JPH11165849A - Chute for sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chute for a sorting device simple in structure, low in installation cost, saving installation space and facilitating the layout change of sorting positions without the possibility of articles falling into a place other than a chute. SOLUTION: A chute 5 is continuously provided along the side of a travel path of a carriage 7 supporting a sorting tray 2 tiltably sideward in a range of including at least a plurality of sorting positions at the upper part of a machine frame 13 of a sorting device 1, where the carriage 7 travels. The chute 5 is provided with a slide-down face 5B inclined downward to the outside of the machine frame 13 from a top part close to the downward tilting end of the tilted sorting tray 2, so as to receive articles discharged from the sorting tray 2 and to slide them down, and shielding face 5E extended downward from the travel position of the sorting tray 2 from the top so as to impede the entry of dropped articles into the machine frame 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a chute used in a sorting apparatus having a structure for sorting articles by circulating a large number of sorting trays.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional sorting apparatus, a plurality of endlessly connected carriages each having a sorting tray are circulatingly driven along a traveling path, and a sorting tray on which articles are placed moves to a designated sorting position. In some cases, the sorting tray is tilted sideways to discharge articles to a chute arranged at the sorting position.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of such a sorting device. The sorting device A1 has a large number of carriages A2 connected to each other in an endless manner. It is supported on a pair of rails A4 provided on the machine casing A3 via a traveling roller A5, and is configured to be driven to circulate along a traveling path.

[0004] A sorting tray A6 is provided above the carriage A2 so as to be tiltable to the left and right sides of the traveling path, and the articles W placed on the sorting tray A6 from an article loading position (not shown). When the sorting tray A6 is transported to the specified sorting position by the tip-up mechanism A7 provided in the machine casing A3 corresponding to the sorting position, the sorting tray A6 shoots in accordance with the specified sorting position.
The article W on the sorting tray A6 is discharged to the chute A8.

A plurality of chutes A8 are provided corresponding to a plurality of sorting positions along the traveling path of the carriage A2, and are fixedly supported on the floor by independent support frames A9. A sliding surface S and a horizontal portion H are formed on each chute A8, and the articles W discharged from the sorting tray A6 and slid down the sliding surface S are temporarily stored in the horizontal portion H, and are then manually operated by the operator. From the horizontal part H, it is accommodated in the article case A10 and conveyed to a desired place by the conveyor A11.

[0006]

The chutes used in the conventional sorting apparatus as described above are provided one by one at each sorting position, so that chutes corresponding to the types of articles to be sorted are required. Therefore, there is a problem that the equipment cost is increased and a large space for installing a large number of chutes is required in addition to the installation space for the sorting device.

Further, since each chute is used with the support frame fixed to the floor, it is difficult to change the sorting position after the chute is once installed.

[0008] In the event that an article falls from a sorting tray running above between chutes at adjacent sorting positions, a person working between these chutes may be injured or the article may be removed. There is a risk of damage, and it is necessary to stretch a net or the like between the chutes to prevent the articles from falling to locations other than the chutes.

Therefore, the present invention solves such problems in the prior art, and has a simple structure and low equipment cost.
An object of the present invention is to provide a chute for a sorting device, which can save an installation space, can easily change a layout of a sorting position, and does not cause an article to drop to a place other than the chute.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is directed to a sorting apparatus which has a plurality of endlessly connected carriages which support a sorting tray so as to be tiltable to the side and which is driven to circulate along a traveling path. A chute, which is provided continuously along the side of the traveling path of the carriage within a range including at least a plurality of sorting positions on the upper part of the machine frame of the sorting apparatus, and which is close to a tilting end below a tilted sorting tray. From the top to the bottom of the ascending surface, which extends downward from the top of the ascending tray toward the outside of the ascending machine and receives the articles discharged from the assorting tray and slides down. And a shielding surface for blocking the light.

[0011]

When the carriage of the sorting device reaches the designated sorting position, the sorting tray provided on the carriage is tilted to the side and the articles placed on the sorting tray are discharged at the sorting position.

[0012] The articles discharged from the sorting tray fall on the downhill surface of a chute provided continuously along the traveling path of the carriage and slide down, and fall into the article case or the like arranged at the lower end of the downhill surface. Is discharged. Further, the chute itself also serves as a cover for the upper surface of the machine frame of the sorting device, and particularly, the shielding surface prevents articles and the like from falling into the inside of the machine frame of the sorting device.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of a linear-motor-driven sorter incorporating a sorter chute of the present invention, and FIG.
Are plan views of the sorting apparatus 1 shown in these figures.
Is configured so that a large number of sorting trays 2 are circulated in a vertical plane by driving a linear motor, and the articles loaded on these sorting trays 2 are designated by the article carrying-in sections 3 and 4 in accordance with designated sorting. When transported to the position, the sorting tray 2 on which the articles are placed tilts sideways, is discharged onto the chute 5, slides down the inclined surface, and a large number of article cases 6 are arranged on both sides in the transport direction. It is designed to be discharged into designated items.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. The sorting tray 2 is supported on a carriage 7 by pivot pins 8 so as to be tiltable to the left and right sides. It is fixed to the upper surface of the base 9.

The lower ends of the carriages 7 are connected by endless connecting links 11 alternately by horizontal connecting pins 10.
A and 11B are fixed to one of the connecting links 11A, and the connecting rollers 11A and 11B are rotatably provided at both ends of the connecting pin 10 by a traveling roller 12 which is mounted on the sorting device 1. The pair of right and left rails 14 fixed to the frame 13 is supported by running roller support surfaces h of a pair of rails 14 opposed to each other, and is rotatably provided on a guide roller shaft 15 fixed vertically to the center of the carriage 7. The guide roller 16 is guided between the roller guide surfaces v of the pair of rails 14 so that the connecting links 11A and 11B can move along a running path in a closed vertical plane.

The rail 14 corresponds to a transport side for placing articles on the sorting tray 2 and transporting them to the sorting position, and a return side for returning the empty sorting tray 2 to the loading sections 3 and 4.
A pair of right and left is provided horizontally in two steps vertically.

Although not shown, each rail 1
Opposite to both ends of 4, a curved rail for reversing the connecting links 11A and 11B and the carriage 7 from the transport side to the return side or from the return side to the transport side is disposed.

A reaction plate 17 made of an aluminum alloy, which is a secondary side of the linear motor, is fixed to the bottom surface (the inner peripheral surface) of each of the plurality of endlessly connected connecting links 11A and 11B. .

On the machine frame 13 side, a plurality of primary stator units 18 of a linear motor comprising a coil and a core are arranged along the traveling path of the connecting links 11A and 11B so as to face the passing positions of the reaction plates 17. Connecting links 11A and 11B which are provided at locations and pass through the position of the stator unit 18 via the reaction plate 17 by the moving magnetic field generated by the stator unit 18.
, And the carriage 7 is driven to travel.

On the other hand, an index plate 19 is provided on the lower side of the tray base 9 to which the sorting tray 2 is fixed.
Is attached, and when the index plate 19 is pushed upward from either the left or right side by the roller R of the tip-up mechanism T provided at the sorting position, the tray base 9 maintained in the horizontal posture is moved. By tilting around the pivot pin 8 to the side opposite to the roller R side together with the sorting tray 2, the articles placed on the sorting tray 2 are discharged to the designated article case 6 via the chute 5.

The chute 5 is formed by connecting a large number of chute units 5A each having a substantially mountain-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. Assembled.

These chute units 5A include a sliding surface 5B for sliding down articles, a vertical piece 5C vertically bent from the lower end of the sliding surface 5B, and a machine frame side horizontally bent inward from the lower end of the vertical piece 5C. A mounting piece 5D, a shielding surface 5E inclined obliquely downward on the opposite side of the downhill surface 5B, a rail-side mounting piece 5F bent horizontally from a lower end of the shielding surface 5E, and a tip of the rail-side mounting piece 5F. It has a locking piece 5G that is bent vertically.

At both ends in the longitudinal direction of the chute unit 5A, joining surfaces a, b, and c for connection between the chute units 5A, 5C, the vertical piece 5C, and the shielding surface 5E are continuously formed on both ends in the longitudinal direction. It is bent at right angles to the direction.

Each of these joining surfaces a, b, c
A hole H through which a connecting bolt is passed is formed, and the hole H is fastened to a joint surface of an adjacent chute unit (not shown) by a connecting bolt and a nut screwed to the connecting bolt, as shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, a chute 5 continuous in the transport direction is formed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the chute unit 5A
The tip of the rail-side mounting piece 5F and the locking piece 5G are inserted into a chute unit holding groove 14A formed in the longitudinal direction outside the rail 14 on the transport side. The chute unit holding groove 14A is formed slightly wider in the vertical direction than the height of the locking piece 5G so that the locking piece 5G can be inserted all the way.

On the other hand, a nut plate engaging groove 14B is formed in the rail 14 on the transport side in parallel above the chute unit holding groove 14A, and a nut block 20 is inserted therein.

The nut block 20 is formed so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction inside the nut plate engaging groove 14B and not to come out from its opening sideways.
It has two screw holes 20A arranged in the longitudinal direction of the nut plate engaging groove 14B. A fixing plate 21 having a substantially L-shaped cross section is fastened to the nut block 20 from outside the opening of the nut plate engaging groove 14 </ b> B by a bolt 22.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a pair of vertically long holes 21A are formed in the vertical portion of the fixing plate 21 at intervals substantially equal to the interval between the two screw holes 20A formed in the nut block 20 described above. As shown in FIG. 5, a bolt 22 having a washer 23 is inserted through each of the long holes 21A to be screwed and fixed to a screw hole 20A of the nut block 20.

When the fixing plate 21 is fastened to the nut block 20, the position of the nut block 20 is adjusted in the longitudinal direction in the nut plate engaging groove 14B. The vertical position of the fixing plate 21 is adjusted at the elongated hole 21A so that the rail-side mounting piece 5F of the chute unit 5A is sandwiched between the lower surface of the chute unit holding groove 14A without looseness, and then the bolt 22 is tightened.

The fixing plate 21 is fixed to the rail 14 by tightening the bolt 22, and the chute unit 5A
The locking piece 5G is sandwiched between the vertical wall surface at the back of the chute unit holding groove 14A and the end surface 21B of the horizontal portion of the fixed plate 21, and is fixed to the rail 14 on the transport side.

On the other hand, the vertical piece 5C of the chute unit 5A
A plurality of mounting holes (not shown) are provided in the mounting piece 5D horizontally bent from the lower end of the mounting frame 5D at intervals in the longitudinal direction. The chute unit 5A is connected to the mounting frame (not shown) by connecting bolts to the machine frame 1.
It is fixed to 3.

As shown by phantom lines in FIG. 3, when the sorting tray 2 is tilted to one of the left and right sorting positions, the tilting end of the sorting tray 2 is at the top of the chute unit 5A having a substantially mountain-shaped cross section. Articles approaching slightly upward and sliding down from the sorting tray 2 are reliably received by the downhill surface 5B of the chute unit 5A and guided into the article case 6.

At this time, in order to prevent the article from falling between the chute unit 5A and the article case 6, the vicinity of the upper end of the outer surface of the article case 6 is brought into contact with the vertical piece 5C connected to the lower end of the downhill surface 5B of the chute unit 5A. Let it touch.

The sliding surface 5B and the shielding surface 5E of the chute unit 5A, which cover the space between the pair of rails 14 on the transport side disposed above the machine frame 13 and both outer sides of the upper surface of the machine frame 13, The cover 13 also serves as a cover for covering the upper surface of the frame 13 to prevent foreign matter such as dust from entering the inside of the machine frame 13 from above. In particular, the shielding surface 5E prevents the articles from dropping into the machine frame 13 when the articles are unloaded from the sorting tray 2 during transportation, and drops onto the carriage 7 traveling on the return side below the machine frame 13. To prevent accidents in which a damaged article is bitten.

The inclination angle and the length in the inclination direction of the downhill surface 5B can be appropriately set according to the article to be handled. The chute unit 5 used in the sorting apparatus 1 of this embodiment has an inclination angle of about 35 degrees and a length of about 177 mm in the inclination direction of the downhill surface 5B.

The material of the chute unit 5A is a downhill surface 5B.
A metal plate or a resin plate of stainless steel or the like, which has a slippery finish, can be used. Further, in order to prevent the article from skidding when sliding down, a plurality of ridges, grooves or the like may be formed in parallel on the downhill surface 5B in an inclined direction, and the article tilts on the back side of the chute unit 5A. In order to alleviate the impact sound when falling from the sorting tray 2 onto the downhill surface 5B, a vibration-proof material such as rubber may be lined.

In the above-described embodiment, each of the chute units 5A is formed in a substantially mountain shape in cross section, and is attached to the pair of rails 14 on the transport side using a nut block 20, a fixing plate 21, bolts 22, and the like. However, the shielding surface 5E may be provided horizontally toward the inside of the machine frame 13 without being inclined, and may be fixed directly to the upper portion of the rail 14 with bolts or the like. It is also possible to fix only to the machine frame 13 without fixing.

In this embodiment, the chute 5 is assembled by connecting a plurality of chute units 5A in the transport direction. However, the chute 5 is located at least on the side of the traveling path of the carriage 7 within a range including a plurality of sorting positions. If the overall length of the sorting device 1 is short, the entire chute 5 may be formed of a single metal or resin plate.

Further, in this embodiment, the sorting device 1 includes the carriage 7 which is circulated by a linear motor in a vertical plane via the connecting links 11A and 11B. It can be applied to a sorting device with a structure in which the carriage is circulated through a traveling path, and is not limited to linear motor drive, and the carriage is driven by engaging the connecting link with a sprocket that is rotationally driven by a normal motor. The present invention can also be applied to a sorting device having a structure to make it.

[0040]

As described above, according to the sorting apparatus chute of the present invention, since it is provided in the sorting apparatus itself continuously in the sorting tray conveying direction over the entire area of the sorting area, the prior art It is not necessary to install the number of separate chutes according to the number of sorting positions like the sorting device as in the sorting device, and the equipment cost can be reduced.
Sorting work can be performed in a small space.

Further, since a tip-up mechanism for tilting the sorting tray can be disposed at an arbitrary position in the middle of the sorting tray on the transport side path to set the sorting position, the sorting position can be changed after the sorting device is installed. It can be easily increased or decreased.

Further, unlike the conventional chute which is separate from the sorting device, there is no danger of dropping the article to a place other than the chute between the sorting positions, and the chute itself is used as the frame of the sorting device. Since the upper cover is also used, it is possible to prevent falling objects such as articles and dusts unloaded during transportation by the sorting tray into the inside of the machine frame of the sorting apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sorting device provided with a chute of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sorting device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line AA in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a chute unit constituting the chute for a sorting device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a mounting structure of the chute unit to the rail.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fixing plate.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional sorting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Sorting device 2
Sorting tray 3, 4 Goods loading section 5
Shoot 5A Shoot unit 5B
Downhill surface 5C Vertical piece 5D
Mounting piece 5E Vertical piece 5F
Rail side mounting piece 5G Locking piece 6
Goods case 7 Carriage 8
Pivot pin 9 Tray base 10
Connecting pin 11A, 11B Connecting link 12
Running roller 13 Machine frame 14
Rail 14A Chute unit holding groove 14B Nut plate engaging groove 15
Guide roller shaft 16 Guide roller 17
Reaction plate 18 Stator unit 19
Index plate 20 Nut block 21
Fixing plate 21A Slot 21B
End face 22 Bolt 23
Washers

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A chute for a sorting device, wherein a plurality of carriages for supporting a sorting tray so as to be tiltable to the side are connected endlessly and are driven to circulate along a traveling path. The sorting is provided continuously along the side of the traveling path of the carriage within a range including at least a plurality of sorting positions, and the sorting is performed by tilting downward from the top near the tilting end below the tilted sorting tray toward the outside of the machine frame. A sliding surface that receives the articles discharged from the tray and slides down; and a shielding surface that extends from the top below the traveling position of the sorting tray and that prevents entry of falling objects into the machine frame. Chute for sorting equipment.