TW201836951A - Article transportation facility capable of inhibiting the information amount communicated between the control device and the conveyor device - Google Patents

Abstract

A conveyer device for transporting articles is configured to have a plurality of conveyor units arranged and connected along a transporting path of articles. A control section of the conveyor unit transmits transportation destination information that is received from a control device or an upstream side conveyor unit to a downstream side conveyor unit. The control section of a branch conveyor unit controls a communication section and a conveyor section so that when the transportation destination unit is its own conveyor unit, the article is stopped at its own conveyor unit; when the transportation destination unit is one of a plurality of downstream side conveyor units, the article is transferred to the transportation destination unit; and when the transportation destination unit is not any one of the plurality of downstream side conveyor units, the article is transferred to a specified downstream side unit.

Description

Goods handling equipment

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article transport facility including a conveyor device for transporting articles, and a control device for transmitting transport information to the conveyor device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A conventional example of such an article transport facility is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-124139 (Patent Document 1). The article transporting device in Patent Document 1 includes a conveyor device. The conveyor device includes a main transporting conveyor section and a sub transporting conveyor section. The main transporting conveyor section includes a transfer conveyor section. In such a conveyor device, the command information is transmitted from the control device to the main conveying conveyor section or the sub conveying conveyor section, and each of the conveyor sections is controlled by the control device to be based on the instruction information. Drives the main conveying conveyor section or the sub conveying conveyor section. In addition, the conveyor device is formed on the transfer conveyor portion of the main conveyance conveyor unit, and can convey articles to the downstream side of the main conveyance conveyor unit so that the conveyed articles can be conveyed from the main conveyance conveyor unit. Transfer to the Deputy Conveyor Section.

Summary of the Invention Problems to Solve the Problems When controlling such a conveyor device, when the control device has a plurality of transfer conveyor parts on a conveying path of an article to be conveyed, the transfer devices must be used for the plurality of transfer devices. Each of the conveyor sections sends instruction information to control the transfer conveyor section. Therefore, the control device may send one item of information but must send the conveyance information to a plurality of transfer conveyor parts, resulting in an increase in the amount of information communicated between the control device and the conveyor unit.

Therefore, what is desired is the realization of an article transfer device that can suppress the amount of information communicated between the control device and the conveyor device.

In view of the characteristic configuration of the above-mentioned article conveying equipment, it is provided with a conveyor device for conveying articles, and a control device for transmitting conveying information to the conveyor device. The conveyor device is arranged in a plurality of units along the conveying path of the articles. Conveyor units, each of the plurality of conveyor units includes a conveyor unit on which items are conveyed, a communication unit that can communicate with other adjacent conveyor units, and control the communication unit and the conveyor The control unit is configured to send the destination information of the destination unit, which is the destination unit of the article, to the destination unit of the destination, and send the destination unit to the destination unit of the destination unit. Each of the aforementioned conveyor units transfers the articles received from the upstream conveyor unit to the downstream conveyor unit, which is adjacent to the upstream side of the own conveyor unit Conveyor unit, the downstream conveyor unit is the aforementioned conveyor unit on its own The control unit is configured to send the conveyance destination information received from the control device or the upstream-side conveyor unit to the downstream-side conveyor unit in the conveyor unit adjacent to the downstream side, in a plurality of the conveyor units. A branch conveyor unit including a plurality of downstream conveyor units is included, and one of the plurality of downstream conveyor units is set to a predetermined downstream unit. The control unit of the branch conveyor unit is The communication unit and the conveyor unit are controlled to: when the transfer destination unit shown in the received transfer destination information is the own conveyor unit, the article is stopped on the own conveyor A unit that sends the transfer destination information to the transfer destination unit when the transfer destination unit shown in the received transfer destination information is any one of the plurality of downstream conveyor units And transfer the item to the transfer destination unit, at the aforementioned transfer destination If the transfer destination unit shown in the information is not any of the plurality of downstream conveyor units, the transfer destination information is transmitted to the predetermined downstream unit, and the article is transferred to the predetermined downstream side. unit.

According to these characteristic configurations, the control device transmits the transfer destination information indicating the transfer destination unit to the transfer origin unit. The transport origin unit transmits the transport destination information received from the control device to the downstream conveyor unit. Conveyor units other than the transport origin unit and the transport destination unit transmit the transport destination information received from the upstream conveyor unit unit to the downstream conveyor unit. The destination unit receives the destination information from the upstream conveyor unit. In this manner, the transfer destination information received by the transfer destination unit can be sequentially transmitted from the transfer starting unit to the transfer destination unit in order.

In addition, even if there is a divergent conveyor unit in the article conveyance path from the starting point unit to the destination unit, it is possible to set one of the plurality of downstream conveyor units of the diverting conveyor unit. To specify the downstream unit. The branch conveyor unit sends the destination information to the destination unit indicated by the received destination information when it is not one of its own conveyor unit and a plurality of downstream conveyor units. The downstream unit is specified, and the article is transferred to the downstream unit. Further, when the divergent conveyor unit has any one of the plurality of downstream conveyor units described above as the destination unit indicated in the destination information, the divergent conveyor unit transmits the destination information to the destination unit, and The item is transferred to the transfer destination unit. When the transfer destination unit indicated by the transfer destination information is its own conveyor unit, the branch conveyor unit is a conveyor unit that stops the article. By setting a conveyor unit located downstream of a predetermined downstream unit as a transfer destination unit in advance, and by transmitting the above-mentioned article transportation information to the predetermined downstream unit and transferring the article to the predetermined downstream side, it is possible to transfer The transfer destination information is sent to the transfer destination unit and the article can be transferred to the transfer destination unit.

In this way, the control device may send the information of the transfer destination to the transfer origin unit, and the conveyor device may transfer the article from the transfer origin unit to the transfer destination unit even if there are divergent conveyors during the transfer. Therefore, it is possible to suppress information transmitted and received between the control device and the conveyor device.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention 1. Embodiment Embodiments of the article transporting equipment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the article transport facility includes a conveyor device 1 that transports articles, and a control device H that transmits transport information to the conveyor device 1. The conveyor device 1 is a plurality of conveyor units 2 connected and arranged along a conveyance path of an article. In addition, the connection arrangement shows a case where an article is arranged to be able to be transported from one of the two adjacent conveyor units 2 to another, and it is not necessary to mechanically connect the two adjacent conveyor units to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, as the conveyor unit 2, there are a first conveyor unit 4, a second conveyor unit 5, a swing conveyor unit 6, and a lifting conveyor unit 7. By appropriately arranging the conveyor units 2, the conveyor device 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be configured. In addition, in addition to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, the first conveyor unit 4 is displayed as a square, the second conveyor unit 5 is displayed as a rectangle, and the swing conveyor unit 6 is displayed as a circle. The lifting conveyor unit 7 is displayed as a square inner triangle. In addition, the first type conveyor unit 4 and the second type conveyor unit 5 correspond to a linear conveyor unit, and the swing conveyor unit 6 corresponds to a divergent conveyor unit.

As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, each of the conveyor units 2 includes a conveyor unit 10 on which a conveyed article is placed, a communication unit 11 capable of communicating with the control device H and other adjacent conveyor units 2, and a control unit. The control unit 12 of the conveyor unit 10 and the communication unit 11 and the article detection sensor 13 that is an article detection unit that detects the presence or absence of an article on the conveyor unit 10 of the own conveyor unit 2. The communication unit 11 includes a first communication unit 11A that can communicate with the control device H, and a second communication unit 11B that can communicate with other adjacent conveyor units 2. Each of the conveyor units 2 includes both a first communication section 11A and a second communication section 11B. In addition, the control unit 12 can determine that an abnormality has occurred in its own conveyor unit 2 when the same article is continuously detected by the article detection sensor 13 regardless of whether or not the conveyor unit 10 is instructed to drive. . As described above, the control unit 12 has a function as an abnormality detection unit that can detect an abnormality of the conveyor unit 2 itself. In addition, the conveyor unit 2 is provided with a cut-off detection sensor (not shown), which detects the cut-off of the belt provided in the conveyor unit 10, and this cut-off detection sensor It can also function as an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality of its own conveyor unit 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, although the first type of conveyor unit 4 includes the conveyor unit 10, the communication unit 11, the control unit 12, and the article detection sensor 13 described above, it does not include a lifting unit 14 or a swing described later. Department 15. The first type of conveyor unit 4 is configured so that articles can be transferred linearly by the conveyor unit 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, although the second conveyor unit 5 is provided with the above-mentioned conveyor unit 10, communication unit 11, control unit 12, and article detection sensor 13 in the same manner as the first conveyor unit 4, However, it does not include a lifting portion 14 or a turning portion 15 described later. Compared with the conveyor unit 10 of the first type conveyor unit 4, the conveyor unit 10 of the first type conveyor unit 4 is configured to be longer in the conveying direction. It is formed to be longer than the conveying distance of the first conveyor unit 4. In the present embodiment, the conveyance distance of the articles of the second type conveyor unit 5 is twice as long as the conveyance distance of the first type conveyor unit 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, in addition to the conveyor section 10, the communication section 11, the control section 12, and the article detection sensor 13 described above, the swing conveyor unit 6 is also provided with a swing section 15. The conveyor unit 10 is rotated around an axis in the vertical direction. The turning conveyor unit 6 is configured so that the conveying direction of the articles in the conveyor unit 10 can be changed by turning the conveyor unit 10 around the longitudinal axis by the turning unit 15.

As shown in FIG. 5, the elevating conveyor unit 7 includes an elevating unit 14 for elevating an article in addition to the conveyor unit 10, the communication unit 11, the control unit 12, and the article detection sensor 13 described above. The lifting section 14 includes a support 14A for supporting an article from below, and a lifting driving section (not shown) for lifting and lowering the supporting body 14A. The supporting body 14A is driven to a retreat height and a support height by being driven by the lifting driving section. Wherein, the retreat height is a height lower than the article supported by the conveyor section 10, and the support height is a height for supporting the article at a higher position than the article supported by the conveyor section 10. In the elevating conveyor unit 7, by lowering the support body 14A to the retreat height first, it is possible to place the conveyed articles on the conveyor unit 10 without causing interference with the support body 14A. In addition, by raising the support body 14A from the retreat height to the support height, the articles supported by the conveyor unit 10 can be supported by the support body 14A in a state of being lifted from the conveyor unit 10. Moreover, by lowering the support body 14A from the support height to the retreat height, the articles originally supported by the support body 14A can be unloaded to the conveyor unit 10.

In the conveyor device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the first conveyor unit 4, the second conveyor unit 5, and the swivel conveyor unit 6 are straight along the first conveyance path R1 and the second conveyance path R2. The first conveyor unit 4 is linearly connected and arranged along a connecting path R3 connecting the first conveying path R1 and the second conveying path R2. As shown by an arrow in FIG. 1, the conveyor device 1 transports articles along a first transport path R1 in a first direction X1 and transports articles along a second transport path R2 in a second direction. As shown by an arrow in FIG. 1, the conveyor device 1 is transported in the third direction Y1 or the fourth direction Y2 along the connection path R3.

Next, the conveyance of the article of the conveyor device 1 is demonstrated using the part enclosed by the one-point chain line in FIG. 1 as an example. As shown in FIG. 6, along the first conveying path R1, the rotary conveyor unit 6, the first conveyor unit 4, the rotary conveyor unit 6, the second conveyor unit 5, and the rotary conveyor are started from the upstream side. The units 6 are arranged in a sequential order. In addition, the elevating conveyor unit 7 is connected and arranged in a state adjacent to the rotary conveyor unit 6 in the third direction Y1. In addition, the conveyor device 1 transfers articles from the upstream side to the rotary conveyor unit 6, the first conveyor unit 4, the rotary conveyor unit 6, the second conveyor unit 5, and the rotary conveyor unit 6. Come in order. In addition, the swivel conveyor unit 6 is configured such that after the conveyor unit 6 has been received from the first conveyor unit 4 adjacent to the upstream side, the conveyor unit 10 can be rotated to transport the lift conveyor unit 7.

In this manner, each of the plurality of conveyor units 2 transfers the articles received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side of the own conveyor unit 2 to the handover to the own conveyor unit 2 Conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. Incidentally, in the case of the rotary conveyor unit 6 adjacent to the lifting conveyor unit 7 in FIG. 6, the articles received from the first type of conveyor unit 4 adjacent to the upstream side are alternately directed toward The second-type conveyor unit 5 or the elevating conveyor unit 7 adjacent to the downstream side is conveyed. In addition, the conveyor unit 2 may be assigned the symbol 2A, and the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side of the conveyor unit 2 may be referred to as the upstream conveyor unit 2B. The conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side of the conveyor unit 2A is referred to as a downstream-side conveyor unit 2C. That is, in FIG. 6, when the elevator conveyor unit 7 adjacent to the elevator conveyor unit 7 is set as its own conveyor unit 2A, the upstream side of the swing conveyor unit 6 is adjacent to the first The first-type conveyor unit 4 becomes the upstream-side conveyor unit 2B, and the second-type conveyor unit 5 and the elevating conveyor unit 7 adjacent to the downstream side of the swing conveyor unit 6 become the downstream-side conveyor unit 2C. In addition, although no symbol is added in FIG. 6, when the lifting conveyor unit 7 is set as its own conveyor unit 2A, the rotary conveyor unit 6 adjacent to the upstream side of the lifting conveyor unit 7 becomes The upstream conveyor unit 2B and the downstream conveyor unit 2C do not exist. As described above, in the conveyor unit 2, one of the upstream conveyor unit 2B and the downstream conveyor unit 2C may not exist, or one of the upstream conveyor unit 2B and the downstream conveyor unit 2C may exist. Or there are multiple cases on both sides.

Further, the rotary conveyor unit 6 includes a plurality of downstream-side conveyor units 2C, and one of the plurality of downstream-side conveyor units 2C is set as a predetermined downstream-side unit 2C '. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, in the rotary conveyor unit 6 adjacent to the elevator conveyor unit 7, the downstream conveyor unit 2C includes the second conveyor unit 5 and the elevator conveyor unit. 7. However, among these two conveyor units 2, the first type of conveyor unit 4 is set as a predetermined downstream-side unit 2C '.

The control unit 12 of the conveyor unit 2 stores the speed limit information and the change amount information. The speed limit information is information showing the speed limit of the conveyor unit 2 provided with the control unit 12. The change amount information is displayed on the Information on the variable amount of change in the conveying speed of the articles in the own conveyor unit 2. As shown in FIG. 7, as the conveying speed of the articles in the conveyor unit 2, 1 speed (1st), 2 speed (2nd) faster than 1 speed, 3 speed (3rd) faster than 2 speed, And 4th (4th) faster than 3rd. In this embodiment, the first speed is set to 15 m / min, the second speed is set to 30 m / min, the third speed is set to 45 m / min, and the fourth speed is set to 60 m / min. In addition, one of the limit speeds, namely, the normal speed limit is the upper limit of the conveyance speed of the articles conveyed in the conveyor unit 2. In this embodiment, it is set to 60 m / min, which is the same as the 4 speed, or the same as the 2 speed. 30m / min.

The first type of conveyor unit 4 can transfer the article to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side at a speed when the article has stopped on the conveyor unit 10. In addition, the first type of conveyor unit 4 allows the articles received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side at 1 speed to stop on its own conveyor unit 2 and to be transferred to the downstream side as it is at 1 speed. The adjacent conveyor unit 2 and the speed increase to 2 speed are transferred to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. In addition, the first type of conveyor unit 4 can reduce the speed of items received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side by decelerating to 1 speed at 2 speeds. The 2 speed is transferred to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side as it is, and the speed is increased to 3 speed to transfer to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. In addition, the first type of conveyor unit 4 can reduce the speed of the articles received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side at 3 speeds to 2 speeds and transfer them to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. The 3 speed is transferred to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side as it is, and the speed is increased to 4 speed to transfer to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. In addition, the first type of conveyor unit 4 can transfer the articles received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side at the 4 speed to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side at the 4 speed as it is and decelerate. At 3 speeds, it is handed over to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent on the downstream side.

That is, in the first conveyor unit 4, the speed of 4 speeds, that is, 60 m / min is the normal-time speed limit of the own conveyor unit 2, and the speed-limit information that displays this normal-time speed limit is stored in the control section. 12 in. In the first type of conveyor unit 4, the value of the first speed is displayed (the value of "15" when the vehicle is accelerated from the stopped state to the first speed or when it is decelerated from the first speed to the stopped state) or the first speed The value of the speed difference from the 2nd speed (the value of "15" when accelerating from 1st to 2nd speed or decelerating from 2nd to 1st speed), etc. The amount of change in the conveying speed is shifted, and the amount of change information showing the amount of change is stored in the control unit 12.

The second type of conveyor unit 5 can transfer the article to the adjacent to the downstream side at any one of the speeds of 1 speed, 2 speed, 3 speed, and 4 speed when the article has stopped on the conveyor section 10. Conveyor unit 2. In addition, when the second conveyor unit 5 receives an article from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side at any of the first speed, the second speed, the third speed, and the fourth speed, it can make the article It stops on its own conveyor unit 2 and can deliver the article to the downstream-side conveyor unit 2C at any of the first speed, the second speed, the third speed, and the fourth speed. In the second type of conveyor unit 5, a speed of 60 m / min, which is a 4-speed speed, is the normal-time speed limit of the own conveyor unit 2, and the speed-limit speed information that displays this normal-time speed limit is stored in the control unit 12. In the second type of conveyor unit 5, the value of the 4th speed (the value of "60" when accelerating from the stopped state to the 4th speed or the case of decelerating from the 4th speed to the stopped state) and the like are displayed. The own conveyor unit 2 can change the amount of change in the conveying speed of the articles, and store the amount of change information showing the amount of change in the control unit 12. As described above, the amount of change of the second type of conveyor unit 5 (particularly in the case where plural stages of speed change can be performed in the own conveyor unit 2) is larger than the amount of change of the first type of conveyor unit 4.

The elevating conveyor unit 7 and the rotating conveyor unit 6 can transfer the article to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side at a speed when the article is stopped on the conveyor unit 10. also. The lifting conveyor unit 7 and the rotary conveyor unit 6 can stop the articles received from the upstream conveyor at one speed on their own conveyor unit 2 and transfer them to the adjacent one on the downstream side at the same speed as they are. Conveyor unit 2. In addition, the rotary conveyor unit 6 and the lifting conveyor unit 7 can transfer the articles received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side at the second speed to the conveyor unit adjacent to the downstream side at the second speed. 2. In the rotary conveyor unit 6 and the elevating conveyor unit 7, the 2-speed speed of 30 m / min is the normal-time speed limit of the own conveyor unit 2, and the speed-limit speed information that displays this normal-time speed limit is stored in the control Department 12. In addition, the value of the speed of the first speed is displayed in the swing conveyor unit 6 and the lift conveyor unit 7 (the value of "15" when the speed is accelerated from a stopped state to the speed 1 or when the speed is decelerated from the speed 1 to the stopped state). Or a value of 0 (a value of "0" in the case of maintaining a 2 speed), etc., is a change amount that can change the conveying speed of the article in its own conveyor unit 2, and the change amount information of the change amount is displayed Stored in the control section 12. As such, the amount of change of the rotary conveyor unit 6 or the lifting conveyor unit 7 (especially when receiving at 2 speeds) will be smaller than the amount of change of the first conveyor unit 4 or the second conveyor unit 5 Less change.

The control unit 12 of the conveyor unit 2 stores the address information of its own conveyor unit 2, the address information of the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side of its own conveyor unit 2, and its own conveyor unit. Address information of the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side of 2. Specifically, for example, in the rotary conveyor unit 6 adjacent to the lifting conveyor unit 7 in FIG. 6, the address information of its own conveyor unit 2 and the conveyor adjacent to the upstream side are stored. Address information of unit 2 which is the first type of conveyor unit 4 and address information of the conveyor unit 2 which is adjacent to the downstream side, that is, the second type of conveyor unit 5 and the lifting conveyor unit 7, but other information is not stored Address information for conveyor unit 2 of.

The control unit 12 of the conveyor unit 2 stores, in addition to the above-mentioned normal-time speed limitation, information indicating an abnormal-time speed limitation that is lower than the normal-speed limitation speed as the speed limitation. In addition, the control unit 12 of the conveyor unit 2 executes speed limit setting control. When the own conveyor unit 2 does not have an abnormality, the speed limit setting is set to the normal speed limit, and the speed limit is set by itself. When an abnormality has occurred in the conveyor unit 2, the speed limit is set to the speed limit during an abnormality. The control unit 12 of the conveyor unit 2 performs the speed limit setting control at a time interval set in advance. In addition, the control unit 12 of any of the first type conveyor unit 4, the second type conveyor unit 5, the swing conveyor unit 6, and the lifting conveyor unit 7 sets the limit speed at the time of abnormality to 0 m / min. .

The communication unit 11 (the second communication unit 11B) of the conveyor unit 2 is configured such that, among the plurality of conveyor units 2 constituting the conveyor device 1, only the conveyor adjacent to the conveyor unit 2 of the conveyor unit 2 is configured. Units 2 (conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side and conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side) communicate.

The control device H sends the destination information of the conveyance unit 2G which is the conveyance destination, which is the conveyance destination unit 2G, to the conveyance origin unit 2S which is the conveyance unit 2 of the conveyance origin. This transfer destination information includes information specific to the article transferred to the transfer destination unit 2G. In the conveyor device 1, the transfer start unit 2S, the transfer destination unit 2G, and the intermediate unit 2M (located in the transfer start unit 2S and the transfer destination in the transfer path are based on the transfer information that has been sent to the transfer origin unit 2S). Each of the one or a plurality of conveyor units 2) between the ground units 2G sends and receives information between the adjacent conveyor units 2 and sets a speed mode. The speed mode is displayed as shown in Figure 7 to FIG. 10 shows a mode of the article transfer speed when the article is transferred from the transfer starting unit 2S to the transfer destination unit 2G, and according to this speed mode, the article is transferred from the transfer starting unit 2S to the transfer destination unit 2G.

FIG. 7 shows a speed pattern when only the first type of conveyor units 4 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 7, when the conveyor unit 2 is connected and arranged from the transfer origin unit 2S to the transfer destination unit 2G, as the articles leave the transfer origin unit 2S, the transfer speed of the articles is gradually increased step by step. It is lifted up, and as the article approaches the transfer destination unit 2G, the conveyance speed of the article is reduced step by step, so that the article is stopped at the first conveyor unit 4 of the transfer destination unit 2G.

FIG. 8 shows a speed pattern in a case where the first conveyor unit 4, the swing conveyor unit 6, and the lifting conveyor unit 7 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 8, when the conveyor unit 2 is connected from the transfer origin unit 2S to the transfer destination unit 2G, as the articles leave the transfer origin unit 2S, the first conveyor unit 4 moves the The conveying speed of the articles is increased step by step (the conveying speed is maintained in the rotary conveyor unit 6), and the conveying speed of the articles is approached in the first conveyor unit 4 with the approach of the destination unit 2G. Lowering step by step (maintaining the conveying speed in the rotary conveyor unit 6) stops the articles in the first conveyor unit 4 of the conveying destination unit 2G.

FIG. 9 shows a speed pattern when the first conveyor unit 4, the second conveyor unit 5, and the swing conveyor unit 6 are arranged. As shown in FIG. 9, when the conveyor unit 2 is connected to the transfer starting unit 2S and the destination unit 2G, the conveying speed of the article is increased to the second conveyor unit 5 that is the transfer starting unit 2S. Up to the highest speed, and with the approach of the destination unit 2G, the second type of conveyor unit 5 reduces the speed by two stages, and the first type of conveyor unit 4 reduces the speed by one stage (at the rotary conveyor unit 6 The medium speed is maintained), and the articles are stopped at the rotary conveyor unit 6 of the transfer destination unit 2G.

FIG. 10 shows a speed pattern in the case where an abnormality occurs in the third first type conveyor unit 4 upstream from the transfer destination unit 2G when only the first type of conveyor units 4 are arranged. . As shown in FIG. 10, when an abnormality occurs in one of the first conveyor units 4 and becomes the abnormal unit 2T, as the articles leave the transport starting unit 2S, the transport speed of the articles is increased step by step. And as the article approaches the abnormal unit 2T, the conveying speed of the article is reduced step by step, so that the article is stopped on the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream of the abnormal unit 2T.

Next, setting of the speed mode as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 will be described. When the conveyor unit 2 has received the transfer destination information from the control device H, the transfer destination information is transmitted to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. When the conveyer unit 2 has received the conveyance destination information from the conveyer unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side, the conveyance destination unit 2G shown in the conveyance destination information is not its own conveyer unit 2 In the case of the transfer destination information, it is sent to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. If the transfer destination unit 2G shown in the transfer destination information is its own conveyor unit 2, the transfer destination information is not transmitted. The transport destination information is transmitted to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side.

That is, the control device H sends the transfer destination information to the transfer origin unit 2S, and the transfer origin unit 2S receives the transfer destination information from the control device H. The control unit 12 of the transport origin unit 2S transmits the transport destination information that has been received from the control device H to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. The control unit 12 of the intermediate unit 2M receives the received destination unit 2G because the destination unit 2G shown in the destination information received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side is not its own conveyor unit 2. The transport destination information is transmitted to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. In the case where the control unit 12 of the intermediate unit 2M has a plurality of conveyor units 2 adjacent to the downstream side, the transportation destination unit 2G shown in the received transportation destination information is adjacent to the downstream side. In the case of any of the conveyor units 2, the transfer destination information is transmitted to the transfer destination unit 2G, and the transfer destination unit 2G indicated by the received transfer destination information is not a conveyor adjacent to the downstream side In the case of any one of the machine units 2, the transfer destination information is transmitted to a predetermined downstream side unit 2C '. Since the control unit 12 of the transport destination unit 2G is shown in the transport destination information received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side, the transport destination unit 2G is its own conveyor unit 2 and is not The side-adjacent conveyor unit 2 transmits the conveyance destination information. As described above, the control unit 12 transmits the destination information received from the control device H or the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side, thereby transmitting the destination of the conveyance. The local information is sequentially transmitted from the transfer start unit 2S to the transfer destination unit 2G.

The control unit 12 of the transport destination unit 2G changes the indicated information of the amount of change corresponding to its own conveyor unit 2 in response to the transport destination information received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side. The amount of speed is set to a receivable speed, and the receivable speed is transmitted to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side. Specifically, for example, when an article is stopped on its own conveyor unit 2 and its own conveyor unit 2 is the first type of conveyor unit 4, "15" is set as the change amount. . The control unit 12 of the transport destination unit 2G sets the third set speed of the transport destination unit 2G at 15 m / min corresponding to 15 shown in this variation. Then, set a lower speed (for example, 15 m / min) among the third set speed and the limit speed of the conveyor unit 2 (60 m / min in the case of the normal speed limit speed), as the own speed. The receivable speed of the conveyor unit 2 is transmitted to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side by transmitting information (e.g., information showing 1 speed) indicating the receivable speed (e.g., 15 m / min). Incidentally, when the article is stopped on its own conveyor unit 2 and the own conveyor unit 2 is a rotary conveyor unit 6 or a lifting conveyor unit 7, "15" is set as a change the amount. When the article is stopped on its own conveyor unit 2 and in the case of the second conveyor unit 5, "60" is set as the amount of change.

The control unit 12 of the intermediate unit 2M executes the first setting control when the article is transferred from the transfer origin unit 2S to the transfer destination unit 2G. This first setting control is a control to set the receivable speed in order to stop the article in the transfer destination unit 2G from the transfer destination unit 2G to the conveyor unit 2 on the upstream side in order to set The receivable speed of each of the conveyor units 2 is a speed at which the own conveyor unit 2 can receive articles from the conveyor units 2 adjacent on the upstream side. That is, in the first setting control, each of the conveyor units 2 is a receivable speed received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side, plus the change amount information of the own conveyor unit 2 The speed obtained from the amount of change shown is set to the first set speed of the own conveyor unit 2, and the lower speed between the first set speed and the limit speed of the own conveyor unit 2 is set to itself The receivable speed of the conveyor unit 2 is transmitted to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side.

Specifically, for example, when the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side receives articles at 1 to 4 speeds, and when the own conveyor unit 2 is the first conveyor unit 4, the setting is set. "15" is the amount of change. The control unit 12 of the transport destination unit 2G is shown by the receivable speed (e.g., 15 m / min) received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side, plus the change information of its own conveyor unit 2 The speed (for example, 30 m / min) obtained by the amount of change of "15" is set as the first set speed of the own conveyor unit 2. In addition, the lower speed (for example, 30 m / min) of the first set speed (for example, 30 m / min) and the limit speed of the own conveyor unit 2 (60 m / min in the case of the limit speed in normal time) is used. min), set to the receivable speed of its own conveyor unit 2, and send information (e.g., display 2 speed information) showing the receivable speed (e.g., 30 m / min) to the conveyor adjacent to the upstream side Machine unit 2. Incidentally, when the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side receives articles at 1 to 4 speeds, and when the own conveyor unit 2 is a swing conveyor unit 6 or a lifting conveyor unit 7, it is Set "0" as the amount of change. Further, in a case where the conveyor units 2 adjacent to the downstream side receive articles at 1 to 4 speeds and in the case of the second conveyor unit 5, "60" is set as the amount of change.

The control unit 12 of the transport origin unit 2S sets the speed corresponding to the change amount indicated by the change amount information of the own conveyor unit 2 according to the receivable speed received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. Is the handover speed, and this handover speed is sent to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent on the downstream side. Specifically, for example, in the case where the transportation of the articles on the own conveyor unit 2 is started and the own conveyor unit 2 is the first type conveyor unit 4, "15" is set as The amount of change. The control unit 12 of the transfer destination unit 2G sets 15 mm / min corresponding to 15 shown in the amount of change as the transferable speed of the transfer destination unit 2G. Then, the lower speed among the receivable speed and the receivable speed received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side is set as the handover speed of the own conveyor unit 2, and the handover speed is displayed The information (for example, information showing 1 speed) is sent to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. Incidentally, when the transportation of the articles on the own conveyor unit 2 is started, and when the own conveyor unit 2 is the rotary conveyor unit 6 or the lifting conveyor unit 7, it is set to "15". As the amount of change. When the conveyance of the articles on the own conveyor unit 2 is started and when the own conveyor unit 2 is the second conveyor unit 5, "60" is set as the amount of change.

The control unit 12 of the intermediate unit 2M executes the second setting control when the article is transferred from the transfer start unit 2S to the transfer destination unit 2G. This second setting control is a control for sequentially transferring the transfer speed from the transfer start unit 2S to the conveyor unit 2 on the downstream side when the article transfer is started from the transfer start unit 2S, and The transfer speed of each of the conveyor units 2 is set, where the transfer speed is the speed at which the own conveyor unit 2 transfers articles to the conveyor units 2 adjacent on the downstream side. That is, in the second setting control, each of the conveyor units 2 is shown by the transfer speed received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side, plus the change amount information of its own conveyor unit 2 The speed obtained by the amount of change is set as the second set speed of the own conveyor unit 2, and the second set speed, the receivable speed received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side, and itself The lowest speed among the limited speeds of the conveyor unit 2 is set to the transfer speed of the own conveyor unit 2 and the transfer speed is sent to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side.

Specifically, for example, in a case where an item is received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side at 1 to 4 speeds, and when the own conveyor unit 2 is the first conveyor unit 4, it is Set "15" as the amount of change. The control unit 12 of the transport destination unit 2G is shown by the transfer speed (for example, 15 m / min) received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side, plus the change information of the own conveyor unit 2 The speed (for example, 30 m / min) obtained by the amount of change "15" is set as the second set speed of the conveyor unit 2 itself. In addition, the second set speed (for example, 30 m / min), the speed limit of the own conveyor unit 2 (60 m / min in the case of a normal speed limit), and the conveyor unit adjacent to the downstream side A lower speed (for example, 30 m / min) among the receivable speeds of 2 (for example, 45 m / min) is set to the transfer speed of the own conveyor unit 2 and the transfer speed (for example, 30 m / min) is displayed ) Information (for example, information showing 2 speeds) is sent to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. Incidentally, when an item is received at a speed of 1 or 2 from a conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side, and when the own conveyor unit 2 is a swing conveyor unit 6 or a lift conveyor unit 7, Set "0" as the amount of change. When the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side receives articles at 1 to 4 speeds, and when its own conveyor unit 2 is the second conveyor unit 5, it is set to "60". As the amount of change.

In this way, first, the transfer destination information sent from the control device H to the transfer origin unit 2S is sequentially transferred from the transfer origin unit 2S to the transfer destination unit 2G through one or a plurality of intermediate units 2M. . Next, the information indicating the receivable speed is sequentially transferred from the transfer destination unit 2G to the transfer starting unit 2S through one or a plurality of intermediate units 2M. As shown in FIG. 11, the receivable speed is set to a speed that does not exceed the limit speed of the intermediate unit 2M or the limit speed of the transfer destination unit 2G. In FIG. 11, the receivable speed is shown by a solid line. In addition, the information showing the transfer speed is sequentially transferred from the transfer start unit 2S to the transfer destination unit 2G through one or a plurality of intermediate units 2M. As shown in FIG. 12, the transfer speed is set to a speed that does not exceed the limit speed and receivable speed of the intermediate unit 2M, or a speed that does not exceed the limit speed and receivable speed of the transfer destination unit 2G. Further, in FIG. 12, the receivable speed is shown by a broken line, and the handover speed is shown by a solid line.

The control unit 12 of the transport origin unit 2S executes transport start control. This conveyance start control is to control the conveyor unit 10 of the own conveyor unit 2 after starting the drive of the conveyor unit 10 so that the conveyor unit 10 transfers the articles to the conveyor unit 2 at the transfer speed of the conveyor unit 10 Conveyor unit 2 adjacent on the downstream side. The control unit 12 of the intermediate unit 2M performs the conveyance control. This conveyance control is to control the conveyor unit 10 of its own conveyor unit 2 such that the conveyor unit 10 is driven at the transfer speed received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side, and the conveyor unit 10 is driven from the upstream side. After the adjacent conveyor unit 2 receives the article, the conveyor unit 10 is driven at the transfer speed of the own conveyor unit 2 to transfer the article to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side. In the conveyance control, when the conveyor unit 2 itself is a swing conveyor unit 6 and there are a plurality of conveyor units 2 adjacent to the downstream side, the conveyance destination information shown in the received When the transfer destination unit 2G is any one of the conveyor units 2 adjacent to the downstream side, the conveyor unit 10 and the turning unit 15 are controlled to transfer the articles to the transfer destination unit 2G. When the transfer destination unit 2G shown in the received transfer destination information is not any of the conveyor units 2 adjacent to the downstream side, the conveyor unit 10 and the turning unit 15 are controlled to transfer the articles to a predetermined downstream Side unit 2C '. The control unit 12 of the transport destination unit 2G executes the transport end control. This conveyance end control is to control the conveyor unit 10 of its own conveyor unit 2 to drive the conveyor unit 10 at a transfer speed received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side, and to drive the conveyor unit 10 from the upstream side. After the adjacent conveyor unit 2 receives the article, the driving of the conveyor 10 is stopped to stop the article on its own conveyor unit.

As described above, the control unit 12 executes the first setting control, the second setting control, and the transfer control when the article is transferred from the transfer start unit 2S to the transfer destination unit 2G. In addition, the control unit 12 of the rotary conveyor unit 6 controls the conveyor unit 10 to stop the articles when the transfer destination unit 2G indicated by the received transfer destination information is its own conveyor unit 2. Own conveyor unit 2. In addition, the control unit 12 of the rotary conveyor unit 6 communicates when the destination unit 2G shown in the received destination information is any of a plurality of conveyor units 2 adjacent to the downstream side. The unit 11 and the conveyor unit 10 are controlled to send the transfer destination information to the transfer destination unit 2G, and transfer the articles to the transfer destination unit 2G. The control unit 12 of the rotary conveyor unit 6 communicates when the transfer destination unit 2G indicated by the received transfer destination information is not any of the plurality of conveyor units 2 adjacent to the downstream side. The unit 11 and the conveyor unit 10 are controlled to transmit the destination information to a predetermined downstream-side unit 2C 'and transfer the articles to the predetermined downstream-side unit 2C'. Incidentally, when the conveyor unit 2 receives an article from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side, the conveyor unit 10 has been driven at a certain speed (the transfer speed of the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side). Get down to receive items. When the conveyor unit 2 transfers the articles to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side, the articles are transferred with the conveyor unit 10 being driven at a constant speed (the transfer speed of the own conveyor unit 2). .

As described above, the control unit 12 of the conveyor unit 2 located on the conveyance path performs control as described above, thereby performing the following to set the speed mode. That is, first, the conveyor device 1 sequentially transmits the transfer destination information that has been sent from the control device H to the transfer start unit 2S toward the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side to send the transfer destination information To transfer destination unit 2G. Next, the conveyor device 1 sets the receivable speed in order from the conveyor unit 2 located on the downstream side as the destination unit 2G receives the destination information. Thereafter, the conveyor device 1 sequentially sets the transfer speed from the conveyor unit 2 located on the upstream side, and sequentially transfers the articles to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side at the transfer speed to sequentially transfer the articles. Transfer to the transfer destination unit 2G.

Next, a case where an abnormality has occurred in the conveyor unit 2 will be described. When the control unit 12 has an abnormality in its own conveyor unit 2, it changes the speed limit from the normal speed limit to the speed limit during an abnormality, and displays an abnormality indicating that the own conveyor unit 2 has an abnormality. The information is transmitted to the control device H together with the address information of the own conveyor unit 2. In this embodiment, the speed limit at the time of abnormality is set to 0 m / min. Therefore, when the speed limit is set to the speed limit during an abnormality, the speed limit is lower than the first speed in the intermediate unit 2M, and the speed limit is lower than the speed limit in the transfer destination unit 2G. The third set speed is lower, so the control unit 12 of the intermediate unit 2M or the control unit 12 of the transfer destination unit 2G sets the speed limit speed at the time of abnormality to a receivable speed, and displays the receivable speed (0m / min ) Information (for example, information showing 0 speed) is sent to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side. In addition, the control unit 12 may change the speed limit to the speed limit during an abnormality when the article has stopped on its own conveyor unit 2.

In the case where the transfer start unit 2S receives the information showing the 0 speed from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side as the information showing the receivable speed, the transfer speed is set to 0 m / min, so the transfer will not start. In the case where the intermediate unit 2M receives the information showing the 0 speed from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side as the information showing the receivable speed, it sends the information showing the 1 speed as the receivable speed to the The conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side controls the conveyor unit 10 so that the articles which have been received from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side stop on the conveyor unit 2 itself.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, after the transferable speed is transmitted, if the own conveyor unit 2 has an abnormality, the first setting control is performed in a state where the speed limit is set to the speed limit during the abnormality, and The conveyor unit 2 located on the upstream side of the conveyor unit 2 is allowed to perform the first setting control and the second setting control again, thereby setting the receivable speed and the transfer speed shown in FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, the receivable speed is shown by a broken line, and the handover speed is shown by a solid line.

When the transfer destination information has been transmitted to the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side, when the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side has not transmitted the information in response to the transfer destination information, That is, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side, and the receivable speed of the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side is set to 0 speed, and the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side is set. Together with the address information, it sends to the control device H information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side.

The control device H grasps the existence of the abnormal unit 2T and the address of the abnormal unit 2T by using the abnormal occurrence information. The abnormal occurrence information is information sent from the conveyor unit 2 that is the abnormal unit 2T, Or the information sent from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the upstream side of the abnormal unit 2T. Therefore, when the control device H transmits the transfer destination information to the conveyor device 1, the transfer starting unit 2S and the transfer destination unit 2G can be set to avoid the transfer path of the abnormal unit 2T.

In addition, the control device H has already transferred the transfer destination information to the conveyor device 1, and the transfer route is from the transfer start unit 2S that has sent the transfer destination information to the transfer destination unit 2G indicated by the transfer destination information. When there is an abnormal unit 2T on the way, the transmission destination information that has been transmitted is canceled, and new transfer destination information that does not include the abnormal unit 2T on the transportation path is transmitted. In this way, the control device H has sent the conveyor unit 2 that has returned the abnormality occurrence information, that is, the abnormal unit 2T, to the conveyance destination information on the conveyance path. The conveyor unit 2 located further upstream than the abnormal unit 2T sends cancellation information to cancel the transfer destination information, and sends new transfer destination information without the abnormal unit 2T on the transfer path.

The control unit 12 of the conveyor unit 2 cancels the received destination information when the same article continues to exist on the conveyor unit 10 for more than a set time based on the detection information from the article detection unit 13 and controls the control device. H sends request information requesting new destination information. The control device H sends new conveyance destination information to the conveyor unit 2 that has transmitted the requested information, which is different from the conveyance destination information that has been canceled.

If added, that is, as shown in FIG. 14, if an abnormality occurs on the first conveyor unit 4 and the abnormal unit 2T becomes the conveyance destination, it will be transported further downstream than the first conveyor unit 4. The articles of the ground unit 2G will stop on the conveyor unit 2 located on the upstream side of the abnormal unit 2T. In addition, when the control unit 12 of the conveyor unit 2 has stopped on the conveyor unit 10 of its own conveyor unit 2 for a set time or more, the control device H sends request information. The control device H sets the transfer destination unit 2G and sends the transfer destination information, so that if the conveyor unit 2 that has sent the requested information is the swing conveyor unit 6, the swing conveyor unit 6 will match the canceled The conveyer unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side is conveyed by the conveyance information. The conveyer unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side is different from the conveyer unit 2 that is conveyed by the conveyance information. In the case, the rotary conveyor unit 6 which is located further downstream than the conveyor unit 2 and is closest to the conveyor unit 2 conveys the conveyor unit adjacent to the downstream side to the conveyance unit whose transportation information has been cancelled. 2 is a conveyer unit 2 which is different from the conveyor unit 2 adjacent on the downstream side.

That is, in the examples shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the turning conveyor unit 6 located on the upstream side of the abnormal unit 2T and closest to the abnormal unit 2T is set as the first turning conveyor unit 6A, and will continue to leave. The rotary conveyor unit 6 near the abnormal unit 2T is set as the second rotary conveyor unit 6B. In addition, the elevator conveyor unit 7 adjacent to the first rotary conveyor unit 6A and the first conveyor unit 4 adjacent to the upstream side of the first rotary conveyor unit 6A is disposed next to the downstream conveyor. It is the destination information of the destination unit 2G. In addition, the second conveyor unit 6B and the first conveyor unit 4 adjacent to the upstream side of the second conveyor unit 6B are sent to the elevator conveyor unit 7 adjacent to the downstream side of the second rotary conveyor unit 6B. It is the destination information of the destination unit 2G. Thereby, the article W1 on the first rotary conveyor unit 6A and the article W2 on the first conveyor unit 4 adjacent to its upstream side are directed toward the downstream side of the first rotary conveyor unit 6A. The lifting conveyor unit 7 is transported. Furthermore, the article W3 on the second rotary conveyor unit 6B and the article W4 on the first conveyor unit 4 adjacent to its upstream side are lifted and lowered adjacent to the downstream side of the second rotary conveyor unit 6B. The conveyor unit 7 conveys.

2. Other Embodiments Next, other embodiments of the article transfer facility will be described.

(1) In the above-mentioned embodiment, although the first type conveyor unit 4, the second type conveyor unit 5, the rotary conveyor unit 6, and the lifting conveyor unit 7 are provided as the conveyor unit 2, they are used as the conveyor. The unit 2 is only required to have at least the rotary conveyor unit 6 among the conveyor units 2. As the conveyor unit 2, the conveyor unit 2 may be provided with all or part of the conveyor units 2. Other types of conveyor units 2 such as the elevator unit 14 and the conveyor unit 2 of the turning unit 15.

(2) In the above-mentioned embodiment, although the divergent conveyor unit is provided to change the conveyance direction of the article by turning the conveyor unit 10 to switch the downstream conveyor unit 2C of the delivered article, it may be provided at The branch conveyor unit includes a first conveyor section as the conveyor section 10 and a second conveyor section that is different from the first conveyor section in the conveying direction, and the second conveyor section is raised and lowered to lift articles. By switching between the state supported by the first conveyor section and the state supported by the second conveyor section, the downstream conveyor unit 2C that delivers the articles is switched.

(3) In the above embodiment, although the control unit 12 of the conveyor unit 2 sets the transfer speed based on the speed limit information or the receivable speed of the conveyor unit 2 adjacent to the downstream side, etc., it may be set The completion control device H sends speed information to the conveyor unit 2, and the control unit 12 of the conveyor unit 2 sets the speed indicated by the speed information received from the control device H as the handover speed.

(4) Furthermore, the structures disclosed in each of the above embodiments can be applied in combination with the structures disclosed in other embodiments as long as no contradiction occurs. Regarding other structures, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples in all respects. Therefore, various changes can be appropriately made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

3. Outline of the above embodiment The outline of the article transfer facility described above will be described below.

An article conveying device includes a conveyor device for conveying an article and a control device for transmitting conveying information to the conveyor device. The conveyor device is a plurality of conveyor units connected and arranged along a conveying path of the article, and the plurality of conveying units Each of the machine units includes a conveyor unit on which a conveyed article is placed, a communication unit that can communicate with other adjacent conveyor units, and a control unit that controls the communication unit and the conveyor unit. The control device is The destination information of the conveyor unit that is the destination of the article is displayed, and the destination information of the destination unit is transmitted to the origin of the conveyor unit that is located at the origin of the article. Each of the plurality of conveyor units The articles received from the upstream conveyor unit are transferred to the downstream conveyor unit, which is the aforementioned conveyor unit adjacent to the upstream side of the own conveyor unit, and the downstream conveyor unit The unit is the aforementioned conveyor unit adjacent to the downstream side of the aforementioned conveyor unit itself The control unit sends the transport destination information received from the control device or the upstream conveyor unit to a downstream conveyor unit, and the plurality of conveyor units includes a plurality of downstream conveyors. The branch conveyor unit of the unit sets one of the plurality of downstream conveyor units as a predetermined downstream unit, and the control unit of the branch conveyor unit is a communication unit and a conveyor unit. The control is such that: when the transport destination unit shown in the received transport destination information is the aforementioned conveyor unit, the article is stopped at the aforementioned conveyor unit, and the destination of the received transport When the transfer destination unit shown in the local information is any one of the plurality of downstream conveyor units, the transfer destination information is sent to the transfer destination unit, and the article is transferred to the transfer destination. The local unit, in the aforementioned transport destination list shown in the aforementioned transport destination information received Is not any of a case where a plurality of the downstream side of the conveyor unit, the transport destination is the information transmitted to the downstream side of the predetermined unit, and the transfer of the article to the predetermined downstream-side unit.

According to this configuration, the control device transmits the transfer destination information indicating the transfer destination unit to the transfer origin unit. The transport origin unit transmits the transport destination information received from the control device to the downstream conveyor unit. Conveyor units other than the transport origin unit and the transport destination unit transmit the transport destination information received from the upstream conveyor unit unit to the downstream conveyor unit. The destination unit receives the destination information from the upstream conveyor unit. In this manner, the transfer destination information received by the transfer destination unit can be sequentially transmitted from the transfer starting unit to the transfer destination unit in order.

In addition, even if there is a divergent conveyor unit in the conveyance path of the articles from the starting point unit to the destination unit, it is possible to transfer the number of downstream conveyor units among the plurality of downstream conveyor units adjacent to the diverting conveyor unit. One is set as a predetermined downstream unit. The branch conveyor unit sends the destination information to the destination unit indicated by the received destination information when it is not one of its own conveyor unit and a plurality of downstream conveyor units. The downstream unit is specified, and the article is transferred to the downstream unit. Further, when the divergent conveyor unit has any one of the plurality of downstream conveyor units described above as the destination unit indicated in the destination information, the divergent conveyor unit transmits the destination information to the destination unit, and The item is transferred to the transfer destination unit. When the transfer destination unit indicated by the transfer destination information is its own conveyor unit, the branch conveyor unit is a conveyor unit that stops the article. By setting a conveyor unit located downstream of a predetermined downstream unit as a transfer destination unit in advance, and by transmitting the above-mentioned article transportation information to the predetermined downstream unit and transferring the article to the predetermined downstream side, it is possible to transfer The transfer destination information is sent to the transfer destination unit and the article can be transferred to the transfer destination unit.

In this way, the control device may send the information of the transfer destination to the transfer origin unit, and the conveyor device may transfer the article from the transfer origin unit to the transfer destination unit even if there are divergent conveyors during the transfer. Therefore, it is possible to suppress information transmitted and received between the control device and the conveyor device.

Here, it is desirable that the transfer destination information includes information specific to the item being transferred, and when the control device changes the transfer destination of the item, the control device includes the transfer destination including the display change. Information of the unit and the transfer destination information specific to the item to be transferred are transmitted to the transfer origin unit.

According to this configuration, since the information specific to the article to be conveyed is included as the information on the destination of the conveyance, when the destination of the article is changed, the origin of the conveyance unit can confirm the uniqueness of the article being stopped on its own conveyor unit. Check whether the information matches the unique information of the item to be transferred included in the transfer destination information.

In addition, it is preferable that each of the plurality of conveyor units includes an abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality of the conveyor unit of the self, and the communication unit is configured to communicate with the control device. According to the detection information of the abnormality detection unit, the control unit sends abnormality occurrence information to the control device when an abnormality has occurred in the conveyor unit of the control unit, and the control device has sent the abnormality occurrence information back. The conveyance destination information of the conveyor unit, that is, the abnormal unit, located on the conveyance path is to send the conveyor unit located on the conveyance path of the article indicated by the conveyance destination information and further upstream than the abnormal unit, to the conveyor unit. Cancel the cancellation information of the aforementioned transfer destination information, and send the new aforementioned transfer destination information without the aforementioned abnormal unit on the transfer path.

According to this configuration, when an abnormality has occurred in the conveyor unit, the control unit of the conveyor unit sends the abnormality occurrence information to the control device based on the detection information of the abnormality detection unit. The control device may determine the conveyor unit that has transmitted the abnormality occurrence information as an abnormal conveyor, and transmit new conveyance destination information without an abnormal unit on the conveyance path. With the existence of the abnormal unit, the items that have been delayed on the upstream side can be transported by the conveyor device based on the new destination information and can be avoided for a long time in one place.

Also, it is preferable that each of the plurality of conveyor units includes an article detection unit that detects the presence or absence of an article on the conveyor unit of the own unit, and the communication unit is configured to be compatible with The control device communicates, and the control unit of the conveyor unit is based on the detection information of the article detection unit, and when the same article on the conveyor unit has continued to exist for more than a set time, the received transport destination is cancelled. Information, and to the control device to send request information requesting the new transfer destination information, the control device sends the transfer unit that sent the request information to the transfer unit that has been canceled, and the transfer destination information is different. New destination information for the route.

According to this configuration, when the article exists on the conveyor unit for a set time or longer, the control device sends request information requesting the new transfer destination information to the control device. The control device sends new transfer destination information which is a different transfer route than the previous transfer destination information. Articles that have been stagnated on the conveyor unit can be transported with the conveyor according to the new destination information and can avoid the situation that the articles are stagnated for a long time in one place. Industrial availability

The technology of the present disclosure can be applied to an article transporting apparatus provided with a conveyor apparatus for transporting articles.

1‧‧‧ conveyor device

2‧‧‧ conveyor unit

2A‧‧‧ own conveyor unit

2B‧‧‧ upstream conveyor unit

2C‧‧‧ downstream conveyor unit

2C’‧‧‧ specifies downstream unit

2G‧‧‧ Transfer destination unit

2S‧‧‧Transportation starting unit

2M‧‧‧Intermediate Unit

2T‧‧‧Exception Unit

4‧‧‧ the first type of conveyor unit (linear conveyor unit)

5‧‧‧ The second type of conveyor unit (linear conveyor unit)

6‧‧‧Swivel conveyor unit (divergent conveyor unit)

6A‧‧‧The first round conveyor unit

6B‧‧‧Second Round Conveyor Unit

7‧‧‧lifting conveyor unit

10‧‧‧Conveyor Department

11‧‧‧ Ministry of Communications

11A‧‧‧First Communication Department

11B‧‧‧Second Communication Department

12‧‧‧Control Department (Anomaly Detection Department)

12A‧‧‧Communication Control Board

12B‧‧‧Drive board

13‧‧‧ Article detection sensor (item detection section)

13A‧‧‧First article detection sensor

13B‧‧‧Second article detection sensor

14‧‧‧ Lifting Department

14A‧‧‧Support

15‧‧‧ roundabout

H‧‧‧control device

U‧‧‧Unit

R1‧‧‧The first conveying path

R2‧‧‧Second Transfer Path

R3‧‧‧ connection path

X1‧‧‧ first direction

Y1‧‧‧ Third direction

Y2‧‧‧Fourth direction

W1, W2, W3, W4‧‧‧ items

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conveyor device. Figure 2 is a plan view of a first conveyor unit. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a second conveyor unit. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a swing conveyor unit. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a lifting conveyor unit. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing communication between a conveyor device and a control device. FIG. 7 is a diagram of a speed pattern showing a conveying speed of an article. FIG. 8 is a diagram of a speed pattern showing a conveying speed of an article. FIG. 9 is a diagram of a speed pattern showing a conveyance speed of an article. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a speed pattern in a case where an abnormal unit is present. Fig. 11 is a graph showing a receivable speed. Fig. 12 is a graph showing the receivable speed and the handover speed. FIG. 13 is a graph showing a receivable speed and a handover speed in a case where an abnormal unit is present. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state where an abnormality occurs in the first conveyor unit. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a state in which an article is transported to a new transport destination.

Claims (4)

An article conveying device includes the following: a conveyer device that conveys an article; a control device that transmits conveying information to the conveyor device; the article conveying device has the following characteristics: the conveyor device is connected and arranged along the conveying path of the article A plurality of conveyor units, each of the plurality of conveyor units includes a conveyor section on which a conveyed article is placed, a communication section capable of communicating with other adjacent conveyor units, and a control section for controlling the communication section and the transportation The control unit of the machine unit, the control device sends the destination information of the destination unit, that is, the destination unit of the article, to the destination unit, the destination unit, Each of the plurality of the aforementioned conveyor units transfers the articles received from the upstream conveyor unit to the downstream conveyor unit, which is adjacent to the upstream side of the own conveyor unit In the aforementioned conveyor unit, the downstream-side conveyor unit is In the conveyor unit adjacent to the downstream side of the conveyor unit, the control unit sends the transportation destination information received from the control device or the upstream conveyor unit to the downstream conveyor unit in a plurality of the conveyor units. The conveyor unit includes a branch conveyor unit having a plurality of downstream conveyor units, and one of the plurality of downstream conveyor units is set as a predetermined downstream unit. The control unit controls the communication unit and the conveyor unit so that, when the transfer destination unit shown in the received transfer destination information is the conveyor unit itself, the control unit stops the article at the conveyor unit. In the case of the conveyor unit described above, when the transfer destination unit shown in the received transfer destination information is any one of the plurality of downstream conveyor units, the transfer destination information is transmitted to the conveyor unit. The transfer destination unit, and the item is transferred to the transfer destination unit. When the destination unit shown in the destination information is not any of the plurality of downstream conveyor units, the destination destination information is transmitted to the predetermined downstream unit, and the article is transferred to the destination downstream unit. Specify the downstream unit. For example, if the item transfer device of item 1 includes the transfer destination information including the unique information of the transferred item, the control device will change the transfer destination of the item to include the transfer destination after the display is changed. The transfer destination information including the information of the local unit and the unique information of the item to be transferred is transmitted to the transfer origin unit. For example, the article conveying equipment of claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the plurality of the aforementioned conveyor units is provided with an abnormality detecting section for detecting an abnormality of the aforementioned conveyor unit, and the aforementioned communicating section is structured to communicate with The control device communicates, the control unit is based on the detection information of the abnormality detection unit, and when an abnormality has occurred in the conveyor unit of itself, the abnormality occurrence information is sent to the control device, and the control device has transmitted the foregoing The conveyance destination information on the conveyor unit that is the conveyor unit sent from the abnormality occurrence information is located on the conveyance path. The conveyor unit sends cancellation information for canceling the aforementioned transfer destination information, and transmits new aforementioned transfer destination information without the aforementioned abnormal unit in the transport path. For example, the article conveying equipment of claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the plurality of the aforementioned conveyor units is provided with an article detection section which detects the existence and presence of articles on the aforementioned conveyor section of the aforementioned conveyor unit. No, the communication section is configured to be able to communicate with the control device, and the control section of the conveyor unit is based on the detection information of the article detection section, and the same article has continued to exist on the conveyor section for more than a set time. Next, cancel the received transfer destination information and send request information requesting the new transfer destination information to the control device, and the control device sends and cancels the conveyor unit that sent the request information to the conveyor unit. The aforementioned transfer destination information of becomes the new aforementioned transfer destination information of a different transfer path.