JPH11128845A - Sorter and sorting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to sort articles which can roll down on a slope in a specific direction and articles, such as spherical balls, which can roll down in all directions without requiring removal means for separating non-spherical bodies from a device for sorting. SOLUTION: A drum 20 for sorting is freely rotatably supported by a leftward inclining body and is rotationally driven by a drive motor 16. The sorting outer peripheral part 12 of the drum 20 for sorting is provided evenly with many grooved guide paths 18 in approximately the axial direction of the opening on an outer peripheral side. The spherical balls 24 among the articles to be sorted which are supplied into a sorting section 20 and are introduced into the grooved guide paths 18 roll down on the grooved guide paths 18 and flow out of the bottom end thereof. These spherical balls are accepted in a spherical ball receiving section 30. The connected shape bodies 26 connected with the spherical balls among the articles to be sorted which are introduced into the grooved guide paths 18 are aligned in their longitudinal direction toward the grooved guide paths 18 and cannot, therefore, roll down and move forward together with the rotation of the drum 20 for sorting. These bodies are all automatically discharged from the openings in mid-way of the grooved guide paths 18 and are housed into a non-spherical body housing box section 34.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting apparatus and a sorting method for sorting articles according to the speed at which articles move down an inclined portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a case where an article to be sorted is a mixture of a small-sized spherical body and a non-spherical body, and the sorting is performed according to the speed of descending the inclined portion. The articles to be sorted are supplied onto the inclined rotating disk, the spherical body rolls down on the inclined rotating disk, and the non-spherical body moves along with the rotation on the inclined rotating disk.

When the sorting is performed in this manner, the spherical body rolls down on the inclined rotating disk and separates, but the non-spherical body is difficult to separate from the inclined rotating disk. In order to remove from the board, a removing means such as an air blow was required. In addition, a connected body or an ellipsoid having a shape obtained by connecting two spherical bodies can be rolled down on an inclined surface in a specific direction. It was difficult to do.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and has as its object to remove a non-spherical body from a sorting apparatus. Provided is a sorting device and a sorting method which do not require any means and can sort an article which can roll down on an inclined surface in a specific direction and an article which can roll down in any direction such as a spherical body. Is to do.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sorting apparatus having an endless band-shaped sorting outer peripheral portion, wherein the sorting outer peripheral portion has a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction continuous with the endless band shape. A sorting member comprising a large number of groove-shaped guide paths which are opened in the outer peripheral side in parallel, and a driving means for circulating the selecting outer peripheral portion of the selecting member in a direction continuous in an endless band shape. At the same time, in the process of circulating the sorting outer peripheral portion, the sorting section in which the opening of the groove-shaped guide path faces upward or obliquely upward and each groove-shaped guide path is inclined downward toward one end, Or a section facing downward (claim 1).

Preferably, the sorting member has a substantially cylindrical outer peripheral portion as an endless belt-shaped selecting outer peripheral portion, and is rotatably supported around its axis. .

[0007] In this case, as a sorting member, for example,
A cylindrical body, a cylindrical body, a hollow cylindrical body, or the like can be used. In any of these examples, the substantially cylindrical outer peripheral portion is an endless band-shaped sorting outer peripheral portion, and the sorting outer peripheral portion has a substantially axial direction opening toward the outer peripheral side (that is, a direction substantially continuous with the endless band shape continuous direction). A large number of groove-shaped guide paths (vertical direction) are provided in a state of being arranged in a circumferential direction (that is, a direction continuous in an endless band shape).

[0008] The sorting member may have a substantially truncated cone-shaped outer peripheral portion as an endless belt-shaped sorting outer peripheral portion, and may be rotatably supported around its axis.

[0009] In this case, as a sorting member, for example,
A cylindrical body having a substantially frustoconical outer peripheral portion, a solid body or a hollow body having a substantially frustoconical shape can be used. In each of these examples, the substantially truncated cone-shaped outer peripheral portion is an endless band-shaped sorting outer peripheral portion, and the selected outer peripheral portion has a substantially generatrix direction opening on the outer peripheral side (that is, a direction substantially continuous with the endless band shape). A large number of groove-shaped guide paths (vertical direction) are provided in a state of being arranged in a circumferential direction (that is, a direction continuous in an endless band shape).

As another example of the sorting member, there is an endless belt-like body. In this case, the outer peripheral portion of the endless belt-shaped body is an endless belt-shaped sorting outer peripheral portion, and the selected outer peripheral portion has a substantially width direction opening on the outer peripheral side (ie, a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction continuous with the endless belt shape). A large number of groove-shaped guide paths are provided in a state in which the endless belt-shaped bodies are arranged in parallel in a continuous direction.

[0011] The groove-shaped guideway rolls in a sorting section in which the opening of the groove-shaped guideway faces upward or obliquely upward and each groove-shaped guideway is inclined downward toward one end. Alternatively, it is desirable to be able to sort the articles to be sorted with high certainty by the speed of descending by sliding. That is, an article whose descending speed in the groove-shaped guideway is faster than a certain level,
Articles which descend down the grooved guideway to the lower end and are discharged from the lower end with high certainty, and the descent speed in the grooved guideway is 0 or slower than a certain degree, do not descend the grooved guideway to the lower end. From the section where the opening of the grooved guideway faces obliquely upward to the section where it faces horizontally or obliquely downward, the lower part of the circulation movement of the outer periphery of the sorting is discharged from the opening in the middle of the grooved guideway with high certainty. It is desirable to be done. The poor are those who are willing to go.

The groove-shaped guide path is preferably straight. In particular, when the sorting member has a substantially cylindrical outer peripheral portion as an endless band-shaped sorting outer peripheral portion, it is preferable that the selecting member be a straight line parallel to the axis of the substantially cylindrical outer peripheral portion.

[0013] The shape of the groove-shaped guide path, particularly the cross-sectional shape, may be, for example, a connected shape in which two or more spheres are connected in a plurality of substantially fixed spheres, When an ellipsoid or the like having a minor axis substantially equal to the diameter of the spherical body is mixed, the spherical body is deep enough to descend (roll in this case) along the groove-shaped guide path, and the groove-shaped guide is formed. The second selected article overlapping in the depth direction of the path is shallow enough to be located outside the grooved guideway (more preferably, between the two selected articles in contact in the grooved guideway). (The depth is so small that the articles to be overlapped on the opening side are located outside the grooved guideway), and the width is so narrow that two or more articles to be selected cannot form a bridge. .

Conversely, regarding the articles to be sorted, the relationship with respect to the groove-shaped guide path can be exactly the opposite of the relation with the groove-shaped guide path with respect to the article to be sorted. For example, the article to be sorted is a mixture of a plurality of substantially constant spherical bodies, a connected shape body in which two or more spherical bodies are connected, an elliptical body having a minor axis substantially equal to the diameter of the spherical body, or the like. In this case, the diameter of the spherical body is small enough to descend (roll in this case) along the grooved guideway,
In addition, the second selected article overlapping in the depth direction of the groove-shaped guide path has a diameter large enough to be located outside the groove-shaped guide path (more preferably, two pieces which are adjacent to each other in the groove-shaped guide path). The diameter is large enough that the selected articles overlapping the opening side between the selected articles are located outside the grooved guideway), and the diameter is large enough that two or more selected articles cannot form a bridge. Preferably, it is

[0015] Such articles to be sorted include, for example,
Articles in which the smallest dimension among dimensions in all directions is within a predetermined range can be given. The supply of such an article can be realized by, for example, preliminarily selecting, from articles that have fallen into the parallel gaps at a predetermined interval, those that have not fallen into the parallel gaps at a slightly larger interval. .

Further, for example, the article to be sorted includes a plurality of substantially constant disc-shaped bodies, the fixed disc-shaped bodies, and the disc-shaped bodies at positions where the disc-shaped bodies are translated by a small distance in the radial direction. Is a mixture of two or more connected shapes, etc., in the same manner, the disc-shaped body descends along the groove-shaped guideway at the circular outer periphery (in this case, Rolling), and the second sorted article overlapping in the depth direction of the grooved guideway is so shallow as to be located outside the grooved guideway, more preferably in the grooved guideway. The depth of the selected articles overlapping on the opening side between the two adjoining selected articles is so small as to be located outside the grooved guideway, and two or more selected articles are located in the grooved guideway. It is preferable that the width is as narrow as possible so as not to be caught in the space.

Further, the shape of the groove-shaped guide path, particularly the cross-sectional shape, is such that the articles to be sorted are such that the opening of the groove-shaped guide path faces upward or obliquely upward and each groove-shaped guide path descends toward one end. When the sorted articles are supplied to the sorting outer peripheral portion in the inclined sorting section, the sorted articles are likely to be introduced into the groove-shaped guide path, and the section in which the opening of the groove-shaped guide path is directed obliquely upward from the section directed obliquely upward or downward. It is preferable that, at the position of, the liquid be reliably discharged from the opening in the middle of the groove-shaped guide path to the lower side of the lower side of the circulating motion of the sorting outer peripheral portion. Examples of such a cross-sectional shape include a shape that does not shrink toward the outer peripheral side, preferably a shape that expands toward the outer peripheral side, such as a substantially V-shape or a substantially U-shape.

The articles to be sorted include, besides the above-mentioned spherical body and its connected body, the above-mentioned disc-shaped body and its connected body, and, for example, two kinds of spherical bodies having a substantially constant diameter. As in the case of a mixture of the above-mentioned sphericity or a mixture of disk-like bodies having a substantially constant diameter and having two or more kinds of circularity on the outer peripheral surface, the rolling descent speed in the groove-shaped guide path is a true sphere. It is possible to target articles that depend on the degree or roundness, a plurality of kinds of articles having different sliding down speeds in the groove-shaped guideway, and the like.

It is desirable that the shape of all groove-shaped guide paths in the outer peripheral portion of the sorting be constant. This is to prevent variations in sorting of the articles to be sorted.
It is more desirable that all the groove-shaped guideways in the sorting outer peripheral portion have a uniform shape and a uniform surface. The constant shape and constant surface in the groove-shaped guide path may be constant as long as they do not substantially affect the sorting.

The driving means circulates the sorting outer peripheral portion of the sorting member in a continuous direction in an endless belt shape, and is driven by a power source such as an electric motor directly or via a transmission means. When the sorting outer peripheral portion of the sorting member has an axially symmetrical shape such as a cylindrical body, the sorting outer peripheral portion is driven to rotate about the axis of symmetry. When the sorting member is an endless belt-shaped member, for example, the endless belt-shaped member is annularly stretched over a driving pulley and a driven pulley, and the driving pulley is driven so that an outer peripheral portion of the endless belt-shaped member, which is a sorting outer peripheral portion, circulates. I do.

In the course of circulation of the sorting outer peripheral portion, a sorting section in which the opening of the groove-shaped guide path is directed upward or obliquely upward and each groove-shaped guide path is inclined downward toward one end,
In order to provide an obliquely downward or downwardly directed section, for example, when the endless belt-shaped sorting outer peripheral portion of the sorting member is a substantially cylindrical outer peripheral portion, its axis is inclined.

Further, for example, in the case where the outer peripheral portion of the endless band shape in the sorting member is a substantially frusto-conical outer peripheral portion, the opening of the groove-shaped guide path is upward or oblique even if its axis is horizontal. It has a sorting section facing upward and each groove-shaped guide path being inclined downward toward one end, and the other section.

Further, for example, when the sorting member is an endless belt-shaped body, if the outer peripheral surface of the endless belt-shaped body is inclined in the width direction, the sorting section and the other section are provided. .

When the articles to be sorted are supplied to the outer periphery of the sorting in the sorting section, the articles having a relatively high descent speed in the groove-shaped guide path are lowered to the lower end of the groove-shaped guide path and discharged from the lower end. And the descent speed in the grooved guideway is 0
For slow or relatively slow articles, the circulation movement of the sorting outer peripheral portion from the section where the opening of the grooved guideway faces obliquely upward to the section where the opening of the grooved guideway faces horizontally or obliquely downward without descending the grooved guideway to the lower end. Is automatically discharged from the opening in the middle of the groove-shaped guideway to the lower side of the lower side.

Therefore, by appropriately selecting the shape and surface condition of the grooved guideway, the inclination angle of the grooved guideway in the sorting section, the speed of circulation movement of the sorting outer peripheral portion, etc., the size of the articles to be sorted can be reduced. However, depending on the descending speed when the sorted articles are introduced into the grooved guideway, the sorted articles are discharged from the lower end of the grooved guideway or circulated from the opening in the middle of the grooved guideway. The articles to be sorted are sorted out depending on whether they are discharged to the lower side of the lower side.

The descending speed of the articles to be sorted when the articles are introduced into the groove-shaped guideway is, for example, the rolling and descending speed of all the articles is equal or close on an inclined flat plate.
When the rolling descent speed is completely or relatively different depending on the article when introduced into the grooved guideway, the latter descent speed is referred to. Specifically, an article which is relatively easy to roll in any direction, such as a spherical body, has a high rolling descent speed even when introduced into a grooved guideway, but has two or more spherical bodies. A specific direction (in these examples, the direction is substantially short, but is not limited to one direction), such as a connected shape having a shape connected as described above or an ellipsoid having a minor axis substantially equal to the diameter of the spherical body. Is relatively easy to roll, but it is difficult to roll in another specific direction (in these examples, substantially the longitudinal direction, but not limited to one direction), and the rolling speed is low. It is an article that becomes slow, and, depending on the shape and size of the groove-shaped guide path, when introduced into the groove-shaped guide path, it is difficult to roll, and the direction in which the rolling speed is slow is along the direction of the groove-shaped guide path. If an inevitable article is introduced into a grooved guideway, it will be difficult to roll down and the rolling speed will be slow

In the sorting section, there may be provided means for adjusting an angle at which each groove-shaped guide path is inclined downward toward one end.

In this case, the angle can be adjusted by, for example, adjusting the angle of the substrate in the case of supporting the sorting member on the substrate.

It is desirable that the circulating motion of the outer peripheral portion of the sorting be a variable speed.

In the sorting section where the opening of the groove-shaped guide path is directed upward or obliquely upward and each groove-shaped guide path is inclined downward toward one end, the descending inclination angle and the descending depending on the type of the articles to be sorted. This is because the speed of the circulation movement of the sorting outer peripheral portion is changed according to the time required for the sorted articles supplied to the sorting outer peripheral portion to descend the grooved guide path to the lower end portion due to the difference in speed.

The speed of the circulating movement of the sorting outer peripheral portion is preferably adjustable steplessly, but may be changed in a plurality of steps.

Further, at least above the groove-shaped guide path in the sorting section, the boundary between the adjacent groove-shaped guide paths may form a ridge protruding on the outer peripheral side.

The fact that the boundary between the adjacent groove-shaped guide paths forms a ridge protruding on the outer peripheral side means that the cross section of the boundary is
It means that a corner portion protruding to the outer peripheral side or a bent portion convex to the outer peripheral side is formed.

In this case, the articles to be sorted supplied to the sorting outer peripheral portion are smoothly and quickly introduced into the groove-shaped guide path.

It is preferable that the boundary has an acute angle or a right angle corner or a bent portion close to the corner.

It is preferable that the boundary between the adjacent groove-shaped guide paths forms a ridge protruding on the outer peripheral side over the entire length of the groove-shaped guide paths.

According to the sorting apparatus of the present invention, the upper side of the grooved guide path in the sorting section in which the opening of the grooved guide path faces upward or obliquely upward and each grooved guideway is inclined downward toward one end. Among them, it is possible to provide an article supply means for supplying the articles to be sorted on the upstream side of the circulating motion of the outer peripheral portion of the sorting (claim 7).

The good side is the one who comes forward.

The position at which the article supply means supplies the articles to be sorted to the sorting outer peripheral portion is not necessarily lowermost but lowermost so that the articles to be sorted can be sorted by the speed of descending the grooved guide path. The same applies to the article supply in the sorting method.

As the article supply means, a bowl hopper feeder, a linear feeder or the like generally used as a parts feeder can be appropriately used.

The article supply means may supply an article to be sorted that is small enough to be guided by one groove-shaped guide path.

As an article small enough to be guided by one groove-shaped guide path, for example, an article whose dimension in at least one direction is equal to or smaller than a predetermined dimension can be cited. Such an article supply can be realized, for example, by preliminarily selecting only articles that have dropped into parallel gaps at predetermined intervals.

The article supply means can supply an article which is small enough to be guided by one grooved guideway and large enough to form a plurality of bridges in the grooved guideway. Item 8).

In this case, in the sorting section, the articles reach the lower end without being guided by the groove-shaped guide path, and articles outside the target range are selected. Is prevented from stagnating.

[0045] Such articles correspond to, for example,
In a plurality of substantially constant spheres, a connected shape of two or more spheres, or a mixture of ellipses and the like whose minor axis is substantially equal to the diameter of the sphere, The spherical body has such a small diameter that it descends (rolls in this case) along the groove-shaped guide path, and the second selected articles overlapping in the depth direction of the groove-shaped guide path are The diameter is large enough to be located outside (more preferably, to such an extent that the selected articles overlapping the opening side between two adjacent selected articles in the grooved guide path are located outside the grooved guide path. The diameter is so large that two or more selected articles cannot form a bridge.

As an example of such an article, there can be mentioned an article in which the smallest dimension among dimensions in all directions is within a predetermined range. The supply of such an article can be realized by, for example, preliminarily selecting, from articles that have fallen into the parallel gaps at a predetermined interval, those that have not fallen into the parallel gaps at a slightly larger interval. .

A plurality of sorting members are provided.
From the section where the opening of the grooved guideway faces obliquely upward to the section where the opening of the grooved guideway faces diagonally downward or obliquely downward, the articles discharged from the opening in the middle of the grooved guideway are located below the lower side of the circulation movement of the sorting outer peripheral portion. In the next stage, the outer circumferential portion of the upper side of the grooved guide path in the selection section in which the opening of the grooved guide path faces upward or obliquely upward and each grooved guideway is inclined downward toward one end. (Claim 9).

When a plurality of articles to be sorted are introduced into one grooved guideway by supplying the articles to be sorted to the outer peripheral portion of the sorting in the sorting section, for example, the articles are introduced into the preceding grooved guideway. The lowering speed of the sorted article is slow, and the lower part of the circulation movement of the sorting outer peripheral portion from the section where the opening of the groove-shaped guideway faces obliquely upward to the section where it faces horizontal or obliquely downward,
When discharging from the opening in the middle of the grooved guideway,
The article introduced following the groove-shaped guideway is discharged from the opening in the middle of the groove-shaped guideway regardless of its own descending speed.

By supplying the discharged articles to the next sorting section, the sorting accuracy can be improved. If necessary, three or more sorting members may be provided. A small number of stages (including one stage) when the descending speed is relatively slow or a small number of zero articles are mixed in a large number of articles having a relatively fast descending speed in the grooved guideway.
And can achieve good sorting accuracy. In addition, the number of stages (including one) is reduced by lowering the supply speed of the sorted articles.
And can achieve good sorting accuracy.

A plurality of sorting members are provided, and the articles discharged from one end of the groove-shaped guide path at the preceding stage are lowered.
In the next stage, the opening of the groove-shaped guide path faces upward or obliquely upward and each of the groove-shaped guide paths is inclined downward toward one end. It can be supplied to the upstream side of the circulating motion.

In this case, even if articles having a relatively low descending speed in the grooved guideway are erroneously ejected from the lower end of the grooved guideway in the sorting section, the articles are sorted again in the next stage, so that the accuracy is further improved. Good selection is realized. It is also possible to provide three or more sorting members.

The sorting method according to the present invention has a sorting outer peripheral portion having an endless band shape, and a groove-like guide which is opened in an outer peripheral side in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction continuous with the endless band shape. A method of circulating a sorting outer peripheral portion of a sorting member comprising a large number of paths in parallel in a direction continuous in an endless band shape, and supplying and sorting articles to be sorted on the outer peripheral side of the sorting outer peripheral portion, A sorting section in which the opening of the groove-shaped guide path is directed upward or obliquely upward and each groove-shaped guide path is inclined downward toward one end; Or a section facing downward, and the supply of the articles to be sorted is performed on the upper side of the grooved guideway in the sorting section, on the upper side of the circulation movement of the sorting outer peripheral portion, and in the grooved guideway. Sorted articles whose descending speed is 0 or relatively slow are:
Without descending the groove-shaped guideway to the lower end, from the section where the opening of the groove-shaped guideway is directed obliquely upward to the section where the opening of the groove-shaped guideway is directed horizontally or diagonally downward, the lower part of the circulation motion of the outer peripheral part of the sorting is formed in a groove shape Sorted articles discharged from an opening in the middle of the guide path, and the descending speed in the groove-shaped guide path is relatively fast, are lowered to the lower end of the groove-shaped guide path and discharged from the lower end. (Claim 10). The sorting method of the present invention comprises:
It can be carried out using the above-described sorting apparatus of the present invention.
The above description of the sorting apparatus of the present invention similarly applies to the sorting method of the present invention.

In the selection method of the present invention, the shape and surface condition of the groove-shaped guide path, the inclination angle of the groove-shaped guide path in the selection section, the speed of circulation movement of the outer periphery of the selection path, and the like are appropriately selected. Even if the size of the sorted articles is small, the descending speed when the sorted articles supplied to the upper side of the circulating motion of the sorting outer peripheral portion among the upper sides of the grooved guide paths in the sorting section are introduced into the grooved guide paths. Depending on whether it is discharged from the lower end of the grooved guideway or discharged from the opening in the middle of the grooved guideway to the lower side of the circulation movement of the sorting outer peripheral portion, the sorted articles are sorted. You.

[0054]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a sorting device as an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (a) is a schematic sectional view of a main part of a sorting outer peripheral portion of a sorting drum (sorting member). FIG. 2 (b) is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 2 (a).

The sorting drum 10 (sorting member) is a hollow columnar body having a substantially cylindrical outer periphery as an endless sorting outer periphery 12, and supports a base 14 around its axis. It is rotatably supported on the surface 14a and is driven to rotate forward at a constant speed by a variable speed drive motor 16 (drive means) as shown by an arrow A. By this, the sorting outer part 1
Numeral 2 rotates forward at a constant speed around its axis. For transmitting the driving force from the driving motor 16 to the sorting drum 10, a transmission means (not shown) such as a gear or a belt and a pulley can be appropriately used. The support surface 14a of the base 14 is inclined downward toward the left in FIG. 1, and the rotation axis of the sorting drum 10 is correspondingly changed in FIG.
At the left. The inclination angle can be appropriately selected.

The sorting outer peripheral portion 12 of the sorting drum 10 has
A large number of groove-shaped guide paths 18 having a substantially right-angled isosceles triangular cross section and opening in the outer peripheral side and having a substantially axial center direction are arranged in parallel in the circumferential direction. Both ends of the groove-shaped guide path 18 are open.
However, the upper end (at least the upper end in the sorting section) may be closed. All the groove-shaped guide paths 18 are the same and extend over the entire axial length of the outer peripheral portion of the sorting drum 10. Each groove-shaped guideway 18 is located at a constant radial angle at a fixed central angle, and a boundary 18a between adjacent groove-shaped guideways 18 is a ridge having a substantially right-angled isosceles triangular cross-section projecting radially outward. Make a shape. In FIG. 1, only the opening of the groove-shaped guide path 18 in the sorting drum 10 is shown, and the inside and the end of the groove-shaped guide path 18 are omitted.

In the upper part of the sorting outer peripheral part 12, the part where the opening of the groove-shaped guide path 18 is directed almost directly above and the part before and after that constitute a sorting section 20. The sorting section 20 is set at a portion where the article introduced into the groove-shaped guide path 18 is not discharged forward (or rearward) from the opening of the groove-shaped guide path 18. In the sorting section 20, the groove-shaped guideway 18
Is directed upward or obliquely upward, and each groove-shaped guide path 18 is inclined downward toward the left end.

Above the right end (upper end) at the rear end of the sorting section 20, an article supply gutter section 22 that supplies articles to be sorted sent from the bowl hopper feeder onto the sorting section 20.
Is located.

The article to be sorted is composed of a plurality of substantially constant spherical bodies 2
4, a connection shape body 26 in which two spheres are connected.
Is mixed. The diameter of the spherical body 24 in this example is substantially equal to one side in the cross section of the groove-shaped guide path 18. The spherical body 24 has a diameter small enough to roll down along the grooved guideway 18, and a second selected article overlapping in the depth direction of the grooved guideway 18 is formed in the grooved guideway 18. Opening side between two adjoining articles to be sorted (sorting drum 10
The selected articles overlapping the outer side in the radial direction of the grooved guideway 18)
The diameter is large enough to be located outside of the object, and large enough that two or more selected articles cannot form a bridge.
For this reason, in the sorting section 20, the articles reach the lower end without being guided by the groove-shaped guide path 18, and the non-target articles are sorted, or the bridge is formed in the groove-shaped guide path 18, and the sorting is delayed. Is prevented.

In the vicinity of the outer periphery of the sorting drum 10 at the rear end position of the sorting section 20, the guide wall 28 extending over the entire length of the sorting drum 10 in the axial direction is supported by the support surface 1 of the base 14.
4a is provided in a fixed state. The sorted articles supplied from the article supply gutter section 22 onto the rear end of the sorting section 20 are prevented from falling backward by the guide wall 28, and the boundary 18a between the adjacent groove-shaped guide paths 18 is prevented. Has a ridge shape as described above, so that all the selected articles are smoothly and quickly introduced into the groove-shaped guideway 18.

A sphere receiving portion 30 having a right opening is provided near the left end of the sorting drum 10 in the sorting section 20. All the articles flowing out from the lower end (left end) of the groove-shaped guide path 18 in the sorting section 20 are received by the sphere receiving section 30. The bottom surface of the spherical body receiving portion 30 is inclined downward to the right front, and the articles received by the spherical body receiving portion 30 are opened at the right front of the bottom surface of the spherical body receiving portion 30 and extended downward. It is led out of the outlet 32a through the road 32.

On the support surface 14a of the base 14 from the lower front part to the lower center part of the sorting drum 10, a non-spherical body storage box part 34 is provided. Even if the groove-shaped guideway 18 does not flow out from the lower end portion of the groove-shaped guideway 18 to the spherical body receiving portion 30 even after passing through the sorting section 20, the article where the opening of the groove-shaped guideway 18 is directed obliquely upward and forward. In the section facing the front in the horizontal direction or the front obliquely downward, all of the non-spherical body storage box portion is automatically discharged downward from the front side (lower side) of the sorting drum 10 from the opening in the middle of the groove-shaped guide path 18. 34.

When the descending inclination angle and the rotation speed of the sorting drum 10 are appropriately set, the grooved guide path 1 is supplied from the article supply trough 22 to the upper end of the sorting section 20 at the rear end.
Among the articles to be sorted introduced into 8, the spherical body 24 rolls down the groove-shaped guide path 18, for example, as shown by the arrow B, and flows out from the lower end of the groove-shaped guide path 18 in the selection section 20. The sphere receiving part 30 receives the sphere. On the other hand, the groove-shaped guideway 18
Of the articles to be sorted introduced into the container, the connection-shaped body 26 having a shape in which the spherical bodies are connected cannot roll and descend because the longitudinal direction coincides with the direction of the groove-shaped guide path 18, and together with the rotation of the selection drum 10, For example, it moves forward as indicated by arrow C and is automatically discharged from an opening in the middle of the groove-shaped guide path 18, and is stored in the non-spherical body storage box 34.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a first two-stage sorting apparatus as another example of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view thereof. In FIG. 3, only the openings of the groove-shaped guide paths 18 in the sorting drums 10 are shown, and the inside and ends of the groove-shaped guide paths 18 are omitted.

In this example, the same direction (forward rotation) is provided by the variable speed drive motor 16 on the lower front side of the leftward descending first stage sorting drum 10 driven forward by the variable speed drive motor 16. And the next-stage sorting drum 10 having the same direction (leftward) descending inclination. The significance of the sign is
This is the same as in the example shown in FIGS.

In this example, the article supply gutter section 22 is provided only above the right end (upper end) at the rear end of the sorting section 20 in the first-stage sorting drum 10, and the guide wall 28 is provided with the first-stage sorting. Section 2 in drum 10
0, provided only at the rear end position,
Is provided only on the support surface 14a of the base 14 from the lower front part to the lower center part of the sorting drum 10 at the next stage.

From the article supply trough 22 to the first sorting section 20
Of the articles to be sorted supplied to the upper end of the rear end and introduced into the groove-shaped guide path 18, the spherical body 24 rolls down the groove-shaped guide path 18 as shown by an arrow D, for example, to select a section. 20
At the lower end of the groove-shaped guide path 18 and is received by the first-stage spherical body receiving portion 30. On the other hand, the grooved guideway 1
The connection shape body 26 having a shape in which the spheres are connected among the articles to be sorted introduced into 8 cannot be rolled down because the longitudinal direction coincides with the direction of the groove-shaped guide path 18, and the first stage of the selection drum 1
With the rotation of 0, for example, it moves forward as indicated by an arrow E, and is automatically discharged from an opening in the middle of the groove-shaped guide path 18, and the left end (upper end) at the rear end of the next sorting section 20. Supplied to If the spherical body 24 exists in the same groove-shaped guide path 18 to the right (upper side) of the connecting shape body 26 that cannot roll on the groove-shaped guide path 18, the spherical body 2
4 cannot be rolled down by the connecting shape body 26, and is supplied to the right end of the rear end of the next sorting section 20 together with the connecting shape body 26.

If the selected articles introduced into the next grooved guide path 18 include the spherical bodies 24, the spherical bodies 24
Is rolled down the grooved guideway 18 as shown by an arrow F, for example, and flows out from the lower end of the grooved guideway 18 in the sorting section 20 and is received by the next-stage spherical body receiving portion 30. On the other hand, the connection-shaped body 26 introduced into the groove-shaped guide path 18 cannot roll down because the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with the direction of the groove-shaped guide path 18, and, for example, along with the rotation of the first-stage sorting drum 10, an arrow is indicated. As shown by G, all the liquid is automatically discharged from an opening in the middle of the groove-shaped guide path 18 and is stored in the non-spherical body storage box portion 34. If the spherical body 24 exists on the right side of the connecting shape body 26 in the same groove-shaped guide path 18 also in the next stage, the spherical body 24 also becomes the non-spherical body storage box portion 34.
However, the probability is reduced by the two-stage sorting, and the sorting accuracy is improved.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rear upper edge is close to the outer periphery of the front lower portion over the entire axial length of the first stage sorting drum 10, and the front lower edge is the axial center of the next stage sorting drum 10. By providing the second guide wall 36 having the upper surface of the front descending slope which is close to the rear end position of the sorting section 20 over the entire length in the direction, fixed to the support surface 14a of the base 14, the first-stage groove is provided. It is desirable that the articles discharged from the groove-shaped guide path 18 be surely introduced into the next-step groove-shaped guide path 18.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory transverse sectional view of a second two-stage sorting device as still another example of the embodiment of the present invention.

In this example, below the first-stage sorting drum 10 having a one-way descending inclination, which is driven to rotate forward (clockwise in FIG. 5), the next stage of the same-direction descending inclination, which is driven to rotate counterclockwise, is provided. Has a sorting drum 10. Therefore, a planar space is saved as compared with the examples of FIGS. The meanings of the symbols are the same as those in the examples shown in FIGS.

In this example, the article supply gutter section 22 is provided only above the upper end of the rear end (left end in FIG. 5) of the sorting section 20 of the first stage sorting drum 10, and the guide wall 28 is The non-spherical container box 34 is provided only at the rear end position of the sorting section 20 in the first-stage sorting drum 10, and the support surface 14 a of the base 14 extends from the lower rear portion to the lower center portion of the next-stage sorting drum 10. Provided only above. In addition, the upper end is the first-stage sorting drum 10.
The guide plate 38 is located forward (to the right in FIG. 5) and has a lower end edge close to the outer periphery of the sorting drum 10 at the front end position (right end position in FIG. 5) of the next sorting section 20.
Are provided in a state fixed to the support surface 14 a of the base 14.

From the article supply trough 22 to the first sorting section 20
Of the articles to be sorted supplied to the upper end of the rear end and introduced into the grooved guide path 18, the spherical body 24 rolls down the grooved guideway 18, and the grooved guideway in the sorting section 20. It flows out from the lower end of the sphere 18 and is received by the first stage sphere receiving part 30. On the other hand, among the articles to be sorted introduced into the groove-shaped guide path 18, the connection shape body 26 in which the spherical bodies are connected is
Since the longitudinal direction coincides with the direction of the grooved guide path 18, it cannot roll down and moves forward with the rotation of the first-stage sorting drum 10, and is automatically discharged from an opening in the middle of the grooved guide path 18. Then, it is guided to the guide plate 38 and supplied to the upper end at the front end of the next sorting section 20. Also,
If the spherical body 24 exists in the same grooved guideway 18 above the connecting shape body 26 that cannot roll on the grooved guideway 18, the spherical body 24 cannot be rolled down by the connecting shape body 26. , The next-stage sorting section 20 together with the connection shape body 26
Is supplied to the upper end of the front end.

If the selected articles introduced into the next-step groove-shaped guide path 18 include the spherical body 24, the spherical body 24
Is rolled down on the grooved guideway 18, flows out from the lower end of the grooved guideway 18 in the sorting section 20, and is received by the spherical body receiving portion 30 at the next stage. On the other hand, the connecting shape body 26 introduced into the groove-shaped guide path 18 is
, Cannot be rolled down, moves backward (to the left in FIG. 5) with the rotation of the first-stage sorting drum 10, and is automatically discharged from an opening in the middle of the groove-shaped guide path 18. , Is accommodated in the non-spherical body accommodation box portion 34. If the spherical body 24 exists on the right side of the connecting shape body 26 in the same groove-shaped guide path 18 also in the next stage, the spherical body 24 will also be accommodated in the non-spherical body accommodation box 34. The probability is reduced by the two-stage selection, and the accuracy of the selection is improved.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a third two-stage sorting apparatus as another example of the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, only the opening of the groove-shaped guide path 18 in the sorting drums 10 is shown, and the inside and the end of the groove-shaped guide path 18 are omitted.

In this example, the same direction (forward rotation) is applied by the variable speed drive motor 16 to the lower right front side of the first-stage sorting drum 10 having the leftward downward inclination driven forward by the variable speed drive motor 16. And the next-stage sorting drum 10 having a reverse (rightward) descending inclination. The meanings of the symbols are the same as those in the examples shown in FIGS.

In this example, the article supply gutter section 22 is provided only above the right end (upper end) at the rear end of the sorting section 20 in the first-stage sorting drum 10, and the guide wall 28 is provided at the first and next stages. The non-spherical body storage box portion 34 is provided at the rear end position of the sorting section 20 in the sorting drum 10 of the next stage, and the support surface 14a of the base 14 from the lower front portion to the lower center portion of the sorting drum 10 of the next stage. Provided only above. Further, a guide gutter 40 whose rear edge is close to the outer periphery of the front lower portion of the first-stage sorting drum 10 over its entire length and is inclined downward to the right is provided in a state fixed to the support surface 14 a of the base 14. . The right end of the guide gutter 40 is located above the left end (upper end) of the rear end of the sorting section 20 in the next sorting drum 10. The width of the guide gutter 40 is
It is much wider than the sorted items.

From the article supply trough 22 to the first sorting section 20
Among the articles to be sorted supplied to the upper end portion of the rear end portion and introduced into the groove-shaped guide path 18, the spherical body 24 rolls down the groove-shaped guide path 18 as indicated by an arrow H, for example, and selects the sorting section. 20
At the lower end of the groove-shaped guide path 18 and is received by the first-stage spherical body receiving portion 30. On the other hand, the grooved guideway 1
The connection shape body 26 having a shape in which the spheres are connected among the articles to be sorted introduced into 8 cannot be rolled down because the longitudinal direction coincides with the direction of the groove-shaped guide path 18, and the first stage of the selection drum 1
With the rotation of 0, it moves forward, for example, as indicated by arrow I, and is automatically discharged from an opening in the middle of the groove-shaped guide path 18, and is placed on the guide gutter 40. When the spherical body 24 exists in the same groove-shaped guide path 18 to the right (upper) of the connected shape body 26 that cannot roll on the groove-shaped guide path 18, the spherical body 24 is also formed by the connected shape body 26. It cannot roll down and rests on the guide gutter 40 together with its connecting body 26. Guide gutter 4
The article to be sorted on 0 descends by rolling or sliding to the right, and is supplied to the left end (upper end) at the rear end of the next sorting section 20.

When the selected articles introduced into the next grooved guide path 18 include the spherical bodies 24, the spherical bodies 24
Rolls down the grooved guideway 18 as shown by arrow J, flows out from the lower end (right end) of the grooved guideway 18 in the sorting section 20, and enters the spherical body receiving portion 30 at the next stage. Accepted. Even if the spherical bodies 24 are arranged next to the connecting shapes 26 in the same groove-shaped guideway 18 in the first stage, they are inclined in the opposite direction to the first-stage grooved guideway 18 by the guide gutter 40. By being supplied to the groove-shaped guide path 18, the connecting shape member 26
And the spherical body 24 tend to be in reverse order or random. Therefore, in the next stage, the spherical body 24 is first introduced into the groove-shaped guide path 18 and is likely to roll down the groove-shaped guide path 18. On the other hand, the connection-shaped body 26 introduced into the groove-shaped guide path 18 cannot roll down because the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with the direction of the groove-shaped guide path 18, and, for example, along with the rotation of the first-stage sorting drum 10, is indicated by an arrow. It moves forward like K and the groove-shaped guideway 18
Is automatically discharged from the opening in the middle of the process, and is housed in the non-spherical body housing box portion 34. If the spherical body 24 exists on the right side of the connecting shape body 26 in the same groove-shaped guide path 18 also in the next stage, the spherical body 24 will also be accommodated in the non-spherical body accommodation box 34. The probability is reduced by the two-stage selection, and the accuracy of the selection is improved.

The dimensions, the number, the materials, the shapes, the relative arrangements, and the like of the components in the above description of the embodiments are not limited to the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified. It is not intended to limit the invention to only these, but merely to a description example.

[0082]

According to the sorting apparatus and the sorting method of the present invention, the shape and surface condition of the grooved guideway, the inclination angle of the grooved guideway in the sorting section, the speed of circulation movement of the sorting outer peripheral portion, and the like are appropriately selected. By doing so, the sorted articles are discharged from the lower end of the grooved guideway or circulated from the opening in the middle of the grooved guideway according to the descending speed when the sorted articles are introduced into the grooved guideway. Depending on whether it is discharged below the lower side of the movement, even if the size is small, the selected articles can be sorted.

In the sorting apparatus according to the ninth aspect, the sorting accuracy can be improved without lowering the supply speed of the articles to be sorted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a sorting device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a main part of a sorting outer peripheral part.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a first two-stage sorting device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory transverse sectional view of a first two-stage sorting device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a second two-stage sorting device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a third two-stage sorting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Sorting Drum 12 Sorting Outer Part 16 Drive Motor 18 Groove Guideway 20 Sorting Section 24 Spherical Body 26 Connected Shaped Body 30 Spherical Body Receiving Part 34 Non-Spherical Body Storage Box

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An endless belt-shaped sorting outer peripheral portion, and a groove-shaped guide path which is substantially perpendicular to a direction continuous with the endless belt shape and is opened on the outer peripheral side is arranged in parallel with the sorting outer peripheral portion. A large number of sorting members, and a driving means for circulating the sorting outer peripheral portion of the sorting member in a continuous direction in an endless belt shape, and in the process of circulating the sorting outer peripheral portion, A sorting device comprising: a sorting section in which an opening faces upward or obliquely upward and each groove-shaped guide path is inclined downward toward one end; and a section in which the opening faces in a horizontal direction, obliquely downward or downward. 2. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the sorting member has a substantially cylindrical outer peripheral portion as an endless belt-shaped sorting outer peripheral portion, and is rotatably supported around its axis. . 3. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of all the groove-shaped guide paths in the sorting outer peripheral portion is constant. 4. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting an angle at which each groove-shaped guide path descends toward one end in the sorting section. 5. The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the circulation movement of the sorting outer peripheral portion is variable. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least the upper side of the groove-shaped guide path in the sorting section, the boundary between adjacent groove-shaped guide paths forms a ridge protruding on the outer peripheral side. Sorting device. 7. An article supply means for supplying articles to be sorted to the upper side of the grooved guide path in the sorting section and to the upper side of the circulating movement of the sorting outer peripheral part. Or 6
The sorting device as described. 8. An article supply means for supplying an article which is small enough to be guided by one grooved guideway and large enough to form a plurality of bridges in the grooved guideway. The sorting device as described. 9. A method according to claim 9, wherein a plurality of sorting members are provided.
From the section where the opening of the grooved guideway faces obliquely upward to the section where the opening of the grooved guideway faces diagonally downward or obliquely downward, the articles discharged from the opening in the middle of the grooved guideway are located below the lower side of the circulation movement of the sorting outer peripheral portion. In the next stage, it can be supplied to the upper side of the grooved guide path in the sorting section, to the upstream side of the circulating motion of the sorting outer peripheral portion.
The sorting device according to 5, 6, 7 or 8. 10. An endless belt-shaped sorting outer peripheral portion, and a groove-like guide path which is substantially perpendicular to a direction continuous with the endless belt shape and is opened on the outer peripheral side is arranged in parallel with the sorting outer peripheral portion. A method of circulating a sorting outer peripheral portion of a large number of sorting members in a direction continuous to an endless band shape, and supplying and sorting articles to be sorted on the outer peripheral side of the sorting outer peripheral portion, wherein the sorting outer peripheral portion is provided. In the process of circulation, a section in which the opening of the groove-shaped guide path is directed upward or diagonally upward and each groove-shaped guide path is inclined downward toward one end, and a section in which the groove direction guide path is directed horizontally, diagonally downward or downward. The supply of the sorted articles is performed on the upper side of the grooved guide path in the sorting section, on the upper side of the circulation movement of the sorting outer peripheral portion, and the descending speed in the grooved guide path is 0. Or slower sorted items should not descend the grooved guideway to the lower end. The opening of the grooved guideway is discharged from the opening in the middle of the grooved guideway to the lower side of the lower side of the circulating motion of the sorting outer peripheral portion from the section where the opening of the grooved guideway faces obliquely upward to the section facing the horizontal direction or diagonally downward, and A sorting method, wherein an article to be sorted having a relatively high descending speed in the guideway is lowered to the lower end of the groove-shaped guideway and discharged from the lower end.