JPS6393666A - Conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Objective of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention is useful for transporting various objects such as medical records, slips, and medicines from one point to another in general hospitals, etc. The present invention relates to a conveyance device suitable for a system that conveys to a destination point.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in a general hospital, for example, a case conveyor is used to transfer medical records, slips, and other items between the medical affairs department and the examination room. Conveyance is carried out by various means such as air shooters and vertical conveyors for heavy articles. In addition, as another transport method, a method is used in which a tracked vehicle is used to transport the above-mentioned articles by the same transport device.

However, the former transport method requires a plurality of different types of transport means, and in order to improve suitability, it is necessary to provide various transport means at the same location. If the various conveyance means are not provided in the same place as described above, the distance traveled by the staff until they go to pick up the necessary conveyance means will be long, resulting in extremely poor efficiency. On the other hand, although the latter transport method is capable of transporting all kinds of articles with the same model, it is insufficient for transporting objects such as medical charts and slips that require high speed and maneuverability. In addition, although the air shooter has high speed, it is sensitive to heavy loads, and on a curved conveyance path, space is required to install a device to prevent noise, air noise, exhaust noise, etc. generated during travel. Furthermore, it is difficult to run a plurality of vehicles in one travel area, and therefore there is a problem in that the throughput is insufficient for mass transportation. Additionally, in systems that transport large quantities, equipment failures tend to occur more easily than in systems that transport small quantities. If a partial failure or accident occurs in such a system for mass transportation, the entire system will deteriorate, resulting in an inefficient system.

In addition, the transport cases transported from the main line to the branch line stations are closed and presented to the operator in an irregular posture, so the operator must take out the objects to be transported each time the transport case arrives. However, there is an inconvenience in that the transport case must be opened manually after the transport case is made easier.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and there is a device at the end of the station that automatically opens the transport case that has been transported, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a conveyance device that conveys and presents the above-mentioned conveyance case in a horizontal direction so that objects can be easily taken out.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to solve the above problems by
A main line that is installed under the ceiling or under the floor to transport transport cases with openable and closable lids that store objects to be transported, and a main line that branches off from the middle of this main line to transport the transport cases above or above the floor. In the conveying device, the station is installed on the floor and horizontally conveys the conveying case. It is constructed by having a buffer section for temporarily accumulating the data and presenting it to the operator.

(Function) That is, by having the present invention configured as described above, the transport cases transferred from the branch line to the station in the horizontal direction are temporarily accumulated in the buffer section and presented to the operator. In this case, the lid of the transport case can be opened to easily store the transported object.

(Example) The present invention will be described below based on an example shown in FIGS. 1 to 14. In Fig. 1, (A) is a transport case for storing objects (A) of different sizes, such as medical charts, slips, ringers, etc. This transport case 0) has the same external shape, but The shape of the inside thereof is determined to match the size of the transported object (A) to be stored. For example, the objects to be transported (80) such as medical records and slips are placed inside the transport case (A) as shown in Figure 1 (a).
A pair of spring plates ■ are arranged facing each other, and the above-mentioned conveyed object (A1) is
By holding them, it is possible to prevent shaking and also to facilitate taking out/putting in. In addition, in the case of an object to be transported (A2) such as Ringer, if it rattles inside the transport case (A), it will be a problem, so a separate body should be installed between the transport case (A) and the object to be transported (A2). Inner case ■
to prevent rattling.

Next, (a) is a transport case consisting of a main body ■ and an openable/closable lid (b) as shown in Fig. 2, and the main body ■ and the lid 0 are connected to a hinge part (3) having an elastic member. The object to be transported (A) is stored in the main body (2) and locked by closing the lid (0).This lock can be opened by hand, Conveyed object (A)
It is so that you can take it out.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a transport system, for example, in a general hospital, in which the above-mentioned transport case is used for transport. In the figure, (11) is a main conveyance path for conveying the conveyance case G), and this main conveyance path (11) runs above each floor, such as within the ceiling or under the ceiling. This main conveyance path (
Multiple branch transport paths (12) extend from the medical affairs section, internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, dentistry, etc.
) are provided in a branched manner to transport the transport case (a) to a position that is easy to operate on each floor.

As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the main conveyance path (11) is configured to convey a conveyance body (14) having a housing section (13) for a conveyance case (A) at high speed.

That is, the carrier (14) has a plurality of axles (15)...
It is attached to two guide rails (17), (17) via a support member (16) equipped with .

Further, the transport of the transport body (14) is carried out using a secondary conductor (18) provided on the transport body (14) side and thrust applying means (first conductor) provided at predetermined intervals on the main transport path (11) side. ) and a stator (19).

Note that (21) is a casing that covers the main conveyance path (11), and this casing (21) has a lower case (21a) and a lower case (21) for easy inspection and maintenance.
It consists of an upper case (21b) that is detachable from the upper case (21b).

Further, from the main conveyance path (11), there is a branch conveyance path (12).
A linear motor (
20), and has a stator (19) of conveyor body (14)...
・Transportation body stopping parts (22) that can stop the transporting body as necessary, and moving the transporting body stopping parts (22) to respective transport cases corresponding to these transporting body stopping parts (22)... A transfer means (23) for loading is provided (see FIG. 7). Then, the main conveyance path (11
) and the branch conveyance path (12), i.e., to the conveyance case (containing the conveyed items (A) such as medical records, slips, ringers, etc.), or to the conveyed articles (A) ) The empty transport case 0) from which it has been removed can be automatically transferred.

The transfer means (23) is constructed as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

1/- That is, the main conveyance path (1
A guide shaft (24) is installed in a state perpendicular to the direction of movement in (1), and this guide shirt (24)
4), a movable member (26) equipped with a push-out plate (25) is slidably attached. In addition, the movable member (26)
A timing belt (28) is connected to the timing belt (28) via a connecting member (27).
) are connected, and this timing belt (28) is connected to pulleys (29) disposed near both ends of the guide shaft (24).
), (29) (only one is shown). One of the pulleys (29L (29)) is configured to be driven by a pulse motor (not shown) via a reduction gear train (not shown), and a push-out plate (25) is attached as the pulse motor is driven. Movable parts (
26) is adapted to reciprocate in the direction of arrow Y.

The push-out plate (25) is located at a height that pushes the side surface of the transport case (25), and its reciprocating movement causes the transport body (1
4) Transfer the transport case (to) held within the branch transport path (
12) to the receiving/delivery section (3o), or the transport case 6) in the receiving/delivery section (3o).
is loaded on the carrier (14).

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the transport body (14) has a transport case (3) with a holding frame portion (31a) having an almost inverted shape.

(31b), and the carrier (14
) is configured such that only the front-rear direction along the moving direction of the transport body (14) and the vertical direction are restricted; It has a structure that allows it to move freely in the left and right directions.

For this reason, the holding frame portion (31a) of the carrier (14), (
31b) is provided with case fixing means (32), (32) for fixing the case (31b) to the conveyance case housed in the housing section (13) so that it will not come out during conveyance.

The case fixing means (32) has a structure as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. That is, the holding frames (31a) and (31b) of the carrier (14) are provided with fixing members (33) formed by bending both ends of the wire in the same direction and then bending the tip downward. , (33) are the supporting shafts (
34) and (34) are rotatably attached.

Springs (35), (35) as biasing bodies are connected to both ends of the fixed member (33), respectively, and are in positions where they are in constant contact with the stoppers (36), (36), as shown by solid lines. Both ends (33a) of the fixing member (33)
), (33a) are urged to be in positions facing the accommodating portion (13). Then, the transport case (a) housed in the housing part (13) is inserted into the four tip parts (33a).
It is designed to be held by...

On the other hand, each of the transport body stopping parts (22)... is provided with a release means (37) for releasing the fixing operation by the case fixing means (32) as necessary. This release means (37)
The pair of push-down bars (3g) and (38) are lowered through a cylinder (not shown), and the midway portions of the fixing members (33) and (33) are fixed with a spring as shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 5. (3
5).

It is configured to push down and rotate against the urging force (35). Then, due to the rotational displacement movement of the fixing members (33), (33), both tips (33a), (33a)
As shown by the two-dot chain lines in FIG. 5, they are each moved to a position where insertion and removal of the transport case (A) is not hindered.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the branch conveyance path (12) faces the conveyance body stop part (22) and receives the conveyance case (A) conveyed from the main conveyance path (11), and also receives an empty conveyance case (A). A receiving/loading section (40) for storing the transported object (A) in the transport case (A) and transporting it to the main transport path (11) is provided at the end of one transport path (41). , and on the side of the main transport path (11) of the branch transport path (12), there is a stage (42) capable of accommodating three transport cases in two rows, that is, a total of six transport cases. Transport case (
) is configured to be able to temporarily accumulate.

Furthermore, pushing means (45) shown in FIG. 7 are arranged on both sides of the stage (42), and receive/receive the transport case (toward) transported from the main transport path (11). The main transport path (11
) side.

In addition, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the branch conveyance path (12) installed on the medical affairs section floor on the first floor shown in FIG. 3, that is, the shipping and arrival station.
50) is an operation unit for controlling the drive of the main conveyance path (11) and the branch conveyance path (12), and the conveyance case (50) that has been conveyed through the main conveyance path (11) and the branch conveyance path (12).
4) is controlled by the operating section (50) and presented in the direction in which the lid is opened. When the transport case (A) arrives, the arrival is displayed on the operation panel (51), and a chime (not shown) or the like is used to announce the arrival. Also, when shipped, it will be placed in a transport case)
is provided with an opening/closing detection section (not shown) that detects whether the lid body 0 is opened or closed, and when a destination is specified on the operation panel (51), the opening/closing detection section detects whether the lid body 0 is It detects whether it is closed or not, and the lid body (0
When the receiving/throwing part (4o) is closed, the paper is transported upward along the transport path (41).

In addition, an infrared danger prevention means (not shown) is provided near where the transport case (4) is operated, and when this danger prevention means detects the transport case (A), the transport case (A) is removed. We have decided to stop shipping.

Figure 9 is an example of a separate dispatch and arrival station installed on the second floor medical record room floor shown in Figure 3.
Upon arrival, the lid (0) of the transport case (A) is automatically opened by the built-in opening mechanism (52), and the transported object (A) is detected in the transport case (A). It is detected by a detection means (not shown) whether or not the object (A) to be transported is present in the transport case) is sterilized by an ultraviolet sterilizer (not shown). On the other hand, the transport case (A) in which the transported object (A) is present is not sterilized to avoid any influence on the transported object (A), and the transport case (A) is moved to the temporary accumulation section (81). It is designed to be transported horizontally.

In addition, when the arrival time is displayed on the operation panel (53) and notified by sound (for example, a chime, etc.), the lid body (53)
The transport case (2) with the opened transport case (2) is transported in the direction shown by the arrow and sequentially stored in a temporary storage section (not shown). At this time, if there is only one item (A) in the conveyance case that has arrived, the conveyance case is stopped at the position shown in (a) in FIG. 9, and the subsequent conveyance object (A) is stored. A warning is always given by a display on the operation panel (53), a chime, etc. so that the object (A) to be transported in the transport case (A) is not removed until the transport case (A) arrives.

When the transported object (A) is taken out from the transport case (A), the transported object (A) is detected by a content detection section (not shown), but at this time, if necessary, it is postponed. There is.

In addition, b shown in Figure 9 is the position where the transport case (in which the object to be transported (A) is stored) is shipped, and after placing the transport case (A) in position b, ) By pressing the destination setting and shipping buttons above, the transport case (a) moves to the built-in closing mechanism (54), and the closing mechanism (54) closes the lid (to). is automatically closed and transported to the main transport path (11) side.

In addition, the transport case (A) in the area before position b is in an open state, so that following position b, several destination settings and the storage of the transported object (A) can be performed. It has become.

In addition, a content detection unit (not shown) is attached to each stop part (22) of the transport case) to detect the stored object (A). Alternatively, it may be used to distinguish between shipments or to confirm operations at the time of shipment.

Figure 10 shows an example of the operation panels (51) and (53) provided at the station on the branch transport path (12), and shows the name of the destination, the name of the shipping address, and the time of shipping and arrival of the transport case (4). The station name is displayed. In the figure, the arrows are set according to the quantity of transport cases temporarily accumulated in the stage (42), and if the destination etc. are not lit up, the arrows indicate the empty transport cases (A). is shown to be moving within the stage (42). In addition, you can input the destination during operation using the numeric keypad (5
5), the destination name is displayed when the number is input. Further, by pressing a shipping button (not shown), transportation of the items (into the transportation case) is started. Furthermore, the operation panel (51), (5
While it is displayed in 3), it is also possible to change the destination by performing an appropriate operation.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the main parts of the control system.

In the figure, (61-1), (61-2L (61-3)
...(61-n) is for example the medical record room, internal medicine, pediatrics, etc.
...Stations set up on the floor of each clinical department such as urology, (62-1), (62-2), (62-3)
)...(62-n) is the above station (61-IL
(61-2), (61-3)...This is a CPU that performs group management of the branch conveyance path (12)... communicating with (61-n) and the thrust applying means. Further, (63) a CPU for controlling the beam near motor (20) to stop at a fixed position by frequency control, (64-1) to (64-m);
is a CPU for controlling the speed of the conveyor (14);
The carrier (14) carries CPUs (64-1) to (6
4-m) to travel along the main conveyance path (11) in the direction indicated by the arrow. Further, (65) is an induction motor connected to the CPU (63), and this motor (65) has cPUs (64-1) to (64-m) so that the conveyor (14) can be easily stopped. )
CPU (66-1), (66-2) -(6
6-m) is attached.

In addition, the above CPU (66-1), (66-2)
- (66-m) is the stopping induction motor (67-m)
-1), (67-2)... Loading the transport case (to) from the transport body (14) stopped at (67-m) to the receiving/delivery section (39) of the branch transport path (12) It also controls loading, transport/temporary accumulation. In addition, (69) is a central control unit that is connected to the central distribution board (68) and controls the entire device;
69) is a main control unit (71) that is connected to the monitoring panel (70) and controls the transport of the transport body (14) on the main transport path (11) and delivery/receipt to/from the branch transport path (12); The branch conveyance path (12) is connected to this main control section (71).
・Due to abnormal signals such as malfunctions and accidents, the branch conveyance path (
12), for example, a sub-control section (72) that stops the transfer/receipt of the carrier (14) to the station (61-3) and causes it to be transported back to the sender.

In the figure, (73)... is each station (61-1).
) to (61-n), and this optical fiber (73) is connected to the station (
61). When an abnormality is detected, an abnormality signal is input to the sub-control unit (72). In addition, the thick line (74) in the figure shows the AC system wiring, and the thin line (75) shows the DC system signal line.

Next, the flow of the transport case in the present invention based on the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. 12(a) to (c) are, for example, 1 shown in FIG.
Figures 13 (a) to (c) show the flow of transport cases at station A of the branch transport path installed in the medical affairs section of the 1st floor.
shows the flow of transport cases being transported from station A to station B on the branch transport path installed in the medical record room on the second floor shown in FIG. 3, for example, and this flow is controlled by the control shown in FIG. controlled by the system.

Here, above station A (12A), there are 3 stages in 2 rows, that is, a total of 6 stages, and each stage is provided with a temporary accumulation section (not shown) for loading/inputting. The operating section (5o) of station B (12B) is connected to the operating section (5o) by one conveyance line.

Now, when the transported object (A) is transported to the station B (12B), the transported object (A) is An empty transport case that is not stored, that is, Nα2. Nα3 to the conveyance path (41) of the stage (42)
It is transported to the end of the side road (see Fig. 12(a)). and,
Using six stages, the Nn 2 and Nα 3 transport cases (4) are sequentially moved to the side, that is, to the stage (42).
) to the receiving/delivering section (39) side. At this time, the No. 2 and Na 3 transport cases 0) are present in the receiving/transfer section (39),
On the conveyance path (41) side is the Na1 conveyance case 0).
It becomes possible to input.

Therefore, the Nα4 transport case (4) stopped at the stop part (22) of the main transport path (11) J- is always a transport case in which the transported object (A) is stored, and the medical affairs department The transport case 0) transported from station A (12A) of When the transport case (A) for Nα3 is stopped at the transport section (22), the transport case (A) for Nα3 is sent to the receiving/loading section (40) by the drive of the receiving/transfer section (39) of the stage (42), and is then transported to the transport case for Nα2. Case 0) is left as it is on the stage (42) at the end of the receiving/delivering section (39) (see FIG. 12(b)).

Therefore, the transport case (A) of Nα4, which is stopped at the stop section (22) of the main transport path (11), is driven by the transfer means (23) under the control of the CPU (66).
39). And the above receiving/delivery department (39
) side, the transport case (a) of Nα4 is replaced with the transport case 0) of Nα3, and the receiving/
It is supplied onto the delivery section (39) side stage (42).

(See FIG. 12(C)).

Next, the transport case (A) of Nα1 to be shipped is put into the receiving/loading section (40), and station A (12A
) by setting the destination on the operation panel (51).
The conveyance path (41) starts driving and moves to the receiving/delivery section (3).
9). Then, the conveyor 0) which is stopped by the stopping induction motor (67) is loaded into the conveyance case Nα1, and then the motor (71) is driven to set it in the target medical record room. It is transported to station B (12B). Station B (12B
), as shown in FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b), the Nα1 transport case (a) that has been transported to the stop part (22) of the main transport path (11) is unloaded, and the nearby Load the transportation case (a) for Na14 to be shipped prepared in the container (see Fig. 13(c)). At this time, transport case 0
), if the destination is specified, the transport will be carried to the destination station, but if the destination is not specified, the destination can be set on the operation panel (53) as necessary to receive/deliver. The transport body (1
It is accommodated in the accommodation section (13) of 4) and can be driven to the destination station.

In this way, the transport body (14) always has a transport case (A) containing the transported object (A), and this transport case G) is transported to each stop part (22). When the number of transport cases (4) on the main transport path (11) increases, the number of transport cases (4) at each stop section (22) can be kept constant by replacing them with empty transport cases (a). can be controlled without waste. Moreover, such transport control makes it possible to always supply a certain number of necessary empty transport cases (a) to the temporary accumulation section.

Figures 14(a) to (c) are station A (12A)
This figure shows the movement of each transport case (A) when the transport case (4) arrives. In Figure 14,
The conveyance body (14) is controlled by the CPU (65) to stop at the conveyance body stop part (22) connected to the target branch conveyance path (12).
) to stop.

Then, when the transport case 0) of Nα1 accommodated in the transport body (14) arrives, a display is displayed on the operation unit (not shown) of the station A (12A) in accordance with the arrival (Fig. 14). (see (a)). Then, according to the input from the operation section, the Nα1 transport case @) is cPU (66
) and are unloaded to a temporary accumulation section (not shown) near the receiving/delivery section (39). Therefore, when the conveyance case (A) for Nα12, 13, and 14 to be shipped is moved upward by driving the belt (not shown) on the conveyance path (41), the conveyance case (A) for Nα12 is transferred to the CPU
(67) to accommodate the container (13) of the carrier (14).
), and at the same time the transport case (a) of Nα12 is transported to the destination station (Fig. 14(b)
)reference). Thereafter, the unloaded Nα1 transport case (a) moves from the temporary accumulation section to the take-in transport section (42), and can be easily controlled so that it arrives at the case receiving section (41) (14th (See figure (Q)).

When the conveyance body (14) is conveyed to the target branch conveyance path (12), if the branch conveyance path (12) is malfunctioning due to a failure or an accident, the conveyance body (14) is transported via the optical fiber (73). Since the abnormality signal is transmitted to the sub-control unit (72), the transport body (14) moves to the branch transport path (where the abnormality has occurred).
Even if the transportation of the transportation case (A) to 12) is stopped, or even if the transportation case (A) stops on the branch transportation path (12) where an abnormality has occurred, the above abnormality signal will cause the transportation back to the shipping source. It is possible. Therefore, the main conveyance path (11
) can control the transport of the transport case @) without waste.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to transport a large number of storage cases containing objects to be transported using the same model at high speed from the main line to the branch lines, and it is possible to operate even if an abnormality occurs in some of the branch lines. It can be transported without reducing the rate.

In addition, the station is equipped with a buffer section that horizontally presents the transported transport case, and the transport case is presented with its lid open, increasing the efficiency of the operator's work. It is effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a conveyance system to which the present invention is applied;
FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing the configuration of the main conveyance path, FIG. 5 is a schematic slope view showing the vicinity of the conveyor stop part, and FIG. 6 is a schematic front view showing the fixing means of the conveyance case. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing the flow of transport cases between the main transport path and the branch transport path, FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a station showing an example of the branch transport path, and FIG. A schematic perspective view of a station showing an example, FIG. 10 a front view showing an example of an operation panel, FIG. 11 a system block diagram showing main parts of the entire control system, and FIGS. 12 (a) to (c). 13(a) to (C) are perspective views showing the flow of transport cases at the station in FIG. 9, and FIG. 14(a)
-(C) are perspective views showing the flow of transport cases at the time of arrival at the station shown in FIG. 8. A... Object to be transported 4. Transport case 6.6'...
・Lid body 11 Main conveyance path (main line) 12...
・Branch conveyance path (branch line)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A main line that is installed on the ceiling, attic, or under the floor of a building and that transports transport cases with openable and closable lids that store items to be transported, and a main line that branches off from the middle of this main line and is placed on the floor or under the floor. A branch line that transports the above-mentioned transport case to the floor, and a receiving/reception line for the above-mentioned transport case installed at the transport end of this branch line.
A conveyance device equipped with a station for loading, wherein the station has a buffer part installed on the floor to convey conveyance cases in a horizontal direction, temporarily accumulate them, and present them to an operator. Device. (2) The transport device according to claim 1, wherein the buffer section has a lid opening means for opening and presenting the lid of the transport case.