JPS5925773Y2 - Article sorting device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention is configured such that an article is provided with a detection surface portion to be detected that reflects incident light, and the articles are sorted by detecting the reflected light from this detection surface portion with a sensor. The present invention relates to an article sorting device, and particularly to an article sorting device suitable for use in sorting articles conveyed by a belt conveyor or the like and storing them in a predetermined location.

Conventionally, a mark made of, for example, a mirror or a reflective tape is provided on an article as a detection surface that reflects incident light, and the article is sorted by detecting the mark, that is, the reflected light from the detection surface with a sensor. A sorting device is known.

FIG. 1 shows an example of such a conventional sorting device, and the sorting device 1 includes an address section 3 for specifying the address of the article, and an address detection section for detecting the specified address. It consists of 5.

A rectangular parallelepiped-shaped recess 9 is formed at a suitable location on the upper part of the article to be sorted, for example, the container 7, and the above-mentioned address section 3 is embedded and attached inside the four sections 9.

The address section 3 includes a fixed indicator 11 and a movable indicator 12, and the address is designated by the position of the movable indicator 12.

The fixed indicator 11 is fixed, for example, near the side wall 14 of the address section 3, and the movable indicator 12 is slidably mounted along the axial direction of a shaft 17 fixed at both ends to the side wall 14, 15 of the address section 3. It is being

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a hole 19 is formed in this movable indicator 12, and the above-mentioned shaft 17 passes through this hole 19.

and a fixed indicator 11 and a movable indicator 12
For example, mirrors or reflective tapes 21 and 22 are affixed to the top surface of the container 7 as marks to serve as the detection surface, and markings 21 and 22 are attached to the top surface of the container 7 along the longitudinal direction of the recess 9 at predetermined intervals. The letter "S" and numbers from "0" to "9" are engraved on it.

The fixed indicator 11 is placed at a reference position "S", that is, at a position to the left of the number "0" in FIG.

Further, the address detection section 5 includes sensors 24 and 25 for detecting the reflected light from the above-mentioned reflective tapes 21 and 22, and a support member 26 for supporting these sensors 24 and 25.

The sensors 24 and 25 are each equipped with a light receiving section consisting of a phototransistor or a photodiode, for example, and a light source for emitting a light beam. and these sensors 24
．． 25 are electrically connected to a circuit (not shown) for converting the signals detected by these into a drive signal for the conveyor.

For example, ten address detection units 5 configured in this manner
is the moving direction of the container 7, for example, arrow A in FIG.
They are arranged above the above-mentioned address section 3 at appropriate intervals along the direction.

These ten address detection units 5 have sensors 24.
25, for example, the distance between the sensors of the address detection unit located first in the moving direction of the container 7 (that is, the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1) is the reference position "S" where the fixed indicator 11 is arranged. " and the number "0" engraved on the top surface of the container 7, and the distance between the sensor of the second address detection section is the same as the distance between the reference position "S" and the number "0" engraved on the top surface of the container 7. Similarly, the intervals between the sensors of the third to ninth address detection units are arranged to match the spacing between the reference position "S" and the numbers "31 to "9". are arranged to match the respective intervals.

Therefore, when the container 7 is moved by a belt conveyor or the like in the direction of arrow A in FIG. Detected.

That is, the fixed indicator 11 and the movable indicator 12
The address of the container 7 is determined when the sensors 24, 25 simultaneously detect the respective reflected lights from the reflective tapes 21, 22 attached to the containers.

For example, if the movable indicator 12 is set to correspond to the number "5" as shown in FIG. 1, the distance between the reference position "S" where the fixed indicator 11 is placed and the number "5" is The address section 3 of the container 7 is directly below the sensors 24, 25 which are arranged with respect to each other at intervals corresponding to the
are moved, these sensors 24.25 simultaneously detect the reflected light from the reflective tape 21.22.

This detected signal is then supplied to a drive circuit (not shown) for a belt conveyor, thereby transporting the container 7 to a desired storage location in accordance with a predetermined address.

By the way, the sorting ability of this type of device is based on the fact that the light reflected from the mark made of the reflective tape 21, 22, which is the surface to be detected, is defined as a signal (SIGNAL), and the light that is reflected from the mark made of the reflective tape 21, 22 is defined as a signal (SIGNAL). If the reflected light and all light from the surrounding area are defined as noise (NOISE), it is expressed by the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio), and it can be said that the higher this ratio is, the higher the selection ability is.

In other words, the stronger the signal and the weaker the noise, the higher the selection ability of the device, and therefore it can be said to be an ideal device with no malfunctions.

However, the sorting device having the conventional structure as described above has a low ability to sort articles, and therefore has the disadvantage that the device may malfunction in some cases.

That is, in all conventional devices, the surface of the mark to be detected is in the same direction relative to the surface of the article located adjacent to, or even close to, the periphery on which the mark is provided. Since the light from the surrounding area is reflected from the surface of the above-mentioned article, this reflected light is likely to enter the sensor as noise, which lowers the signal-to-noise ratio and makes the device This is because the sorting ability of

Therefore, in order to increase the above-mentioned signal-to-noise ratio and improve the selection ability of the device, it is sufficient to strengthen the signal and weaken the noise.

For example, ways to strengthen the signal are as follows: (a) Increasing the intensity of light incident on the mark.

(b) Increase the reflection efficiency of the mark by appropriately selecting the direction in which the face of the mark faces.

(C) Enlarge the effective area of the mark.

etc. are devised.

In addition, as a method to weaken the noise, for example, (d) By modulating the light incident on the mark to be detected, this modulated light, the reflected light from other than the above-mentioned mark, and all the reflected light from the surrounding area are combined. Distinguish from light.

(e) By changing the wavelength of the light incident on the mark to be detected, the light whose wavelength has been changed is distinguished from the reflected light from objects other than the above-mentioned mark and all light from the vicinity of the device.

(f) By making the reflection conditions of the mark different from the reflection conditions of its surroundings, the light reflected from the mark and the light reflected from its surroundings are distinguished.

(g) By increasing the distance between marks, the reflected light from the mark to be detected is distinguished from the reflected light from other marks existing in the vicinity.

etc. will be considered.

The present invention was devised for the purpose of improving the signal-to-noise ratio by particularly improving the above-mentioned items (b) and (f). The detected surface portion is arranged such that the surface thereof is at least adjacent to the circumferential portion of the detected surface portion and faces in a different direction with respect to a surface located close to the detected surface portion.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the amount of reflected light that enters the sensor from surfaces other than the detected surface portion is extremely reduced, making it possible to provide a highly reliable article sorting device.

Next, an embodiment of an article sorting device to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, the article sorting device 30 according to this embodiment has an address section 32 for specifying the address of the article.
and an address detection section 34 for detecting the designated address.

This address portion 32 is inserted into a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped notch 36 formed at a predetermined corner (ridgeline) of the container 35 and is held in the container 35 .

The address section 32 also includes a movable indicator 38 and a fixed indicator 40, respectively, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. Address section 3
The shaft 4 has both ends fixed at both side walls 45 and 46 of the shaft 4.
8 is penetrated.

As a result, the movable indicator 38 has a shaft 48 passing through the through hole 42 and a frame of the address section 32.
The fixed indicator 40 is slidably supported in the axial direction of the shaft 48 in a position controlled by a rear wall 50 and a bottom wall 52 that are perpendicular to each other, and the fixed indicator 40 is in contact with the side wall 45 of the address section 32. It is fixed in place.

Note that these indicators 38 and 40 are formed by cutting out the upper right corner in FIGS. 2 and 3 to form, for example, an inclined surface forming an angle of approximately 45 degrees, and furthermore, the movable indicator 38 and the fixed indicator 40 have an inclined surface having, for example, an angle of approximately 45 degrees. Reflective tape 56 as a mark forming a detection surface with good reflection efficiency.
57 are attached and provided respectively.

That is, the planes of the tape 56.57 are oriented in different directions relative to the surface of the container 35 and the surface of the wall 50.52 of the address section 32, which are located adjacent to or in close proximity to the circumference on which the tape 56.57 is provided. It means that it is suitable for you.

These reflective tapes used as marks56.5
7 must be determined by taking into account the thickness of the entire device and the ability to resolve marks, etc., and these may be, for example, 5 x 25 mm.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a hole 59 is formed in the movable indicator 38 and opens facing the rear wall 50 of the address section 32.
3 is stored.

That is, one end of the pressing spring 61 is in contact with the bottom wall 59a of the hole 59, and the other end is in contact with the ball 63, so that the ball 6
3 is constantly pressed against the rear wall 50.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of approximately hemispherical recesses 65 are formed in the rear wall 50 of the address section 32 at predetermined intervals at positions corresponding to the aforementioned balls 63, and The bottom wall 52 has, for example, a right side (third
(see figure) are engraved with numbers r□, ~ "9".

Therefore, when the ball 63 engages the recess 65 formed in the rear wall 50, the movable indicator 38 is held in its locked position unless an external force is applied in the axial direction of the shaft 48.

On the other hand, the address detection unit 34 includes sensors 67 and 68 for detecting reflected light from reflective tapes 56 and 57 attached to the movable indicator 38 and the fixed indicator 40, respectively, and these sensors 67 and 68 in predetermined positions. It is comprised of a support member 70 for supporting at a location.

Then, a plurality of address detectors 34, for example ten address detectors 34,
As shown in the drawings and FIG. 4, they are arranged on the upper left side of the container 35 along the moving direction of the container 35, and are arranged at a predetermined interval from each other along the moving direction of the container 35.

Furthermore, when the sensors 67 and 68 provided in each address detection section 34 correspond to the aforementioned reflective tapes 56 and 57, respectively, they emit light almost perpendicularly to the surfaces of these reflective tapes 56 and 57. The sensors 67 and 68 are arranged so that these reflected lights are incident on the sensors 67 and 68 at approximately right angles.

Note that the distances between the sensor 67 and the reflective tape 56 and between the sensor 68 and the reflective tape 57 are approximately equal, and the distances may be, for example, 50 to 100 mm.

The sensors 67 of these ten address detection units 34
, 68 is, for example, a sensor 67a of the address detection unit 34a located first along the moving direction of the container 35 (i.e., the direction of arrow B in FIGS. 2 and 4) as shown in FIG. , 58a is the reference position where the fixed indicator 40 is placed and the number "0" carved on the bottom wall 52.
", and the distance between the sensors 67b and 68b of the second address detection section 34b is arranged so as to match the distance between the reference position and the number "1". , and so on, similarly, the intervals between the sensors of the third to first Oth address detection units are arranged to match the intervals between the above-mentioned reference position and the numbers "3" to "9".

Next, the container 35 when using the above-mentioned sorting device 30
The selection operation will be explained below.

In the description of this operation, it is assumed that the movable indicator 38 is located at a position corresponding to the number "5" engraved on the bottom wall 52 of the address section 32, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

First, the container 35 addressed as described above is conveyed, for example, by the belt conveyor 80 in the direction of arrow B in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The address detection section 3 includes sensors 67e and 68e that are arranged at an interval equal to the interval between the reference position where the fixed indicator 40 is arranged and the number "5".
When this container 35 is conveyed below 4e (for example, the fifth in the moving direction of the container 35), these sensors 5
The light emitted from 7e and 68e is the movable indicator 38
and the reflective tapes 56, 57 attached to the fixed indicators 40, respectively, at almost right angles, and the respective reflected lights enter the sensors 67e, 68e corresponding to the reflective tapes 56, 57.

As a result, these sensors 67e and 68e detect strong light at the same time.

When such strong light is incident, the amount of light received by these sensors 67e and 68e increases rapidly as shown in FIG. It is converted into a pulse signal as shown in the figure.

In this case, as shown in Figure 6b, the amount of light received by the sensors has steep rise and fall characteristics (that is, there is little noise), so the amount of light received by these sensors is reliably converted into pulses. obtain.

These two pulse signals are then supplied as address signals to the direction conversion driving circuit of the container 35, and the container 35
5 is moved to a branch belt 81e by appropriate means and conveyed to a predetermined storage location.

According to the article sorting device 30 configured as described above, the surface of the reflective tape 56,57 serving as a mark to be detected is placed adjacent to or close to the periphery of the reflective tape 56,57. The reflective tapes 56 and 57 are arranged so as to face in different directions with respect to the surfaces of the rear wall 50 and the bottom wall 52 of the front surface and the address section 32, and the light from the sensors 67 and 68 is incident on and reflected at almost right angles to the reflective tapes 56 and 57. With this configuration, the surface of the container 35 and the address section 32
Almost no reflected light from the side walls 45, 46, rear wall 50, bottom wall 52, etc., that is, light that becomes noise, enters the sensors 67, 68, and therefore the reflective tape 56.
Only the reflected light from 57 enters the corresponding sensors 67 and 68, so that the influence of noise can be effectively prevented.

Furthermore, since the reflective tapes 56 and 57 are provided on the inclined surface as described above, the effective length of the mark to be detected can be increased, and therefore the effective reflection area can be increased to make the signal light stronger.

In this way, although the structure of this sorting device 30 is extremely simple, it is possible to further improve the signal-to-noise ratio, and therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent malfunctions.

Although the present invention has been described above based on one embodiment, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and can be further modified based on the technical idea of the present invention.

For example, if the running speed of the belt conveyor is constant, instead of providing a pair of sensors 67 and 68, only one sensor 67 or 68 is used to detect the reflected light from the first reflected light to the next reflected light. The address may be read by measuring the time until detection.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the address section 32 is
It may be placed and fixed on the upper surface of 5.

In this case, since the address portion 32 protrudes from the top surface of the container 35, a recess 72 with a corresponding shape is provided at the bottom of the container 35 so that when the container 35 is loaded, the address portion 32 is Preferably, it is housed in a recess.

In addition, as shown in FIG.
In this case, the sensors 67 and 68 may be arranged along the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the container 35 so as to correspond to the reflective tapes 56 and 57.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the sensor also serves as a light projector, and the sensor emits light and the reflected light is detected, but a light source separate from the sensor is provided, and the light from this light source is incident on the reflective tape. Alternatively, the reflected light may be detected.

As described above, the present invention arranges the detection surface portion so that the surface of the detection surface portion is at least adjacent to the circumferential portion of the detection surface portion, and further faces in a different direction with respect to a surface located close to the detection surface portion. Therefore, although the structure is extremely simple, the amount of reflected light that enters the sensor from surfaces other than the detection surface is extremely small, the influence of noise is extremely low, and malfunctions are extremely low.It is a highly reliable product. A sorting device can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a container in which a conventional article sorting device is used. 2 to 8 are for showing an embodiment of an article sorting device to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view when the article sorting device of the present invention is used in a container. , FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the address section of the sorting device, FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing the container sorting situation, FIG. A graph showing changes in the amount of light received by the sensor due to movement, Figure 6a is a waveform diagram of a pulse signal according to the amount of light received by the sensor, Figures 7 and 8
Each figure is a perspective view showing a modified example of the article sorting device of the present invention. In addition, in the symbols used in the drawings, 30...
... Sorting device, 32 ... Address section, 34 a
~34 j...Address detection section, 38...
...Movable indicator, 40...Fixed indicator, 56...Reflective tape, 57...
Reflective tape, 67 a to 67 j...Sensor,
68 a to 68 j... Sensors.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In an article sorting device configured to sort articles by providing a detected surface portion to be detected that reflects incident light on an article and detecting reflected light from the detected surface portion with a sensor, the detected surface portion An article sorting device characterized in that the detected surface portion is arranged such that the surface thereof faces at least in a different direction with respect to a surface located adjacent to, and further close to, the circumferential portion of the detected surface portion.