JP4067425B2 - Article sorting and unloading device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention, articles such as postal items and packages placed on a tray traveling along a transport line are appropriately sorted and sent to the left and right sides of the transport line for each product type or sorting destination, and sorted to the left and right. The present invention relates to an article sorting and unloading apparatus in which all of the sent articles are carried out only to one side of the transport line, and in particular, when the articles that are sorted and sent out slide down the unloading chute, the articles are decelerated or temporarily stopped. The present invention relates to an article sorting and unloading device in which a swinging bottom plate is provided on the unloading chute of an unloading chute.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, articles conveyed by a sorting conveyor having a tray that runs along the conveyance line are sent to chutes that are arranged to extend outward on the left and right sides of the conveyance line, and are provided on the downhill of the articles on the chute. The article that slides down at a high speed is temporarily stopped by a plurality of intermediate stoppers made of a suspended plate-like body supported by the upper shaft, and then the intermediate stopper is opened to slide down the article again, and the chute to the storage case A sorting chute equipment is known (Patent Document 1) that prevents the article from being damaged during unloading.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-69936 [0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the conventional sorting chute equipment is configured to carry articles to the left and right sides of the transport line from the chutes extending outward on both sides of the transport line, or when the installation space of the sorting chute equipment is narrow, or When the inner wall of the building is approaching, there is a problem that the chutes cannot be installed on both sides of the transfer line, and as a result, the sorting chutes cannot be installed in a narrow space.
In addition, due to the narrow space, when the chute has a steep slope, the article that slides down the chute at high speed collides with an intermediate stopper made of a suspended plate in the course of conveyance, so the article is damaged. There is a problem of fear.
[0005]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, and the articles sorted and sent to the left and right sides from the tray running on the transport line are transported using the unloading chute. It can be carried out only on one side and installed in a narrow installation space, and even a steep carry-out chute operates in synchronism with the tilt of the tray and decelerates or stops temporarily while the article slides down. It is an object to provide an article sorting and unloading apparatus that prevents damage to articles by mitigating the impact at the time of unloading from the downstream end of the unloading chute to the storage case.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention makes it possible to carry out the articles sorted and sent out by a tray running on the conveyance line only to one side of the conveyance line, and to be substantially horizontal on the downhill of the article on the carry-out chute. A swinging bottom plate that can be rotated to a state is provided. In this case, several rocking bottom plates may be provided along the longitudinal direction of the conveying chute.
That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, articles placed on a tray traveling along the transport line are appropriately sorted and sent to the first auxiliary chute and the second auxiliary chute provided on the left and right sides of the transport line. The article sent to the first auxiliary chute is carried out to one side of the conveying line, and the article sent to the second auxiliary chute is connected to the second auxiliary chute and provided below the conveying line. In the article sorting and unloading apparatus that slides down from upstream to downstream of the unloading chute and unloads it to one side of the transfer line, the unloading chute operates in synchronization with the tilt of the tray and swings while the unloading chute is sliding down. The above-described problem is solved by providing a swinging bottom plate that can rotate from an inclined state to a substantially horizontal state with the upper end of the moving inclined surface as a fulcrum.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the article sorting and unloading device according to the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the actuator is provided below the swinging bottom plate to make the swinging bottom plate substantially horizontal. After the article to be slid down is decelerated or temporarily stopped, the article is slid down and carried out from the downstream end of the carry-out chute by turning and swinging the swinging bottom plate in an inclined state. Therefore, the above-described problems are solved.
Further, the article sorting and unloading apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention has the jamming detection sensor provided above the unloading chute in addition to the configuration of the first or second aspect, The problem described above is solved.
[0007]
[Action]
In the case of the article sorting and unloading apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, articles are appropriately sorted on the left and right sides from the tray traveling along the transport line, and sent to the first auxiliary chute or the second auxiliary chute. The article sent to the first auxiliary chute is carried out to one side of the transport line.
In addition, the articles sent to the second auxiliary chute on the other side slide down from the upstream to the downstream of the carry-out chute provided continuously with the second auxiliary chute and crossing the lower part of the conveying line. 1 Auxiliary chute is carried out to the article carry-out side, that is, one side of the carrying line. Articles that slide down from the upstream of the unloading chute are impacted by the swinging bottom plate provided on the unloading chute being rotated in a substantially horizontal state in synchronization with the tilting of the tray. Without deceleration or temporarily stopped.
Further, when the swinging bottom plate is rotated in an inclined state, the article slides down again on the carry-out chute and is carried out from the downstream end of the carry-out chute.
In the article sorting and unloading device of the present invention according to claim 2, an actuator is provided below the swinging bottom plate, and the operation of the actuator causes the swinging bottom plate to be rotated and displaced in a substantially horizontal state. The article to be slid down is decelerated or temporarily stopped, and then the article is slid down and carried out from the downstream end of the carry-out chute by rotationally displacing the swinging bottom plate in an inclined state. By decelerating or temporarily stopping, the impact at the time of carrying out to the storage case is alleviated and damage is prevented.
In the case of the article sorting and unloading apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the jamming detection sensor is provided above the unloading chute so that if the article does not slide down for some reason, the jammed state Is detected.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a front view of the article sorting and unloading apparatus 1, FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged front view of the unloading chute, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an installation state of the article passage detection sensor and the jamming detection sensor. is there.
[0009]
The article sorting and unloading apparatus 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to unload the article W sent to one side as it is, out of the articles W sorted and sent by the tray 3 on both sides of the transfer line. The articles W sent to either the left or right side of the tray 3 are arranged on one side of the transport line so that the articles W sent to the side are carried out to the opposite side (the one side) by the carry-out chute 12. This is carried out to the upper case 8 and the lower case 17 for storing articles.
[0010]
The base 2 that travels in the longitudinal direction along the transport line is provided with a tray 3 that is tilted to the left and right by an actuator 6 provided on the lower frame rail 5.
The base 2 includes wheels 4 that roll in contact with the lower frame rail 5 and travels by driving means such as a linear motor system or a conveyance chain system. The articles W placed and transported on the tray 3 are appropriately sent to the left and right sides of the transport line as the tray 3 tilts left and right.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1, a first auxiliary chute 7 is provided on the left side in FIG. 1, that is, on the left side of the transport line, and an upper case 8 is provided at the downstream end of the first auxiliary chute 7, The upper case 8 is mounted on the mounting table 9. The article W delivered from the tray 3 slides down the first auxiliary chute 7 and is carried out to the upper case 8.
In addition, above the upper case 8 and the lower case 17 described later, a reflective photosensor 10 for detecting the storage state of the article W is provided.
[0012]
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a second auxiliary chute 11 is provided on the right side in FIG. 1, that is, on the right side of the transport line, and the carry-out chute 12 is connected to the downstream end of the second auxiliary chute 11. Provided.
The unloading chute 12 is inclined so as to cross the lower frame rail 5, that is, the lower portion of the conveying line substantially perpendicularly so as to unload the article W to the lower case 17 provided on the left side of the conveying line. Provided.
As shown in the figure, the carry-out chute 12 is considerably short from the right side to the left side of the transfer line, and can be made to have a steep slope.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, an approximately middle portion of the carry-out chute 12 that is in the process of sliding down is operated in synchronism with the tilting of the tray 3, and the upper end of the swinging inclined surface is used as a fulcrum 13a from the tilted state. An oscillating bottom plate 13 that can be rotated to a horizontal state is provided.
The rocking bottom plate 13 is rotated with the upper end of the rocking inclined surface as a fulcrum 13a by the operation of an actuator 15 provided below the rocking bottom plate 13.
In addition, an article passage detection sensor 14 that detects the presence or absence of the article W is provided at the downstream end of the second auxiliary chute 11.
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the article passage detection sensor 14 is a transmission type photosensor provided at the downstream end of the second auxiliary chute 11, and the article passage detection sensor 14 is provided as shown in FIG. The light emitting element 14a and the light receiving element 14b are integrated with a space therebetween, and the light emitting element 14a and the light receiving element 14b are provided on the side plates 12a and 12b of the carry-out chute 12.
In addition, the code | symbol 12 in FIG. 3 is a stay provided between the side plates 12a and 12b of the chute | shoot 12 for carrying out.
[0015]
Further, a jamming detection sensor 16 is provided above the rocking bottom plate 13 provided on the carry-out chute 12 on the upstream side.
The jamming detection sensor 16 is a transmissive photosensor and, as shown in FIG. 3, is a light-emitting element 16a and a light-receiving element 16b that are opposed to each other with a space therebetween. Are provided on the side plates 12a, 12b of the carry-out chute 12.
In addition, the code | symbol 15a in each figure is an attachment adjustment metal fitting, and 18 is a sight glass.
[0016]
In the article sorting and unloading apparatus 1 configured as described above, the article W sent to the left side (see FIG. 1) from the tray 3 traveling along the transport line is unloaded from the first auxiliary chute 7 to the upper case 8. It has become so.
[0017]
Also, the article W sent to the right side (see FIG. 1) is carried out from the second auxiliary chute 11 to the carry-out chute 12, slides down the carry-out chute 12, and is on the article carry-out side of the first auxiliary chute 7, that is, The lower case 17 is provided on the left side (see FIG. 1) of the transfer line.
[0018]
In this case, the swinging bottom plate 13 is rotated from an inclined state to a substantially horizontal state by an actuator 15 that operates in synchronization with the actuator 6 that tilts the tray 3.
In other words, the swinging bottom plate 13 is rotated in a substantially horizontal state at the same time when the tray 3 is tilted in order to send out articles. When the article W carried out on the carry-out chute 12 slides down and comes on the swinging bottom plate 13, the swinging bottom plate 13 is substantially horizontal by the timer or by the actuator 15 that operates in synchronization with the return operation of the actuator 6. It is designed to be rotationally displaced from the state to the inclined state.
In this case, the article W that has slid down on the carry-out chute 12 from the upstream is decelerated due to frictional resistance on the swinging bottom plate 13 in a substantially horizontal state, but immediately before or immediately after it stops, the swinging bottom plate When the article 13 is rotationally displaced in the inclined state, the article W is decelerated or temporarily stopped, then slides down on the carry-out chute 12 to the downstream side, and is carried out to the lower case 17 provided at the downstream end.
[0019]
Further, when the article W carried out from the second auxiliary chute 11 does not slide down on the carry-out chute 12 for some reason and is jammed, it is detected by the jamming detection sensor 16, and an alarm lamp is turned on by the detection signal. Or the traveling of the tray 3 is stopped and the jammed article W is removed by the operator, or the carrying chute 12 is slid down.
[0020]
The effects of the article sorting and unloading apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment are as follows.
The article W sent to the first auxiliary chute 7 is carried out to the left side of the conveyance line, and the article W sent to the right side by the second auxiliary chute 11 is connected to the second auxiliary chute 11 and is connected to the conveyance line. Since the lower part of the carry chute 12 that crosses the lower side from the right side to the left side is slid down from the upstream side to the left side of the transfer line, the carry chute 12 is extended to the right side of the transfer line. There is no need, and the article sorting and unloading apparatus 1 can be installed in a narrow space.
At the same time, the operator can work only on one side of the transfer line, and work efficiency can be improved.
[0021]
The middle part of the carry-out chute 12 connected to the second auxiliary chute 11 is in the middle of sliding down the article, and operates in synchronization with the tilting of the tray 3 and is inclined with the upper end of the swinging inclined surface as a fulcrum 13a. A rocking bottom plate 13 is provided that can be rotated from a state to a substantially horizontal state.
Therefore, by making the swinging bottom plate 13 substantially horizontal, it can be decelerated or stopped without giving an impact to the article W sliding down at a high speed from the upstream side.
[0022]
The article W decelerated or temporarily stopped on the swinging bottom plate 13 in a substantially horizontal state slides down on the carry-out chute 12 again when the swinging bottom plate 13 rotates in an inclined state, but is decelerated or temporarily stopped. As a result, the impact at the time of carrying out to the lower case 17 for storage can be mitigated, and damage can be prevented.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
The article sorting and unloading device according to the first aspect of the present invention appropriately sorts articles placed on a tray that runs along a transport line into a first auxiliary chute and a second auxiliary chute provided on the left and right sides of the transport line. The article sent to the first auxiliary chute is carried out to one side of the conveyance line, and the article sent to the second auxiliary chute is connected to the second auxiliary chute, and the lower part of the conveyance line is Since it slides down from the upstream to the downstream of the carry-out chute provided across and is carried out to one side of the transfer line, the articles sorted on the left and right can be carried out only to one side of the transfer line.
And since the carry-out chute is provided across the lower part of the conveyance line, it is not necessary to extend the carry-out chute to the side of the conveyance line, and the article sorting and carrying-out device can be installed in a narrow space. Can be installed.
In addition, since the article is carried out only to one side of the conveyance line, the work efficiency can be improved.
[0024]
Further, a swinging bottom plate that is operated in synchronization with the tilting of the tray and is rotatable from the tilted state to the substantially horizontal state with the upper end of the swinging tilted surface as a fulcrum is provided on the carry-out chute of the article. Therefore, even if the chute for carrying out is steep because of the installation of the article sorting and unloading device in a narrow space, the swinging bottom plate is decelerated or temporarily stopped by making the swinging bottom plate substantially horizontal. When doing so, the impact applied to the article can be prevented.
Further, the article decelerated or temporarily stopped on the rocking bottom plate can be carried out from the downstream end of the carry-out chute by rotating the rocking bottom plate in an inclined state.
[0025]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the article sorting and unloading device according to the present invention, in addition to the effect exerted by the article sorting and unloading apparatus according to the first aspect, by the operation of an actuator provided below the swinging bottom plate. The article to be slid down is decelerated or temporarily stopped by rotating and displacing it in a substantially horizontal state, and then the article is slid down by rotating and oscillating the swing bottom plate in an inclined state from the downstream end of the carry-out chute. Since the article is configured to be carried out, the article can be decelerated or temporarily stopped in the course of sliding down, so that the impact at the time of carrying out to the storage case can be reduced and damage can be prevented.
[0026]
Furthermore, the article sorting and unloading apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention is provided with a jamming detection sensor on the upstream side of the unloading chute in addition to the effect exhibited by the article sorting and unloading apparatus according to the first or second aspect. Therefore, when the article is not slid down for some reason, the clogged state of the article can be detected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of an article sorting / unloading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged front view of the carry-out chute in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation state of an article passage detection sensor and a jamming detection sensor.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Article sorting and unloading apparatus 2 ... Base 3 ... Tray 4 ... Wheel 5 ... Lower frame rail 6 ... Actuator 7 ... First auxiliary chute 8 ... Upper case DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... Mounting stand 10 ... Reflective type photo sensor 11 ... Second auxiliary chute 12 ... Unloading chute 12a, 12b ... Side plate 12c ... Stay 13 ... Swing bottom plate 13a ··· Supporting point 14 ··· Article passing detection sensor 14a ··· Light emitting element 14b ··· Light receiving element 15 ··· Actuator 15a ··· Mounting adjustment bracket 16 ··· Jamming detection sensor 16a ··· Light emitting device 16b ..Light receiving element 17 ・ ・ ・ Lower case 18 ・ ・ ・ Peep window

Claims (3)

Articles placed on a tray that runs along the transport line are appropriately sorted and sent to a first auxiliary chute and a second auxiliary chute provided on the left and right sides of the transport line, and the articles sent to the first auxiliary chute Is carried out to one side of the conveying line and the article sent to the second auxiliary chute is slid down from the upstream of the discharging chute provided continuously with the second auxiliary chute and across the lower side of the conveying line. In the article sorting and unloading device for unloading to one side of the transfer line,
A swinging bottom plate that operates in synchronism with the tilting of the tray and is rotatable from an inclined state to a substantially horizontal state with the upper end of the swinging inclined surface as a fulcrum is provided on the unloading chute of the unloading chute. An article sorting and unloading apparatus characterized by comprising:   By actuating an actuator provided below the swinging bottom plate, the swinging bottom plate is rotationally displaced in a substantially horizontal state to decelerate or temporarily stop the article to be slid down, and then rotate the swinging bottom plate to an inclined state. 2. The article sorting and unloading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article sorting and unloading apparatus is configured to slide down and unload the articles from the downstream end of the unloading chute by being dynamically displaced.   The article sorting and unloading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a jamming detection sensor is provided above the unloading chute upstream side.

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