JPH10188814A - Sorting method and device therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize simplification of a device and saving of the space, in a production line simultaneously manufacturing a plurality of cathode ray tubes with different sizes. SOLUTION: Between a trolley conveyer 22 conveying a panel 6 and a frame conveying conveyer 29 conveying a funnel 4, a single storage conveyer 23 is provided. In the upward of this storage conveyer 23, a second transfer loading device 26 conveying the panel 6 along this storage conveyer 23 is provided. By a first transfer loading device 25, the panel 6 is transferred from the trolley conveyer 22 to the storage conveyer 23. In the storage conveyer 23, the panel 6 is stored to be successively packed from an end part in the downstream. Corresponding to a size of the funnel 4 on the frame conveyer 29, in the second transfer loading device 26, the panel 6 of proper size is transferred to a positioning device 28 from the storage conveyer 23. In a third transfer loading device 27, the panel 6 is transferred from the positioning device 28 onto the funnel 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting method and an apparatus for extracting an appropriate object from a plurality of types of objects and loading the object onto an object to be loaded.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of this sorter, a sorter for a panel of a cathode ray tube as a workpiece will be described.

Conventionally, in a simultaneous mixed production line for manufacturing a plurality of cathode ray tubes of different sizes, if a jig or a cart for processing a panel or the like of a cathode ray tube is dedicated to the size of the panel or the like, a plurality of sorting lanes are required. In each lane, a panel of one size is stored in each lane, a desired panel is paid out from the storage, and the lane is mounted on a jig or a cart of a corresponding size and processed. As an example, a process including a plurality of jigs and a sorting device will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0004] In FIG. 8, reference numeral 1 denotes a sorting device. The sorting device 1 is placed on a dedicated-size sealing frame 3 at the entrance of a sealing furnace 2, and is conveyed on a frame conveyor 5. The panel 6 corresponding to the size of each funnel 4 is loaded on the plurality of funnels 4,
It is supplied to the sealing furnace 2.

[0005] First, when the panel 6 is conveyed by the conveyor of the conveyor 11 on the entrance side, information on the conveying tool such as the size of the panel 6, that is, a pipe type signal is read by a pipe type information reader (not shown). The pallet 12 waits at the position Pos.a at the entrance of the sorting device 1, and the transfer device 14 transfers the panel 6 from the conveyor 11 to each pallet 12.
Is loaded. The pallet 12 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a panel receiver 12a capable of holding and transporting a plurality of types, that is, multi-size panels 6, is provided, and a pipe type signal storage means 12b capable of storing a pipe type signal is provided. When loaded, the tube type signal is written into the tube type signal storage means 12b. The sorting apparatus 1 is provided with a sorting lane 17 dedicated to each size of the panel 6. Each pallet 12 is controlled by a pipe type signal reading device (not shown) at the entrance of the sorting lane 17. The seed signal is read and sorted into a desired sorting lane 17.

On the other hand, on the exit side, the sealing frame 3 is provided with a size identification flag, and the presence of the funnel 4 is detected by the flag and a sensor for detecting the funnel 4. When the funnel 4 is present, the pipe type signal is read into a control device (not shown). Then, under the control of the control device, the panel 6 having a desired size is paid out from the predetermined sorting lane 17. The panel 6 thus dispensed is transferred from the position Pos.b to the position Pos.c by the transfer device 16 at the entrance of the sealing furnace 2 and is mounted on the sealing frame 3 in advance. The funnel 4 is loaded on the funnel 4, and the funnel 4 and the panel 6 are combined and enter the sealing furnace 2. In addition, an empty pallet with the panel 6 transferred
Numeral 12 is conveyed to the storage side, and the panel 6 is loaded again to enter the sorting lane 6.

As described above, in a multi-product mixed production line,
Sorting lanes as many as the number of cathode ray tubes to be mounted 17
In a state where the panels 6 are sorted into the respective sorting lanes 17, desired panels 6 are paid out from the respective sorting lanes 17, loaded onto the funnels 4 by the transfer device 16, and transferred to the sealing furnace 2. It is supposed to enter.

[0008]

However, according to the sorting apparatus 1 described above, since one size panel 6 is put in and taken out of one sorting lane 17, sorting lanes 17 corresponding to the number of panels 6 in size are required. Become. Therefore, the sorting apparatus 1 in the mixed production of many kinds has a problem that the number of lanes increases as the number of kinds increases, so that the required space increases and the equipment cost increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a sorting method and an apparatus therefor which can realize low cost and space saving.

[0010]

The sorting method of the present invention comprises:
Sorting out of a plurality of types of conveyed objects to be conveyed, according to a plurality of types of conveyed objects to be conveyed, and loading the conveyed objects onto the object. Transferring the conveyed conveyed object to a sorting lane and storing it linearly, and storing the conveyed conveyed object in the stored conveyed object according to the conveyed loaded object. And a step of loading the object to be loaded onto the object to be loaded.

Further, the sorting apparatus of the present invention comprises a first transfer means for unloading a plurality of types of conveyed objects conveyed from an upstream process, and a storage device for linearly storing the unloaded conveyed objects. Sorting lane, control means for managing the transported objects stored in the sorting lane, and the control means arranged along the sorting lane and among the transported objects stored in the sorting lane. Is provided with a second transfer means for taking out the object to be transported specified by the present invention, and a third transfer means for loading the taken out object to be loaded onto the object to be loaded.

In this configuration, conveyed articles, such as semi-finished products and products, which are successively stored, are arranged in a straight line, and a desired semi-finished product or product is taken out therefrom and processed into a jig or a jig. By loading onto an object to be loaded such as a cart, the number of sorting lanes may be one, and it is not necessary to increase the number of sorting lanes even if the number of types increases.
Therefore, low cost and space saving are achieved.

The space is further reduced by performing the storage in a front-filling system in which the transported objects are packed and arranged from the downstream end of the sorting lane.

Further, by providing a positioning means for positioning the conveyed object taken out of the sorting lane by the second transfer means, accurate loading can be easily performed.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the sorting method and the apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 21 denotes a sorting device. The sorting device 21 includes a trolley conveyor 22 as a transport means on the receiving side (upstream side), one storage conveyor 23 as a conveyor forming a sorting lane, and a A first transfer device (transfer device) 25 as a first transfer device, a second transfer device (transfer device) 26 as a second transfer device, and a third transfer device A third transfer device (transfer device device) 27, a positioning device 28 as positioning means, and a frame base transfer conveyor 29 as transfer means on the unloading side (downstream side). In addition, the panel 6 as a conveyed object, the sealing frame 3,
The funnel 4 as the object to be loaded, the sealing furnace 2, and the like are the same as those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and are described with the same reference numerals.

On the storage side, as shown in FIG.
When the panel 6 is transported from the upstream process by the transport tool 22a provided on the trolley conveyor 22, the first transfer device 25 arranged at a predetermined position moves the panel 6 from the transport tool 22a to the panel 6.
Is unloaded to a position Pos.d near the upstream end of the storage conveyor 23, and stored in the storage conveyor 23, that is, stored. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this storage conveyor 23 is a so-called plastic chain conveyor of one lane.
A lifter 33 and a sensor (not shown) for detecting the size and presence or absence of the panel 6 are provided at each stop position of the stored panel 6.

Further, above the storage conveyor 23, a second transfer device 26 having a suction cup 26a movable in a height direction and a direction along the traveling direction of the storage conveyor 23 is arranged.

The positioning device 28 is disposed at the tip of the storage conveyor 23, that is, on the extension line on the downstream side, and can reciprocate between the position Pos.f and the position Pos.g. The positioning device 28 receives the panel 6 conveyed by the second transfer device 26 at a position Pos.f where the second transfer device unloads the panel 6, and the third transfer device 27 Pos.g for removing panel 6
And accurately positioned.

Then, the third transfer device 27 takes out the panel 6 positioned by the positioning device 28 from the position Pos.g, and seals the panel 6 at the predetermined position Pos.h of the frame base conveyor 29. The panel 6 is disposed on the funnel 4 of the frame base 3 so as to load the panel 6.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sealing frame 3 is provided with a flag 3a, and a frame reading device 29a and a funnel detecting means 29 provided adjacent to the frame conveying conveyor 29.
With b, the size of the sealing frame 3 and the presence or absence of the funnel 4 are read.

Further, these devices include, for example, a first transfer device 25, a storage conveyor 23, a lifter 33, a positioning device 28, a second transfer device 26, and a third transfer device.
27 is connected to and controlled by a control device (not shown) such as a computer.

Next, the operation of this device will be described.

First, with regard to the storage method, the panels 6 unloaded to the position Pos.d on the storage conveyor 23 by the first transfer device 25 are sequentially conveyed to the downstream side by the plastic chain conveyor 31 and are stuffed forward. Is stored in a system. That is, in the method of transporting the panel 6, as shown in a position A of FIG. 2, the panel 6 is lifted and driven in a state where the lifter 33 is raised and protruded from the transport surface of the plastic chain conveyor 31. The panel 6 is separated from the plastic chain conveyor 31 and stands by there. When the lifter 33 is lowered and the sealing surface of the panel 6 is brought into contact with the plastic chain conveyor 31 as shown in a position B in FIG.
Is transported forward. Then, when there is no other panel 6 in front of the unloaded panel 6, the control means advances the panel 6 as it is, and lifts and waits by the lifter 33 in a state where the panel 6 has reached the tip position Pos.e.

On the other hand, if the panel 6 is already waiting at the stop position in front of the panel 6, the panel 6 that is moving forward is lifted by the lifter 33 at the stop position before and stands by there. These controls are performed on each panel 6
Based on the data from the sensor provided at the stop position, the control device controls the lifter 33 to raise and lower so that the panel 6 is moved to the front position. And one after another panel 6
Is loaded and the storage conveyor 23 is full, that is, when the panel 6 is in a standby state at all the stop positions, the loading of the panel 6 by the first transfer device 25 is stopped.

On the other hand, as for the delivery, when the sealing frame 3 arrives at the position Pos.i which is one position before the position Pos.h which is the panel loading position, the frame frame reading device 29a
The size of the sealing frame 3 and the presence or absence of the funnel 4 are read by the flag 3a and the funnel detecting means 29b. Then, based on the information, the second transfer device 26 is driven, and among the plurality of and plural types of panels 6 that are linearly arranged on the storage conveyor 23 and are waiting,
The panel 6 of a desired size is taken out by the suction cup 26a, that is, sucked, lifted upward, transported downstream, and transported to the positioning device 28 waiting at the position Pos.f.
Then, the panel 6 conveyed to the positioning device 28 is positioned, is conveyed to the position Pos.g, and stands by while being accurately positioned. Next, when the sealing frame 3 arrives at the position Pos.h, the panel 6 is now positioned by the third transfer device 27.
The panel 6 is taken out from Pos.g, loaded onto the funnel 4 already mounted on the sealing frame 3, and assembled into the sealing furnace 2. In this way, the retrieval of the panel 6 is performed.

On the other hand, the panel 6 is moved by the second transfer device 26.
Is extracted, and when the stop position is vacant, the subsequent panel 6 is conveyed so as to be packed. This control is performed by the lifter 33 as described with reference to FIG. That is, the panel 6 is moved forward by lowering the lifter 33 to make contact with the plastic chain conveyor 31. Then, if there is another panel 6 in front of the moved panel 6, the lifter 33 is raised in a state where the moved panel 6 has arrived at the front stop position, and the panel 6 is separated from the plastic chain conveyor 31 to stand by. Let it. The panel 6 can be packed forward while repeating the vertical movement of the lifter 33. The size information of the panel 6 at each stop position is detected by a sensor (not shown) at each stop position, sent to the control device, and constantly updated. Or,
Using the tracking data that grasps the movement state of each panel 6, it is also possible to have the control device manage the information on the arrangement of the panels 6 of the storage conveyor 23 at all times.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the panels 6 (semi-finished products or products) that are successively stored are simply lined up in a straight line, from which the second transfer device 26 operates. After taking out the desired panel 6 and positioning it, the panel 6 is loaded onto a funnel 4 (a jig or a cart to be processed) mounted on the sealing frame 3, so that the type of the work (object) to be sorted is determined. Even if the number increases, it is not necessary to increase the number of sorting lanes as in the related art, and a single sorting lane may be used in order to take out a desired panel 6 from the linearly arranged panels 6. Therefore, the configuration can be simplified, the cost required for the equipment can be reduced, and the space can be saved. That is, it is possible to provide the sorting apparatus 21 which can sort semi-finished products and products and load them into jigs and carts at low cost and space saving.

For example, in this embodiment, if six panels 6 can be stored in the storage conveyor 23, one lane can store six different types of panels 6 in one lane.

Further, regarding the storage conveyor 23,
In order to control the place of the panel 6 taken out by the second transfer device 26 so as to send and fill the panel 6 in a front-justification system, the sorting device 21 is space-saving and has no waste.
Can be provided.

Further, by arranging the second transfer device 26 above and along the storage conveyor 23, the space can be further saved.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since only one sorting lane is required, the number of semi-finished products as conveyed objects that remain before processing can be reduced. For this reason, as in the present embodiment, the sorting device 21 is used in the manufacturing process of the cathode ray tube.
By applying the method, the temperature change of the semi-finished product during the residence time is small, and in particular, in the heat treatment process, stable processing can be performed, and the yield can be improved. That is, for example, by applying the method before a sealing process or before an exhaust process, which is a heating process, a stable process can be performed, and the quality can be improved.

In the above configuration, the panel 6 as the object to be conveyed has been described as being attached to the funnel 4 as the object to be loaded, but the object to be conveyed and the object to be loaded are applied to other configurations. You can also.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The second embodiment is a sorting device 45 for loading a cathode ray tube 42 having an exhaust thin tube 41 as an object to be loaded into an exhaust cart 44 as an object to be loaded. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the cathode ray tube 42 is configured by combining the panel 6 with the funnel 4. The diameter of the exhaust thin tube 41 varies depending on the diameter of the neck 4 a of the funnel 4. Since the parts for sealing 41 are also different, the exhaust cart 44 connected to the exhaust device 47 for exhausting is generally dedicated for each diameter of the neck 4a. Therefore, in the case of simultaneously producing cathode ray tubes 42 having different neck diameters even if the size of the panel 6 is the same, it is necessary to prepare a dedicated exhaust cart 44 for each diameter dimension of the neck 4a. And conventionally,
A plurality of sorting lanes are provided in front of the exhaust furnace, and a desired cathode ray tube 42 is paid out from the corresponding sorting lane and loaded into the exhaust cart 44 in accordance with each exhaust cart 44. And the configuration of the present invention applied to this part
This is a sorting device 45 shown in FIG.

The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In other words, the first transfer device (transfer device) (not shown) is arranged so that the cathode ray tube 42 conveyed by a trolley conveyor (not shown) is taken out of the sealing process, which is an upstream process. Then, the cathode ray tube 42 is unloaded at a position Pos.j which is the upstream end of the storage conveyor 53 of one lane constituting the sorting lane, and is stored, that is, stored. 7, the storage conveyor 53 includes a pair of belts 54 on both sides of the cathode ray tube 42, and a lifter 55 at each stop position of the cathode ray tube 42. And
As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the cathode ray tube 42 is conveyed by contacting the moving belt 54 by lowering the lifter 55, as shown in FIG. 7 (a).
Is lifted from the belt 54, that is, it is separated and stopped. And in this way,
The received cathode ray tube 42 is stored from the downstream side in a forward-justified manner. For example, when the leading cathode ray tube 42 arrives at the position Pos.k, it is lifted by the lifter 55 and waits. Each stop position of the storage conveyor 53 has a size sensor 55a for detecting the size of the cathode ray tube 42.
And a neck diameter sensor 55b for detecting a neck diameter. This size can be detected in the height direction of the cathode ray tube.

Above the storage conveyor 53, a second transfer device 57 provided with a suction cup 57a movable in the height direction and the traveling direction of the storage conveyor 53.
Is provided. Further, at the position Pos.l at the tip of the storage conveyor 53, a positioning device 58 is disposed at a position where the cathode ray tube 42 is unloaded by the second transfer device 57. And this positioning device 58
It reciprocates between Pos.l and Pos.m, and transports the cathode ray tube 42 loaded at the position Pos.l to the position Pos.m. Further, the cathode ray tube 42 transported and positioned at the position Pos.m
Is loaded onto the exhaust cart 44 located at the position Pos.n by a third transfer device (not shown).

The first transfer device, the storage conveyor 53, the lifter 55, the positioning device 58, the second transfer device 5
7. The third transfer device, the size sensor 55a, the neck diameter sensor 55b, and the like are connected to and controlled by a control device (not shown).

The operation of the sorting device 45 is the same as that of the first embodiment. The panel 6 becomes the cathode ray tube 42, the plastic chain conveyor 31 becomes the belt 54 on both sides, and At each stop position of the conveyor 53, the size sensor 55a and the neck diameter sensor 55b detect the size of the cathode ray tube 42 and the type information of the neck diameter, and store the information in the control device.
Also, the front-filling method of the storage conveyor 53 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the lifter 55 is moved up and down to
By bringing the cathode ray tube 42 into and out of contact with the 54, transport and stop are performed.

After the information of the exhaust cart 44 is read in advance, the desired cathode ray tube 42 is extracted from the storage conveyor 53 by the suction cup 57a of the second transfer device 57, and the position Pos .l after being loaded and positioned on the positioning device 58 of the position Pos.
m and moved to the position Po by a third transfer device (not shown).
It is loaded into the exhaust cart 44 located at sn.

The storage conveyor 53 is connected to a cathode ray tube.
Regarding the empty position where 42 was extracted, as above,
The lifter 55 is moved up and down by controlling the lifter 55, and the cathode ray tube 42 is sequentially conveyed so as to be front-justified.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the cathode ray tubes 42 successively stored are simply arranged in a straight line, and a desired cathode ray tube 42 is taken out therefrom by a transfer device. After positioning, it is loaded into the exhaust cart 44, so that even if the number of types of cathode ray tubes 42 increases, it is not necessary to increase the number of sorting lanes as in the past, and it is also possible to reduce the number of cathode ray tubes 42 that are linearly arranged. Of the cathode ray tube 42, the sorting lane may be one lane.
By controlling the cathode ray tube 42 to be sent in a front-justified manner even in a place where the 42 has been taken out and becomes empty, there is no waste of space, a low cost and a space-saving sorting device 45.
Can be provided.

[0043]

According to the present invention, an object to be transported is stored linearly, an appropriate object to be transported is taken out therefrom, and is loaded onto an object to be loaded. Even if the number of varieties increases, it is not necessary to increase the number of sorting lanes, so that low cost and space saving can be achieved.

The storage can be further space-saving by performing the storage in a front-filling system in which the transported objects are packed from the downstream end of the sorting lane and arranged.

Further, by providing positioning means for positioning the transferred object taken out from the sorting lane by the second transfer means, the transferred object can be easily and accurately loaded onto the loaded object.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a sorting device of the present invention. (A) is a plan view (b) is a side view

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a method of transporting an object to be transported by the sorting device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a trolley conveyor and a transport tool of the sorting device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a sealing frame of the sorting apparatus, and a panel and a funnel conveyed by the sealing frame.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a second embodiment of the sorting device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a cathode ray tube transported by the sorting device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a method of transporting the transported object by the sorting device. (A) Stopped state (b) Transportation state

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a conventional sorting device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a panel and a pallet of the conventional sorting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Funnel as Loaded Object 6 Panel as Loaded Object 21 Sorting Device 23 Storage Conveyor Constituting Sorting Lane 25 First Transferring Device as First Transferring Device 26 First Transferring Device as Second Transferring Device Second transfer device 27 Third transfer device as third transfer means 28 Positioning device as positioning means

Claims (6)

[Claims] An object to be transported is taken out of a plurality of types of conveyed objects conveyed in a mixed manner according to a plurality of types of conveyed objects conveyed in a mixed manner. A sorting method of loading the articles to be conveyed to a sorting lane and linearly storing the articles to be conveyed, and storing the articles according to the loaded articles to be conveyed. A sorting method comprising: a step of taking out a predetermined object to be transported from the objects to be transported; and a step of loading the object to be loaded onto the object to be loaded. 2. The sorting method according to claim 1, wherein the storage is performed by a front-filling method in which the conveyed objects are packed and arranged from a downstream end of the sorting lane. 3. A first transfer means for unloading a plurality of types of conveyed objects conveyed from an upstream process, a sorting lane for linearly storing the unloaded conveyed objects, and a sorting lane. Control means for managing the conveyed objects stored in the lane, and arranged along the sorting lane, from among the conveyed objects stored in the sorting lane, the conveyed object specified by the control means. A sorting apparatus, comprising: a second transfer unit that takes out a sheet; and a third transfer unit that loads the taken object to be loaded. 4. The sorting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means designates an object to be loaded for each of the objects to be loaded in which a plurality of types are mixedly transported. 5. The sorting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control means stores the articles to be conveyed in a front-loading manner in which the articles are packed from the downstream end of the sorting lane. 6. The sorting apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising positioning means for positioning the conveyed object taken out by the second transfer means.