JPH10250832A - Sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve sorting ability and minimize the whole device by fixing an article conveying means to an endless circulating means to move it, providing a sorting shelf with a plurality of sorting ports, and providing stopper mechanism having a stopper member advancing and retreating between a locking position and a non-locking position of articles on an article placing part. SOLUTION: When an article conveying means 3 is rotated into the tip position of each lead-in conveyor 17, articles conveyed by each lead-in conveyor 17 are transferred to each article placing part 2. The article placing part 2 with the article placed thereon is made to reach a sorting shelf 31 by an endless circulating means 1, and various articles are sorted to corresponding appropriate sorting boxes 5 according to the respective sorts. Sorting is performed by sending a driving signal from a computer to each stopper mechanism provided at each sorting port on the basis of sorting information read at the time of leading in the articles and driving the stopper mechanism into a locking position and a non-locking position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting apparatus for automatically arranging various articles on an article placing section in predetermined horizontal positions by circulating the article placing section infinitely in a horizontal direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a sorting apparatus, endless circulating means for infinitely circulating in a horizontal direction is rotated, and a plurality of article mounting portions are mounted on the infinite circulating means, and the article mounting portions are rotated. There is a configuration in which the articles on the article placing section are automatically sorted to appropriate places.

[0003] For example, a "horizontal rotary shelf-type sorting apparatus" described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-134442 has an endless upper guide rail and an endless lower guide rail which are vertically concentrically provided. Vertical shelves having rollers and wheels rolling along the lower guide rails are arranged and connected in multiple rows in the horizontal direction, and these shelves are horizontally connected by two sprockets arranged opposite to each other. Infinite circulation. Therefore, the shelf frame circulates and moves along the elliptical transfer path, and each shelf frame has a shelf plate.

[0004] Articles are loaded into the shelf by a loading device arranged in a linear portion of the transfer path. In addition, several sorting chutes are extended on the straight portion opposite to the loading surface, and rods and cylinders are arranged inside a shelf frame that circulates in an oval shape. .
Then, when the shelf frame is rotated to an appropriate sorting chute, the rod is extended, the shelf is inclined toward the sorting chute, and the articles on the shelf are selectively sent to the sorting chute for sorting.

[0005]

As described above, actual fairness 3
The apparatus described in JP-A-13442 not only has a complicated mechanism and structure, but also has a large sorting device and a large number of sorting chutes, because the sorting chutes are mounted obliquely and inclined. Therefore, there is a problem that the sorting processing ability is inferior. Furthermore,
Since the shelves are tilted and sorted, when sorting water-containing items (for example, pickles in plastic bags), the water adheres to the shelves,
There is a problem that it is not sent to the sorting chute. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, the purpose of which is simple, even if the article contains moisture,
An object of the present invention is to provide a sorting device capable of sorting at an appropriate place.

[0006]

The above object according to the present invention is achieved by the following constitutions. Infinite circulation means (1) for infinite circulation movement on horizontal transfer path
And an article placing portion (2), wherein the endless circulation means (1)
An article conveying means (3) fixedly moved to the container, a sorting shelf (31) having a plurality of rows of sorting ports (4) provided so as to be able to be positioned below the article placing portions (2), A stopper mechanism that is provided corresponding to each of the sorting ports (4) and has a stopper member (11) that moves back and forth between a locked position and a non-locked position of the article (A) on the article mounting portion (2). (6) A sorting device, comprising:

[0007] An infinite circulation means (1) for endlessly circulating in a horizontal transfer path, and an article mounting portion (2) are provided in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, and are fixedly moved to the infinite circulation means (1). An article transporting means (3), a sorting shelf (31) having a plurality of rows and a plurality of stages of sorting ports (4) provided so as to be able to be positioned below each of the article placing portions (2), and each of the sorting ports (4)
And a stopper mechanism (6) having a stopper member (11) for moving forward and backward between the locked position and the non-locked position of the article (A) on the article mounting portion (2). A sorting device, characterized in that:

[0008] Infinite circulation means (1) for infinite circulation movement on the horizontal transfer path, and an independently driven belt conveyor (2)
An article transporting means (3) having an article mounting portion (2) consisting of 2) and being fixedly moved by the endless circulation means (1).
And a sorting shelf (31) having a plurality of rows of sorting ports (4) provided so as to be able to be positioned below the article placement sections (2).

An infinite circulation means (1) for infinitely circulating in a horizontal transfer path, and an independently driven belt conveyor (2)
An article transporting means (3) having a plurality of article placement sections (2) composed of 2) in the vertical direction and fixedly moved by the endless circulation means (1); and each of the article placement sections ( A sorting shelf (31) having a plurality of rows and a plurality of stages of sorting ports (4) provided so as to be able to be positioned below 2).

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a schematic perspective view, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, and FIG. 3 is a partial explanatory view of a stopper mechanism.
The sorting apparatus according to the present embodiment has an infinite circulation means 1 for infinitely circulating and moving in a horizontal transfer path, and an article mounting portion 2 in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, and articles fixed and moved to the infinitely circulating means 1. A transporting means 3; a sorting shelf 31 having a plurality of rows and a plurality of stages of sorting ports 4; provided in correspondence with each of the sorting ports 4; And a stopper mechanism 6 which advances and retreats to the stop position.

The endless circulation means 1 has a driving sprocket 7 and a driven sprocket 8 arranged at a predetermined distance. An endless chain 9 is wound around the driving sprocket 7 and the driven sprocket 8 so as to be operatively connected to each other. The driven sprocket 8 is also driven via the chain 9 by the driving of the driving sprocket 7, and the chain 9
Circulates infinitely in a plane oval shape.

The article transporting means 3 includes a horizontally extending article mounting portion 2 on a rectangular front rotating plate 10 extending vertically.
Are provided at a plurality of stages at equal intervals in the vertical direction, and four stages are provided in the present embodiment. Then, a plurality of the article conveying means 3 are attached to the endless circulating means 1 and circulate infinitely by the endless circulating means 1.

The sorting box 5 constituting the sorting port 4 has a U-shape in front and has an open upper surface. The sorting boxes 5 are provided in a plurality of rows on both sides of the linear portion of the endless circulation means 1 and are provided in a plurality of stages at equal intervals in the vertical direction, in this embodiment, four stages. That is, the sorting shelves 5 have a frontal shape formed in a checkerboard shape, and are arranged so as to sandwich both sides of the endless circulation means 1.

The article placing section 2 of the article transport means 3 moves in a horizontal direction above each sorting box 5. Therefore, the sorting port 4 of the sorting box 5 is located below the article placing section 2 as the article placing section 2 moves. The stopper mechanism 6 is disposed above and corresponding to each sorting port 4, and mainly includes a stopper arm 11 bent in a V shape,
Air cylinder 1 for rotating this stopper arm 11
Consists of two. The stopper arm 11 is configured to rotate clockwise in FIG. 3 around a rotation shaft 13 provided at a bent portion, and a brush 14 is provided at the distal end of the distal arm portion 11a, and a proximal arm portion is provided. A contact piece 15 is provided at the tip of 11b.

The rod 16 of the air cylinder 12 is connected to the distal end of the base arm 11b.
Due to the expansion and contraction of 6, the stopper arm 11 rotates about the rotation shaft 13 as a fulcrum. The stopper arm 11 is a contact piece 15
The rotation is restricted by contacting the rotation preventing member 30.

By means of the stopper mechanism 6, the articles A on the article placement section 2 of the article transport means 3 described later are sorted by the sorting box 5
Sort into. When the articles A are sorted into the sorting box 5, the rod 16 is extended, the contact piece 15 contacts the detent member 30, the tip arm portion 11a of the stopper arm 11 is positioned vertically, and The brush 14 is in pressure contact with the article placement unit 2. That is, it rotates to the locking position for locking the article A. In this locked position, the article placing section 2 is moved rightward in FIG. 3 by the endless circulation means 1, so that only the article A is moved leftward by the stopper arm 11, and Fall and be sorted.

Further, the stopper mechanism 6 transfers the article A to the sorting box 5.
When the sorting is not performed, the rod 16 expands and contracts, and the distal end arm 11a of the stopper arm 11 is moved to the horizontal position. Rotate. In addition, four introduction conveyors 17 that can extend to each article placement part 2 of the article transporting means 3.
Is arranged.

In this embodiment constructed as described above, when the article conveying means 3 rotates to the leading end position of the introduction conveyor 17, the articles A conveyed by the introduction conveyors 17 are transferred to the article placing sections 2. Is done. The article placement section 2 on which the article A is placed reaches the sorting shelf 31 by the endless circulation means 1. Here, various articles A are sorted into appropriate sorting boxes 5 corresponding to the types of the articles according to the types of the articles. According to this, based on the sorting information read at the time of article introduction, a drive signal is sent from the computer to each of the stopper mechanisms 6 provided in each of the sorting ports 4, and as described above, the stopper mechanism 6 is disengaged from the locking position. Drive to the stop position and sort.

In the present embodiment, the article placement section 2 and the sorting box 5 are provided in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, so that the number of sorting increases and the sorting processing capacity is improved. By providing the brushes 14 in this manner, even thin articles such as slips can be sorted reliably. Further, in the present embodiment, four levels of the article placement sections 2 of the article transport means 3 and four levels of the sorting boxes 5 are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. In addition, the number of stages may be three or less or five or more. Further, a configuration without the brush 14 may be used.

FIG. 4 shows the article placement section 22 of the article transport means 3.
3 shows different embodiments of the present invention. Article placement part 22 of the present embodiment
Is composed of a small-sized belt conveyor, and the rotation direction of the belt conveyor is a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the article conveying means 3.
3 is attached. In this embodiment, the article placement units 22 having a plurality of stages, that is, four stages in the present embodiment, are attached to the rotating plate 10 at equal intervals in the vertical direction. The other configurations in the present embodiment are the same as those in the above embodiment. Therefore, the article placement section 22 on which the article A is placed reaches the sorting shelf 5 by the endless circulation means 1, and sends a drive signal from the computer to the motor 23 of each article placement section 22, so that the article placement section 22 is moved. Rotate to sort into appropriate sorting boxes 5.

Since the article placing section 22 of this embodiment is forcibly sorted by the belt conveyor, even if the article contains moisture, the sorting box 5 can be reliably placed.
Can be sorted. In the present embodiment, the four-stage article placement unit 22 is attached, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. In addition, the number of stages may be three or less or five or more.

FIG. 5 shows a different embodiment of the introduction conveyor 27, and the same components as those of the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the configuration and operation thereof are omitted. Article conveying means 3
The introduction conveyor 27 that can extend to each of the article placement sections 2 uses two introduction conveyors with a tilt function. The introduction conveyor 27 can move up and down.
In the present embodiment, the introduction conveyor 27 moves up and down, so that a small number of introduction conveyors 27 can be used to store a plurality of levels of the article placement units 2.
Article A can be transported.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, the article conveying means provided with the article placing portion is fixed to the infinite circulation means,
Since the article placement unit is configured to be moved above the sorting port and sorted, by arranging a large number of sorting ports, the number of sorting increases and not only the sorting processing capacity improves, but also the entire apparatus. Is reduced in size. In particular, in a configuration provided with a stopper mechanism having a stopper member that moves forward and backward between a locked position and a non-locked position on an article, or an article mounting portion including a belt conveyor, the article is forcibly sorted into a sorting port. Therefore, even if the article contains moisture, the articles can be sorted without fail. In addition, if the article placement section and the sorting port are provided in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, the number of sorting can be increased without increasing the size of the entire apparatus, and the sorting processing capacity is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory partial view of a position of a stopper mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a different embodiment of the article placement unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a different embodiment of the introduction conveyor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Infinite circulation means 2, 22 Article placement part 3 Article conveyance means 4 Sorting port 5 Sorting box 6 Stopper mechanism 11 Stopper arm 12 Air cylinder 17, 27 Introducing conveyor 31 Sorting shelf

Claims (4)

[Claims] An article conveying means (1) having an endless circulating means (1) for infinitely circulating and moving on a horizontal transfer path, and an article placing section (2), and being moved by being fixed to said endless circulating means (1). 3), a sorting shelf (31) having a plurality of rows of sorting ports (4) provided so as to be able to be positioned below each of the article placement sections (2), and the sorting ports (4). And a stopper mechanism (6) having a stopper member (11) provided to advance and retreat between the locked position and the non-locked position of the article (A) on the article mounting portion (2). Sorting equipment. 2. An endless circulating means (1) for infinitely circulating and moving on a horizontal transfer path; Article conveying means (3), and a sorting shelf (31) having a plurality of rows and a plurality of stages of sorting ports (4) provided so as to be able to be positioned below each of the article placement sections (2).
And a stopper member (11) provided corresponding to each of the sorting ports (4) and moving forward and backward between a locked position and a non-locked position of the article (A) on the article mounting portion (2). A sorting device comprising a stopper mechanism (6). 3. An endless circulating means (1) for endlessly circulating in a horizontal transfer path, and an article placing portion (2) comprising an independently driven belt conveyor (22). And an assortment shelf (31) having a plurality of rows of assortment ports (4) provided so as to be able to be positioned below each of the article placement sections (2). A sorting device comprising: 4. An endless circulating means (1) for endlessly circulating in a horizontal transfer path, and an article mounting portion (2) comprising an independently driven belt conveyor (22) in a plurality of vertical stages. Article transporting means (3) fixed and moved by endless circulation means (1)
And a sorting shelf (31) having a plurality of rows and a plurality of stages of sorting ports (4) provided so as to be able to be positioned below each of the article placement sections (2).
And a sorting device comprising: