed accurately and quickly.

Further, the recording medium 6 attached to the rotating body 25
Since the grade data of the fruit and vegetable A is recorded in No. 3, the fruit and vegetable A can be properly sorted based on the recorded data, and the sorting error can be reliably prevented. In addition, since the data communication devices 61 and 62 and the recording body 63 face each other in a non-contact state, writing and reading of data can be easily performed, and the location where the recording body 63 is attached is not limited. Can be selectively provided at any desired location. Since data is written or read while rotating each rotator 25..., The efficiency of the sorting operation and the processing capacity can be improved. Furthermore, since only the rotating bodies 25 on which the fruit and vegetables A are placed are swung up and down and released, the placement posture of the fruit and vegetables A placed before and after is displaced, and the other rotating bodies 25 are displaced. Can be prevented from malfunctioning, and the sorting operation of the fruit and vegetables A can be performed accurately.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show each bar code 66 attached to each rotating body 25 by optical bar code readers 65 arranged at respective positions a to g on the sorting conveyor 4. ... is read, and each fruit vegetable A based on the read
.. Show a sorting apparatus 1 for sorting articles according to the second class according to equal ranks.
Bar codes 6 (for example, addresses and numbers) set for each of the rotating bodies 25.
6 (for example, the detection body on which the barcode is printed is embedded, fixed, adhered and fixed by pressure.
Alternatively, screen printing, thermal transfer, or the like) is performed.

In the same manner as in the first embodiment, each fruit vegetable A is determined by the judging device main body 51 constituting the equal-grade inspection device 5 on the basis of the image data picked up by each of the imaging cameras 45 to 50.
The class of ... is determined. At the same time, the bar code readers 65... Disposed at the inspection position a and the bar codes 66... The barcode data read by 65 and the class data determined by the determination device main body 51 are stored in a RAM (not shown) in association with each other. The bar code readers 65... Arranged at the sorting positions b to g and the bar codes 66... Provided for the respective rotating bodies 25. The barcode data read by the reader 65 is compared with the barcode data stored in the determination device main body 51 to determine whether each of the rotating bodies 25 has been moved to each of the sorting positions b to g corresponding to the inspection. When it is determined that the result matches the inspection, each of the rotating bodies 25 on which the fruit and vegetable A is placed is swung to the release posture, and each fruit and vegetable A is sorted by the same rank. The same operational effects as the examples can be obtained. Since the configuration and the structure are simplified and the parts and the device are inexpensive as compared with the device of the first embodiment described above, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the above-described embodiment, the conveyed material of the present invention corresponds to the fruit and vegetable product A of the embodiment, and similarly, the conveyed belt corresponds to the sorting conveyor 4. The inspection means corresponds to the class inspection apparatus 5 and the imaging cameras 45 to 50, the determination means corresponds to the determination apparatus main body 51, the mounting section corresponds to the rotating body 25, and the sorting means corresponds to The recording means corresponds to the stop release device 55,
3, corresponding to the bar code 66, the magnetic recording body 68, the identification body 70, and the data reading means correspond to the data communication device 61, the bar code reader 65, the magnetic reading bed 67, the identification body reader 69, and perform the data communication. The means is a data communication device 6
1, the bar code reading means, the bar code reader 65, the magnetic reading means corresponds to the magnetic reading bed 67, and the identification body reading means corresponds to the identification body reader 6.
Although corresponding to No. 9, the present invention is not limited to only the configuration of the above-described embodiment.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, the recording body 63 or the barcode 66 is attached to the lower surface of the attachment member 26 constituting the sorting conveyor 4. For example,
As shown in FIG. 13, a recording body 63 or a bar code 66 is attached to a support piece 26 b erected on the upper surface side, the front end side, and the rear end side of the mounting member 26, and the end surface or the periphery of the rotating body 25 is provided. The recording body 63 or the barcode 66 may be attached to the surface, and the recording body 63 or the barcode 66 and the data communication device 61 or the barcode reader 65 face each other in a non-contact state to read data. Writing and / or reading can be easily performed, and the attachment location is not limited, and can be selectively attached to an arbitrary location according to the installation situation or specifications of the apparatus.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, each magnetic recording member 68, which can write and / or read data attached to each of the rotating members 25, is provided with each magnetic member disposed at each position a to g. Data is written and / or read with the read heads 67 facing the contact or non-contact state, or FIG.
For example, as shown in FIG.
Each position a is assigned to each of the identifiers 70, such as characters, embosses, and color schemes.
For example, the data may be read by contacting each of the identification body readers 69, such as CCD cameras, photoelectric sensors, etc., in contact or non-contact state, with the magnetic reading bed 67 and the identification body reader 69. Based on the obtained data, it is possible to reliably detect when the rotator 25 and the fruit and vegetable product A have been moved to the respective sorting positions b to g corresponding to the determination by the determination device main body 51, and the first and second above-mentioned. As in the embodiment, the sorting operation can be performed accurately and quickly.

Instead of the rotating body 25 described above, for example, the fruits and vegetables A may be transported by a mounting portion formed in a plate shape, a dish shape, a bowl shape, or the like. The shape and form of the part are not limited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of a transported article sorting apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a transport state of a sorting conveyor.

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing a mounted state of the recording medium and the data communication device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a mounted state of a recording medium.

FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the raising / lowering operation of the lifting member.

FIG. 6 is a rear view showing a state in which the rotating body and the lifting member are swung to a release posture.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an inspection method using a class inspection apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a rotation operation by a rotation imparting belt.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a rotation operation by a rotation applying pad.

FIG. 10 is a control circuit block diagram illustrating a control system of a determination device main body.

FIG. 11 is a rear view showing the bar code and its reader according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a lower perspective view showing a reading method using a barcode reader.

FIG. 13 is a rear view showing another attachment state of the recording medium and the data communication device.

FIG. 14 is a lower perspective view showing another reading method using a magnetic read head.

FIG. 15 is a lower perspective view showing another reading method by the identification body reader.

[Description of Signs] A: Fruit and Vegetable Products a: Inspection Positions b to g: Sorting Position 1: Conveyance Sorting Device 2: Dispersion Conveyor 3: Alignment Conveyor 4: Sorting Conveyor 5: Equivalent Class Inspection Device 6: Distribution Conveyor 7 ... Conveyor for collection 18 ... Endless belt 25 ... Rotating body 26 ... Mounting member 45-50 ... Imaging camera 51 ... Judgment device main body 55 ... Unlocker 56 ... Rotating machine 61,62 ... Data communication machine 63 ... Recording Body 64 Communication device 65 Bar code reader 66 Bar code 67 Magnetic read head 68 Magnetic recording body 69 Identification body reader 70 Identification body

Claims (6)

[Claims] An inspection means inspects each conveyed material placed on each mounting portion of the transporting band, and sorts each fruit product mounted on each mounting portion based on the inspection by the inspection means. A transporting device for sorting by a means, wherein a recording means for recording individual data corresponding to each of the placing sections is attached to the transporting band or each of the placing sections, and the transporting article is inspected. At the inspection position and at each sorting position for sorting the conveyed goods, data reading means for reading data of the recording means attached to each of the mounting portions is provided, and based on the data read by the data reading means, A conveyed article sorting apparatus provided with a judging means for judging whether or not the placing section has been moved to a sorting position corresponding to the inspection and driving the sorting means. 2. The recording means according to claim 1, wherein said recording means comprises a recording body capable of writing and reading individual data for each of said mounting portions, and said data reading means comprises a recording material provided for each of said mounting portions. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises data communication means for writing and / or reading data in a non-contact state. 3. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording means comprises a bar code on which individual data is recorded for each of the mounting portions, and the data reading means comprises a bar code data provided for each of the mounting portions. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises bar code reading means for reading the data. 4. The recording means is constituted by a magnetic recording medium capable of writing and reading individual data for each of the mounting portions,
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data reading means comprises magnetic reading means for writing and / or reading data to / from a magnetic recording medium provided for each of said mounting portions. 5. The recording means comprises an identification body on which individual data is recorded for each of the mounting sections, and the data reading means comprises data of an identification body provided for each of the mounting sections. 2. The apparatus for sorting conveyed articles according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises reading means for reading an object. 6. A mounting section, wherein a number of rotating bodies are erected on a transport side edge of an endless belt provided on one side of a transport path so as to be vertically swingable in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction. The transported goods sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotating bodies are arranged in the feed direction at intervals of fruit products placed between the rotating bodies.