JPH1059532A - Article sorting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To promote sorting operation without stopping the overall sorting passage even if receipt of articles in excess of article storage capacity is conducted at a part within an article sorting passage. SOLUTION: Respective articles gathered at a plurality of passages are sorted and conveyed to a plurality of groups formed through the first sorting means 4, 5 to be sorted for each final purpose. When the load occupying ratio of at least one conveyance passage in respective groups out of respective conveyance passages 6, 7, 8, 9 from the first sorting means 4, 5 to the second sorting means 12, 14 is larger than its tolerance, the article is sorted by the first sorting means 4, 5 and to conveyance passage other than the above conveyance passage. The article sent outside the latter passage is returned to the first sorting means 4, 5 by recirculating conveyance means 16, 17 for re-sorting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article sorting method for sorting articles collected by a plurality of routes and sorting them according to purpose.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an article collection / delivery facility, articles received from trucks or the like are taken in a large number of receiving lines, and then the goods are inspected and collected into a small number of lines.
After that, each article is sorted out according to a predetermined destination and carried out. In this case, each of the received articles is provided with an arrival data display such as a barcode label, and the arrival status is managed by reading the arrival data.

The number of receiving lines varies depending on the scale of the facility. For example, the facility shown in FIG. 5 has a plurality of receiving lines 1 (1 ₁ to 1 _n ) and 2 (2 ₁ to 2 _n ) on the left and right. .
In this facility, each of the receiving lines 1 and 2 is integrated into one article transport flow. A scanner (not shown) for reading a barcode of a barcode label affixed to the luggage (article) 3 is provided in the subsequent flow, and the left and right primary sorters are sorted according to the barcode information read by the scanner. At 4 and 5, the sorting is performed in the direction of either the left or right sorting sorter 12, 14 having a cutout line to the delivery destination. When there are a large number of delivery destinations, a plurality of secondary sorting lines to the delivery destinations are provided like the sorters 12 and 14 for secondary sorting in this figure in order to increase the processing speed.

[0004] For example, the articles 3 sorted on the right side
Is transported to the merging sorter 10 by the storage lines (conveyors) 6 and 7. On the other hand, the articles 3 sorted on the left side are transported to the merging sorter 11 by the storage lines 8 and 9. When it reaches the merging sorter 10,
The sheets are arranged and sent to the secondary sorting sorter 12. In secondary sorting for sorter 12, reading of the bar code is performed by the scanner 18, and is discharged from every separate the cut line 13 (13 ₁ ~13 _n) on the basis of the bar code information. The articles 3 discharged from the cutting line 13 are loaded on a truck or the like.

On the other hand, when the articles 3 conveyed by the storage lines 8 and 9 reach the merging sorter 11, they are aligned and sent to the secondary sorting sorter 14. In secondary sorting for sorter 12, reading of the bar code is performed by the scanner 19, and is discharged from every separate the cut line 15 (15 ₁ ~15 _n) based on the information. The articles 3 discharged from the cutting line 15 are loaded on a truck or the like.

[0006] Here, the article 3 whose barcode has not been accurately read on the primary sorting side and the secondary sorting side.
In addition, for the articles 3 entering different lines, the articles 3 are passed through overflow lines 16 and 17 provided as recirculation conveying means provided after the secondary sorting sorters 12 and 14.
It is returned to the next sorters 4 and 5, and the same processing is performed from the beginning. In this example, the articles 3 sent from the secondary sorting sorter 12 to the overflow line 16 are returned to the primary sorting sorter 5, and the articles 3 sent from the secondary sorting sorter 14 to the overflow line 17 are primary. It is returned to the sorter 4 for sorting.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned conventional article sorting apparatus has the following problems. In other words, since the articles 3 conveyed by the storage lines 6 to 9 are conveyed in a certain number, they exceed the sorting capacity of the secondary sorting sorters 12 and 14,
The article 3 will stagnate on each storage line 6-9. Although the number of articles 3 conveyed to each of the storage lines 6 to 9 is different, the stagnation state progresses,
If any one of the storage lines 6 to 9 becomes full, it interferes with the sorting of the primary sorting sorters 4 and 5, and the primary sorting sorters 4 and 5 must be stopped. When the primary sorting sorters 4 and 5 are stopped, they are restarted after the articles 3 have been swept, but they also affect the arrival of the articles 3 itself, so that the normal operation state cannot be achieved in a short time. Due to a time delay, the efficiency of the entire apparatus was not good.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an article sorting method capable of performing sorting processing without stopping the apparatus as much as possible even if there is an arrival exceeding the storage capacity of the storage line.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object,
In the article sorting method for sorting articles collected by a plurality of routes according to purposes according to the present invention, the collected articles are sorted via the first sorting means in the direction of the second sorting means corresponding to the plurality of groups provided. Sorted and transported, the articles conveyed from the first sorting means are sorted by the second sorting means according to the final purpose, and the congestion amount of the articles for each transport path from the first sorting means to the second sorting means as the occupancy rate Detecting, and when the occupancy rate of at least one transport path in each group is greater than a predetermined allowable value for the transport path of each group to the second sorting means, the articles are transferred to the transport paths other than the group by the first sorting means. Articles sent to a path other than the path for sorting and final sorting are returned to the first sorting means by the recirculating transport means and re-sorted.

[0010] According to this configuration, in the event that an unknown destination item occurs due to an incorrectly inspected product or a wrong sorting, the recirculating transport means is used to return to the location of the inspected product. If more than the quantity of goods is delivered, the goods are conveyed to the recirculation conveyance means via another path until the conveyance path that exceeds the congestion limit becomes congestable, and always in the conveyance state Control to maintain

In the above configuration, when the sorting means has a large number of receiving lines and sorting destinations, a plurality of main lines for collecting articles from each receiving section can be provided as described in the prior art. In that case, the goods are distributed to the main line for sorting by the primary sorting sorter from each receiving part main line, and the merging sorter for collecting the goods from each primary sorting sorter is further divided in the main line for each sorting. A configuration may be provided.

In the present invention, the articles 3 actually existing before the sorter for the primary sorting and the sorter for the secondary sorting are detected and the length of the article row is calculated.
The stocking ratio, which is the ratio of the articles 3 actually staying in the line length before the next sorting sorter, is calculated.
When the occupancy rate exceeds the stagnable state, the article 3 is sent out to the recirculating / transporting means via another route. Therefore, even if articles exceeding the storable number are received in a part of the conveyance path, the conveyance of the sorting means is maintained without delaying the conveyance of the primary sorting means by maintaining the conveyance of the sorting means and delaying the sorting of some articles. It is possible to prevent the processing delay of the entire equipment.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A. Configuration of Article Sorting Apparatus FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an apparatus for performing the article sorting method of the present invention. The article sorting apparatus according to this embodiment has the same configuration as that of FIG. 5 as an example, and therefore, common portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Among them, the parts different from the prior art of FIG. 5 are the sorters 4 and 5 for primary sorting, the storage lines 6 to
The control between the 9 and 2 sorters 12 and 14 and the overflow lines 16 and 17 is described in the control device 30 shown in FIG.

B. Configuration of Control Device 30 As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 30 includes a control unit 31A and a storage unit 32A that control the right-side primary sorting sorter 4,
A control unit 31B and storage unit 32B for controlling the left-side primary sorting sorter 5, a control unit 31C and a storage unit 32C for controlling the right-side secondary sorting sorter 12, and a control unit for controlling the left-side secondary sorting sorter 14. 31D and a storage unit 32D. Each of the control units 31A to 31D transmits / receives a report such as a reading error of a barcode and a sorting status of the articles 3 via a serial line.

A control unit 31A for controlling the right-side primary sorting sorter 4 or a control unit 31B for controlling the left-side primary sorting sorter 5 receives sorting status data from each of the sorters, and further stores the storage lines 6-9. Calculates data (especially the occupancy rate in each storage line) relating to the carrying-in speed and the number of articles 3 stored in the storage line, and determines whether or not the articles 3 to be transported exceed the storage capacity of the storage lines 6 to 9. . Then, if it is determined that any of the storage lines 6 to 9 exceeds the allowable capacity, the control unit 31A or the control unit 31B intentionally ignores the predetermined direction and reduces the allowable capacity of the storage lines 6 to 9. The articles 3 are sorted by the primary sorting sorters 4 and 5 to the storage lines that are not over. And the right sorter 12 for secondary sorting
In addition, in the sorter 14 for the secondary sorting on the left side, a sorting direction error occurs, and the overflow line 16 is forcibly forced.
To be sent.

Here, in the case of the present embodiment, the occupancy ratio is a ratio of the length of the actual article storage row to the line length of each of the storage lines 6 to 9, and
And the secondary sorting sorter 1
Numerical values calculated as a set of storage lines flowing into each of 2 and 14 are obtained.

As described above, the transmission to the overflow line 16 due to the sorting direction error is the same as in the conventional control means, and each of the control units 31A to 31D inputs the bar code information read by the scanner and sorts the By controlling a mechanism unit (not shown) and determining that the input barcode information is incorrect, that is, determining that a barcode reading error or a sorting error of the article 3 has occurred, The corresponding article 3 is sent to the overflow line 16 or 17. Each storage unit 32A
In 32D, information such as the number of sorted articles 3 and the information on the articles 3 in which the reading of the barcode was missed is stored.

Here, the detection of the passage of the article 3 will be described. First, a plurality of sensors for detecting the passage of the article 3 are arranged in the sorters 4 and 5 for the primary sorting. These sensors are arranged at a position P0 near the entrance of the sorter, at a position P1 after sorting into the storage lines 6 to 9, and at a most downstream position P2 of the sorters 4 and 5. Further, a sensor for detecting the passage of the article 3 is also arranged at the most downstream position P3 of each of the storage lines 6 to 9. FIG. 1 representatively shows only the right-side primary sorting sorter 4 and the storage line 8, but other sorters and storage lines are similarly arranged.

At a position P0 near the entrance of the sorter 4, a bar code reading scanner is preferably disposed as a sensor. The articles 3 detected at this position are read at the sorting destination, and sorted by the right-side primary sorting sorter 4 into the corresponding storage lines 6 and 8. Further, each position P
The sensors P1, P2 and P3 detect the articles passing through the respective positions, and further measure the length of each article by using pulse-based sensing.
In 1A, the length of the storage row of the articles 3 existing between the positions is calculated.

C. Operation of Control Device 30 Since the operations of the control units 31A and 31B of the control device 30 are common, and the operations of the control units 31C and 31D are common, the operation of each of the control unit 31A and the control unit 31D Represent by description.

(I) Operation of Control Unit 31A FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 31A. First, in step S10, it is determined whether there is an output from the scanner. In this case, the barcode is read by a scanner provided at a position P0 near the entrance of the right-side primary sorting sorter 4, so that the scanner outputs barcode information. In this determination, when it is determined that there is a scanner output, the process proceeds to step S12, and the read barcode information is stored. The following description is based on the sorting information in the storage line 8 direction.

After the processing in step S12 is performed, before the articles 3 on which the scanner output is based in step S10 are sorted, the flow proceeds to step S14 to execute the processing. Here, regarding the storage line 8 indicated by the scanner output information, the unit time at this position is determined based on the value detected so far by the sensor arranged at the position P1 after sorting on the right-side primary sorting sorter 4. The transport amount per hit is calculated, and is compared with a preset maximum allowable value.
Proceed to 16.

Step S16 is also a process executed before the articles 3 which are the basis of the scanner output in step S10 are sorted, and the actual location in the storage line 8 obtained from each of the above scanner output information is determined. The load factor is calculated, and when it is determined that the load factor is smaller than the first predetermined value a, the process proceeds to step S17.

Step S17 is also a process executed before the articles 3 which are the basis of the scanner output in step S10 are sorted, and the storage lines 8 and 9 obtained from the respective scanner output information are obtained.
Are summed to obtain an inventory ratio for the left side secondary sorter 14 area, and if it is determined that this value is smaller than the second predetermined value b, the process proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the article 3 is in the corresponding direction, that is, the left side 2 connected to the storage line 8.
It is decided to sort to the next sorter 14 and sorted to the corresponding storage line.

From the calculated values of steps S16 and S17, the balance of the load ratio of the storage lines 8 and 9 in the direction of the left secondary sorter 14 is also derived.
In the case where the load is shifted to one storage line, for example, if the load is shifted to the storage line 8, the merging sorter 11 performs the merging control to increase the flow of articles from the storage line 8 having a large load, and performs the merging control. It is possible to suppress a further increase in the inventory of the storage line.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the transport amount per unit time is larger than the preset maximum allowable value, or if the actual occupancy rate is larger than the first predetermined value a in step S16. If it is determined, the sorters 4 and 5 for primary sorting may stop, so the process proceeds to step S20 for executing a flow to prevent this. When it is determined in step S17 that the actual occupancy rate is larger than the second predetermined value b,
It can be determined that there is a limit in the merging control described above, and it is more likely that the primary sorting sorters 4 and 5 will stop than if the occupancy rate of one of the storage lines exceeds a predetermined value. Step S for executing the prevention flow
Proceed to 20.

After step S20, step S20
Then, the accepting state of the storage line 6, which is a line other than the storage line indicated by the scanner output at 10, is determined. In this process, the same process as in step S14 is performed. If it is determined that the transport amount per unit time is smaller than the preset maximum allowable value, the process proceeds to step S22.

In step S22, the same processing as in step S16 is performed, and if it is determined that the actual occupancy rate on the storage line 6 is smaller than the first predetermined value a ', step S22 is performed.
The process proceeds to the step S23 for executing the same processing as the step S17.
In step S23, when it is determined that the occupancy rate in the direction of the right secondary sorter 12 is smaller than the second predetermined value b ', it is determined that the storage line 6 can accept the storage rate. Then, the process proceeds to step S24, where the articles 3 are sorted by the right primary sorting sorter 4 into the storage line 6, which is not the storage line specified by the scanner output in step S10.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that there is no scanner output, the process returns to step S10 to repeat the detection of the scanner output. If it is determined in step S20, step S22, or step S23 that each numerical value is larger than the allowable maximum value or the predetermined occupancy rate a ', b', the process proceeds to step S26, in which the sorting to the initial instruction direction is performed. Do.

(II) Operation of Control Unit 31D FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 31D. First, in step S40, it is determined whether there is a scanner output. In this case, a barcode is read by a scanner (not shown) provided on the entrance side of the left-side secondary sorting sorter 14, so that the scanner outputs barcode information. In this determination, when it is determined that there is an output of the scanner, the process proceeds to step S42, and it is determined whether the read barcode information is normal, that is, whether the barcode information is an article in a different direction.

If it is determined in this determination that the bar code information has not been read normally or that the article is in a different direction, the process proceeds to step S44, and the misread article 3 is sent to the overflow line 16. After performing this process, the process returns to step S40 to prepare for carrying in the next article.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the bar code information has been read normally, the process proceeds to step S46,
The read barcode information is stored. After this treatment, the process proceeds to step S48, the discharging from the cutout line 13 which is designated (13 ₁ to 13 _n) by reading bar code information. After performing this processing, the process returns to step S40,
Prepare for the next article. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S40 that there is no scanner output, the process returns to reading step S40.

As described above, the present invention provides an overflow line 1 for returning a corresponding article 3 to the input side of the primary sorting sorters 4 and 5 when a bar code reading error or the like occurs.
6, 17 are used. That is, when there is an arrival of articles 3 exceeding the capacity of each of the primary sorting sorters 4, 5 to the storage lines 6 to 9, the overflow lines 16, 17 using the lines not exceeding the capacity. The article 3 is sent out. Therefore, each one
Stopping the primary sorting sorters 4 and 5 because the articles 3 that exceed the capacity of the next sorting sorters 4 and 5 to the storage lines 6 to 9 are temporarily stored in the overflow lines 16 and 17. Therefore, the sorting process can be performed without any problem, and the efficiency of the apparatus can be improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.
Specifically, the following may be performed. (B) Continuously changing the delivery interval of the articles 3 until the stock ratio exceeds the capacity of each of the primary sorting sorters 4 and 5 to each of the storage lines 6 to 9 and falls below the capacity. You may make it transmit.

(B) In the embodiment, the article 3 from the right-side secondary sorting sorter 12 is returned to the input side of the left-side primary sorting sorter 5, and the article 3 from the left-side secondary sorting sorter 14 is returned to the right-side one. Returning to the input side of the next sorting sorter 4, the articles 3 from the right secondary sorting sorter 12 are returned to the input side of the right primary sorting sorter 4, and the articles from the left secondary sorting sorter 14. 3 may be returned to the input side of the left-side primary sorter 5.

(C) The line lengths of the primary sorting sorters 4, 5 and the line lengths of the storage lines 6, 7 are constant values, and these values control the secondary sorting sorters 12, 14. Storage unit 32 connected to control units 31C and 31D
C, 32D, but can be changed to the primary sorting sorters 4, 5 and the storage lines 6, 7 having different line lengths, and can be applied to the storage units 32C, 32D so that they can be applied to devices equipped with these. Rewriting may be performed. In this case, it is preferable to set the changeable coefficient according to each condition.

(D) In the embodiment, the apparatus is provided with the two sorters 4 and 5 for the primary sorting and the two sorters 12 and 14 for the secondary sorting, but is not limited to this configuration. Instead, for example, an apparatus including one sorter for primary sorting and two sorters for secondary sorting may be used.

(E) In step S26, while the storage lines 6 to 9 are almost full, the sorting is forced to the initial designated direction. By the control units 31C and 31D, the sorting of the secondary sorting sorters 12 and 14 can be all passed for a predetermined time, and the articles 3 can be sent to the overflow lines 16 and 17 and the sorting process can be performed again. . As a result, the overflow lines 16, 1
7 can be used, and stoppage of the primary sorting sorters 4 and 5 can be prevented.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Use recirculation transport means to return the goods subject to the mistake in the goods inspection or the mistakes in the sorting to the goods inspection or sorting department again, and if there is an incoming goods exceeding the holding capacity upstream of the sorting means, Since the articles are temporarily accommodated in the recirculating / transporting means so as to have the holding capacity or less, the sorting process can be performed without stopping the sorting means, and the efficiency of the apparatus can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an article sorting apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control device of the article sorting apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the article sorting apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the article sorting apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a conventional article sorting apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control device of a conventional article sorting apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Articles (articles) 4, 5 Primary sorting sorter (sorting means) 6, 7, 8, 9 Storage line (sorting means) 12, 14 Secondary sorting sorter (sorting means) 16, 17 Overflow line (transporting means) ) 30 control device (control means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] An article sorting method for sorting articles collected by a plurality of routes according to purpose, wherein each of the collected articles corresponds to a group provided with a plurality of second sorting means (12, 14). Sorting in the direction via the first sorting means (4, 5), and sorting the articles conveyed from the first sorting means (4, 5) according to the final purpose by the second sorting means (12, 14). From one sorting means (4,5) to the second sorting means (12,1)
For each of the transport routes (6, 7, 8, 9) up to 4), the amount of congestion of the articles is detected as the occupancy rate, and the transport routes (6, 7) of If the occupancy rate of at least one transport route in each of the groups is larger than a predetermined allowable value for the items (8) and (9), the articles are sorted to transport routes other than the group by the first sorting means (4, 5). The first sorting means (4, 5) recycles the articles sent to a route other than the final sorting purpose route by the recirculating transport means (16, 17).
A method for sorting articles, wherein the articles are returned to the factory for re-sorting.