JP4855899B2 - Sorting system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sorting system that sorts articles such as merchandise, and more particularly, to a sorting system that sorts articles using RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology.

  In general, products displayed in a store or the like are delivered from the manufacturer to the store for each product via a wholesaler. When a product is shipped from a manufacturer or wholesaler to a store, for example, a plurality of products of the same type are stored in one cardboard box, and a label with information indicating a delivery destination is attached to the cardboard box and shipped. Is done. The goods stored and shipped in the cardboard box are sorted according to the information described on the label attached to the cardboard box and delivered to the store as the delivery destination.

In this way, when sorting the products to be delivered, all the products are transported on the main conveyor, and then the products are delivered to the sub-conveyor according to the delivery destination area according to the information described on the label as described above. Is further sorted in the terminal area of the sub-conveyor for each delivery destination store (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a sorting method, generally, a label that identifies a delivery destination area and a store name of the delivery destination is pasted on a storage body such as a cardboard box in which products are stored. The barcode of this label is read on the main conveyor, so that the storage body in which the goods are stored is transferred onto the sub-conveyor provided for each area of the delivery destination, and then in the end region of the sub-conveyor. When the operator visually observes the store name described on the label, the storage body in which the products are stored is sorted for each delivery destination store and placed on a cart for each store. In this way, for each store, a plurality of products to be delivered are placed on one cart and delivered.
JP 2002-29614 A

  However, as described above, when sorting articles such as merchandise by sorting the articles for each delivery destination by the worker's visual inspection in the terminal area of the article transport path, the work of the workers becomes complicated and the articles There is a risk that a sorting error will occur. Therefore, it is conceivable to branch the conveyor for each delivery destination of the articles. However, when there are many delivery destinations, it is difficult to install a number of conveyors corresponding to the delivery destinations.

  In addition, Patent Document 1 described above describes a technique for indicating the delivery destination of an article that has been transported to the terminal area of the transport path using a lamp or the like, but there are a plurality of articles in the terminal area of the transport path. In the case of continuous conveyance, there is a problem that it is impossible to recognize which article the delivery destination indicated by a lamp or the like corresponds to.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional techniques as described above, and even when a plurality of articles are continuously conveyed, the conveyed articles are delivered to the delivery destination. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sorting system that can reliably sort without each effort.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A sorting system for sorting articles that have been transported on a transport path for each delivery destination in a terminal area of the transport path,
An RFID medium in which identification information capable of identifying the delivery destination of the article is written is attached to the article,
An antenna provided in a terminal area of the transport path, and having a reading range that enables reading of the identification information from RFID media attached to a plurality of articles transported to the terminal area;
Based on the order of the identification information read through the antenna and the subsequent reading state of the identification information through the antenna, the delivery destination of the articles arranged in the reading range on the transport path Control means for recognizing the order;
And display means for displaying information indicating delivery destinations of articles arranged in the reading range on the transport path so that the order can be identified by the control of the control means.

  In the present invention configured as described above, when an article attached with RFID media in which identification information capable of identifying a delivery destination is written is transported to the terminal area of the transport path, the article is transferred to the terminal area of the transport path. Identification information is read through the provided antenna. Since this antenna has a reading range in which identification information can be read from RFID media attached to a plurality of articles conveyed to the termination area, the articles are conveyed to the termination area of the conveyance path. Each time it enters the reading range of the antenna, identification information is sequentially read from the RFID media attached to the article via the antenna. Then, the control means recognizes the order of the delivery destinations of the articles arranged in the reading range on the transport path based on the order of the identification information read via the antenna. Thereafter, when the articles arranged in the reading range are removed from the conveyance path, the identification information cannot be read from the RFID medium attached to the articles via the antenna. Then, in the control means, among the articles arranged in the reading range, it is determined that the articles whose identification information can no longer be read through the antenna are removed from the transport path, and the order is recognized as being packed. In the control means, the order recognized in this way is used to control the display means, and information indicating the delivery destination of the articles arranged in the reading range is displayed on the display means so that the order can be identified.

In addition, the detection unit is provided on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the article in the conveyance path of the reading range, and detects an article that enters the reading range,
The control means may be configured to confirm the number of articles detected by the detection means when the number of identification information read via the antenna is smaller than a predetermined number. .

  Further, the control means determines the size of an article that falls within the reading range using the detection result of the detecting means, and based on the size of the article and the size of the reading range, a delivery destination is sent to the display means. It is also conceivable to change the number of articles that display the information indicating.

  As described above, according to the present invention, reading is performed via an antenna provided in the termination area in the termination area of the conveyance path in which the article to which the RFID with identification information that can identify the delivery destination is written is conveyed. Based on the order of the identification information obtained and the reading state of the identification information through the antenna thereafter, the order of the delivery destination is recognized for the articles arranged in the antenna reading range, and the articles in the reading range are recognized. Since the information indicating the delivery destination is displayed so that the order thereof can be identified, even if a plurality of articles are conveyed continuously, the conveyed articles are not troublesome for each delivery destination. Can be surely sorted.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a transport path in which the sorting system of the present invention is adopted.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the conveyance path in this example is one main conveyor 10 on which merchandise as an article is conveyed, and a plurality of sub-branches provided from the main conveyor 10 depending on the area to which the merchandise is delivered. Conveyors 20-1 to 20-n. The main conveyor 10 is bent before the branch point with the sub-conveyors 20-1 to 20-n, and the barcode reader 11 is installed outside the bending point. Further, on the main conveyor 10, in order to transfer the products conveyed on the main conveyor 10 onto the sub conveyors 20-1 to 20-n at the branch points with the sub conveyors 20-1 to 20-n. Direction regulating plates 21-1 to 21-n are respectively provided.

  Hereinafter, the sorting system of the present invention employed for sorting products using the transport path configured as described above will be described.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the sorting system of the present invention employed for sorting products using the transport route shown in FIG. 1, wherein (a) is an external view, and (b) is a view. It is a block diagram. In this embodiment, the sorting system provided in the sub-conveyor 20-1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described as an example, but the same applies to the sub-conveyors 20-2 to 20-n shown in FIG. Things are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sorting system in the present embodiment is provided in the terminal region of the sub-conveyor 20-1, and the reading antenna 30 attached to the lower surface of the sub-conveyor 20-1 and the terminal of the sub-conveyor 20-1. The order of arrangement of the pair of light-shielding sensors 40 as detection means for detecting the commodity conveyed to the area and the terminal area of the commodity conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 The order of the delivery destination of the goods in the terminal area is recognized on the basis of the display lamp 50 as the display means and the reading state of the reading antenna 30, and the lighting state of the display lamp 50 is controlled according to the order. It consists of a management personal computer 60. The management personal computer 60 controls a display unit 61 including a display on which information is displayed, an operation unit 62 including a keyboard and a mouse for inputting information from the outside, and controls the operation of the display unit 50. It is comprised from the control part 63 which controls a state. The display lamp 50 has three lighting areas 50a to 50c, and red and blue lamps can be selectively lit.

  The reading antenna 30 has a size including a plurality of products conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 on the lower surface of the sub-conveyor 20-1. Information can be read from RFID labels attached to a plurality of products conveyed to the terminal area.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of products that are sorted by the sorting system illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the products sorted by the sorting system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are configured by packing a plurality of products of the same type in a cardboard box. Is attached, and an RFID label 72 as an RFID medium is attached to the lower surface thereof. The bar code information written on the bar code label 71 can identify an area to which the product 70 is delivered, for example, a municipality. Further, the RFID label 72 is written with a store ID serving as identification information for identifying the store to which the product 70 is delivered, and this store ID is in a non-contact state via the reading antenna 30 shown in FIG. Can be read. Instead of attaching the RFID label 72 to the product 70, a pocket may be provided in the product 70 and an RFID tag may be stored in the pocket. However, since it is attached to the lower surface of the product 70, it is necessary to have a structure in which the RFID tag does not fall out of the pocket.

  Below, the sorting method of the goods 70 using the sorting system comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a method of sorting the products 70 shown in FIG. 3 using the sorting system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  When the products 70 to be sorted are transported on the main conveyor 10 (step S1), the side faces the bar code reader 11 at the folding point of the main conveyor 10. At that time, since the barcode label 71 is affixed to the side surface of the product 70 as shown in FIG. 3, the barcode information of the barcode label 71 affixed to the product 70 is read by the barcode reader 11. (Step S2).

  The barcode information read by the barcode reader 11 is sent to a management device (not shown) that controls the operations of the main conveyor 10 and the sub-conveyors 20-1 to 20-n. In the management apparatus, the transport speed of the main conveyor 10 is managed, and bar code information for identifying the delivery destination areas of the products 70 sorted into the sub-conveyors 20-1 to 20-n is managed. Therefore, based on the barcode information read from the barcode label 71 by the barcode reader 11, it is determined to which sub-conveyor among the sub-conveyors 20-1 to 20-n. After the bar code information is read from the bar code label 71 by the bar code reader 11, the time based on the distance from the bar code reader 11 to the corresponding sub conveyor and the transport speed of the main conveyor 10 has elapsed. A direction regulating plate provided at a branch point between the corresponding sub-conveyor and the main conveyor 10 protrudes on the main conveyor 10, whereby the product 70 conveyed on the main conveyor 10 is transferred onto the sub-conveyor. (Step S3). In this embodiment, it is assumed that the product 70 that has been conveyed on the main conveyor 10 is transferred onto the sub-conveyor 20-1.

  The product 70 transferred to the sub-conveyor 20-1 is conveyed on the sub-conveyor 20-1.

  When the product 70 conveyed on the sub-conveyor 20-1 reaches the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 shown in FIG. 2, the product 70 is first detected by the light shielding sensor 40. The light shielding sensor 40 is composed of a pair of sensors as shown in FIG. 2, and the article is detected based on whether or not the light emitted from one is received by the other. Is not received on the other side, it is detected that the product 70 has reached the end region of the sub-conveyor 20-1. In addition, since the light shielding sensor 40 is provided in the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 at the upstream end of the reading range of the reading antenna 30 in the conveyance direction, the product 70 detected by the light shielding sensor 40 is Thus, the reading range of the reading antenna 30 is entered.

  Then, it reaches the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 through the reading antenna 30, and stores the delivery destination store of the product from the RFID label 72 attached to the product 70 that has entered the reading range of the reading antenna 30. An identifiable store ID is read. In this way, every time the product 70 is conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1, the store to which the product is delivered from the RFID label 72 attached to the product 70 that has entered the reading range of the reading antenna 30 is displayed. The identifiable store IDs are sequentially read (step S4).

  The store IDs read via the reading antenna 30 are sequentially sent to the management personal computer 60, and the control unit 63 of the management personal computer 60 recognizes the store corresponding to the store ID. At this time, the order in which the store IDs are read via the reading antenna 30 is also managed by the management personal computer 60. In the management personal computer 60, a lighting color in the display lamp 50 is set for each store to which the product 70 is delivered. Accordingly, the display lamp 50 is lit in a color corresponding to the store under the control of the control unit 63 of the management personal computer 60.

  Here, the operation when a plurality of products are continuously conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the operation when a plurality of products are continuously conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 in the sorting system shown in FIGS. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the reading range of the reading antenna 30 is large enough to contain three products.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the three products 71-1 to 71-3 are continuously conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1, they are respectively attached to the three products 71-1 to 71-3. Store IDs are sequentially read from the RFID label via the reading antenna 30. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the product 70-1 and the product 70-3 are products delivered to the same store, and only the product 70-2 is a product delivered to different stores. In addition, for the three products 70-1 to 70-3, the product 70-1 is first conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1, and the product 70-2 is secondly the sub-conveyor 20-1. Since the goods 70-3 have been transported to the terminal area and have been transported to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 third, they are arranged in the order shown in FIG.

  First, the store ID is read from the RFID label affixed to the product 70-1, and then the store ID is read from the RFID label affixed to the product 70-2. The store ID is read from the RFID label attached to the product 70-3, and the order is managed by the management personal computer 60.

  The display lamp 50 has three lighting areas 50a to 50c. This is because the reading range of the reading antenna 30 is large enough to contain three products, and shows the order in which the reading range is conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1. The product that has been first transported to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 is indicated in the lighting area 50a, and the product that has been transported second to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 is lighted. The delivery destination is indicated by the area 50b, and the delivery destination is indicated by the lighting area 50c for the third product conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1.

  The products 70-1 and 70-3 are transferred from the sub-conveyor 20-1 to the transport truck 80a, and the products 70-2 are transferred from the sub-conveyor 20-1 to the transport truck 80b. A red identification tag 81a is attached to the transport truck 80a as information indicating a store to which the products 70-1 and 70-3 are delivered, and a delivery destination of the product 70-2 is attached to the transport truck 80b. A blue identification tag 81b is attached as information indicating the store. That is, in this embodiment, the store that is the delivery destination of the products 70-1 and 70-3 is identified in red, and the store that is the delivery destination of the product 70-2 is identified in blue.

  Then, under the control of the management personal computer 60, as shown in FIG. 5, a red lamp for identifying the store ID read first through the reading antenna 30 is turned on in the lighting area 50a, and the reading antenna 30 is read. A blue lamp for identifying the store ID read second through the lighting area 50b is lit in the lighting area 50b, and a red lamp for identifying the shop ID read third through the reading antenna 30 is illuminated area 50c. (Step S5).

  Thereby, the delivery destination of the goods 70-1 to 70-3 which are conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 and are lined up on the sub-conveyor 20-1 is the arrangement order of the goods 70-1 to 70-3. Will be displayed in an identifiable manner. Further, since the lighting color of the display lamp 50 is the same as the identification tags 81a and 81b attached to the transport trucks 80a and 80b for each delivery destination of the product, the same identification tag as the lighting color of the display lamp 50 is used. The products 70-1 to 70-3 are transferred to the transport trucks 80a and 80b to which the 81a and 81b are attached, respectively. That is, in this embodiment, the products 70-1 and 70-3 are transferred from the sub-conveyor 20-1 to the transport truck 80a, and the products 70-2 are transferred from the sub-conveyor 20-1 to the transport truck 80b. Will be.

  Thereafter, the product 70 transferred to the transport trucks 80a and 80b is delivered to the delivery destination store for each of the transport trucks 80a and 80b.

  Here, when the products 70-1 to 70-3 are removed from the sub-conveyor 20-1 to be transferred to the transport trucks 80a and 80b, the RFID labels 72 attached to the products 70-1 to 70-3 are used. Store ID is no longer read via the reading antenna 30 (step S6).

  Below, operation | movement at the time of goods 70-1 to 70-3 being removed from the sub-conveyor 20-1 is demonstrated.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation when the products 70-1 to 70-3 are removed from the sub-conveyor 20-1 in the sorting system shown in FIGS.

  In the state where the three products 70-1 to 70-3 are sequentially conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 and are placed side by side on the sub-conveyor 20-1, FIG. As described above, the lighting area 50a of the display lamp 50 lights in red indicating the store to which the product 70-1 is delivered, and the lighting area 50b of the display lamp 50 is blue to indicate the store to which the product 70-2 is delivered. It is lit, and the lighting area 50c of the display lamp 50 is lit in red indicating the store to which the product 70-3 is delivered.

  From this state, for example, when the product 70-1 is removed from the sub-conveyor 20-1, the store ID cannot be read from the RFID label 72 attached to the product 70-1 via the reading antenna 30. The products 70-2 and 70-3 remaining on the sub-conveyor 20-1 move in the direction toward the end of the sub-conveyor 20-1.

  When the store ID cannot be read from the RFID label 72 affixed to the product 70-1, the control unit 63 of the management personal computer 60 determines that the order of the stores to which the products 70-2 and 70-3 are delivered is the product order. As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the lighting area 50a of the display lamp 50 is lit in blue indicating the store to which the product 70-2 is to be delivered. The lighting area 50b of the display lamp 50 lights in red indicating the store to which the product 70-3 is delivered (step S7).

  Further, as the number of products existing in the reading range of the reading antenna 30 on the sub-conveyor 20-1 has been changed from three to two, the number of reading orders is changed from “3” to “2”. (Step S8). Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not the store ID read as the third one via the reading antenna 30 is read (Step S9).

  When the product 70-1 is removed from the sub-conveyor 20-1, the products 70-2 and 70-3 remaining on the sub-conveyor 20-1 move in the end direction of the sub-conveyor 20-1, When the product 70-4 to be transported next exists on the upstream side in the transport direction of the product 70 on the sub-conveyor 20-1 with respect to the reading range of the reading antenna 30 on the sub-conveyor 20-1, The product 70-4 moves in the direction of the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 and enters the reading range.

  Then, the store ID is newly read as the third from the RFID label 72 affixed to the product 70-4 via the reading antenna 30. Here, the product 70-4 is delivered to the same store as the product 70-2.

  Then, under the control of the management personal computer 60, as shown in FIG. 6B, a blue lamp for identifying the store ID read as the third by the reading antenna 30 is lit in the lighting area 50c. (FIG. 6B).

  When the product 70-2 is removed from the sub-conveyor 20-1 from the state shown in FIG. 6A, the RFID label 72 attached to the product 70-2 is read via the reading antenna 30. The store ID cannot be read, and the product 70-3 remaining on the sub-conveyor 20-1 moves in the end direction of the sub-conveyor 20-1.

  When the store ID cannot be read from the RFID label 72 attached to the product 70-2, the control unit 63 of the management personal computer 60 determines that the order of stores that are the delivery destinations of the products 70-1 and 70-3 is the product order. As shown in FIG. 6C, the lighting area 50a of the display lamp 50 is lit in red indicating the store to which the merchandise 70-1 is delivered. The lighting area 50b of the display lamp 50 lights in red indicating the store to which the product 70-3 is delivered.

  Further, as the number of products existing in the reading range of the reading antenna 30 on the sub-conveyor 20-1 has been changed from three to two, the number of reading orders is changed from “3” to “2”. Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not the store ID read as the third in the reading antenna 30 is read.

  When the product 70-2 is removed from the sub-conveyor 20-1, the product 70-3 remaining on the sub-conveyor 20-1 moves toward the end of the sub-conveyor 20-1. When the product 70-4 to be transported next exists on the upstream side in the transport direction of the product 70 on the sub-conveyor 20-1 with respect to the reading range of the reading antenna 30, the product 70-4 Moves in the direction of the end region of the sub-conveyor 20-1 and enters the reading range.

  Then, the store ID is newly read as the third from the RFID label 72 affixed to the product 70-4 via the reading antenna 30. Here, the product 70-4 is delivered to the same store as the product 70-2.

  Then, under the control of the management personal computer 60, as shown in FIG. 6C, a blue lamp identifying the store ID read as the third by the reading antenna 30 is lit in the lighting area 50c. (FIG. 6C).

  In this way, any product among the products 70-1 to 70-3 that are conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 and that are indicated by the display lamps 50 in the order of arrangement is a sub-conveyor. Even if the product is removed from 20-1, the display lamp 50 indicates the store that is the delivery destination of the product in the arrangement order after the product is removed.

  In addition, in the control unit 63 of the management personal computer 60, the number of store IDs that are read through the reading antenna 30 after the products 70-1 to 70-3 are removed from the sub-conveyor 20-1 is read. When the number of products in the reading range of the antenna 30 is less than three, the number of products detected by the light shielding sensor 40 is confirmed (step S10) and read via the reading antenna 30. If the number of store IDs does not match the number of products detected by the light shielding sensor 40 (step S11), the RFID label 72 is attached to the product existing in the reading range of the reading antenna 30 on the sub-conveyor 20-1. An alarm is output indicating that the RFID label 72 that has not been applied or has been affixed to the product is out of order (step S12).

  In this embodiment, the case where the delivery destination of the product 70 that has been transported on the sub-conveyor 20-1 is described as an example, but the number of stores that are the delivery destination of the product 70 is as follows. There may be three or more. However, in that case, the display lamp 50 selectively turns on the lamps of colors corresponding to the number of stores to which the merchandise 70 is delivered.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment described above, the store serving as the delivery destination of the product is shown using the display lamp 50, but the store serving as the delivery destination of the product can also be shown using the management personal computer.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the sorting system of the present invention employed for sorting products using the transport path shown in FIG. 1, wherein (a) is an external view, and (b) is a view. It is a block diagram.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the sorting system in this embodiment is not provided with the display lamp 50 as compared with the one shown in the first embodiment, and has been conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1. The only difference is that the store serving as the delivery destination of the merchandise is displayed on the display unit 161 of the management personal computer 160.

  Hereinafter, a method for sorting products in this embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a method of sorting the products 70 shown in FIG. 3 using the sorting system shown in FIGS. 1 and 7.

  When the products 70 to be sorted are transported on the main conveyor 10 (step S101), the side faces the bar code reader 11 at the folding point of the main conveyor 10, and is affixed to the products 70 by the bar code reader 11. The barcode information of the barcode label 71 is read (step S102).

  The barcode information read by the barcode reader 11 is sent to a management device that controls the operations of the main conveyor 10 and the sub-conveyors 20-1 to 20-n. A direction regulating plate provided at the branch point between the sub-conveyor corresponding to the area and the main conveyor 10 protrudes on the main conveyor 10, whereby the product 70 conveyed on the main conveyor 10 is transferred onto the sub-conveyor. (Step S103). In this embodiment, the product 70 that has been transported on the main conveyor 10 is transferred onto the sub-conveyor 20-1.

  The product 70 transferred to the sub-conveyor 20-1 is conveyed on the sub-conveyor 20-1.

  When the product 70 conveyed on the sub-conveyor 20-1 reaches the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 shown in FIG. 7, first, the product 70 is detected by the light shielding sensor 40 (step S104). The light shielding sensor 40 is composed of a pair of sensors as shown in FIG. 7, and the article is detected depending on whether the light emitted from one is received by the other. Is not received on the other side, it is detected that the product 70 has reached the end region of the sub-conveyor 20-1. In addition, since the light shielding sensor 40 is provided in the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 at the upstream end of the reading range of the reading antenna 30 in the conveyance direction, the product 70 detected by the light shielding sensor 40 is Thus, the reading range of the reading antenna 30 is entered.

  The detection result is sent to the management personal computer 160, and the control unit 163 of the management personal computer 160 stops receiving light emitted from one of the light shielding sensors 40 from one side and then from the other side of the light shielding sensor 40. The time until the irradiated light is received again on the other side is measured, and the product that has been transported to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 based on the measurement time and the transport speed of the sub-conveyor 20-1 A size of 70 is determined (step S105).

  In the control unit 163 of the management personal computer 160, the number of products for displaying a store serving as a delivery destination is set on the display unit 161 according to the size of the product 70 (step S106). This is because the reading range of the reading antenna 30 is constant, and the number of products that enter the reading range differs depending on the size of the product. Thus, the number of products that fall within the reading range of the reading antenna 30 is determined, and control is performed so that stores serving as delivery destinations of the number of products are displayed on the display unit 161.

  Then, it reaches the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 through the reading antenna 30, and stores the delivery destination store of the product from the RFID label 72 attached to the product 70 that has entered the reading range of the reading antenna 30. An identifiable store ID is read. In this way, every time the product 70 is conveyed to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1, the store to which the product is delivered from the RFID label 72 attached to the product 70 that has entered the reading range of the reading antenna 30 is displayed. The identifiable store IDs are sequentially read (step S107).

  The store IDs read via the reading antenna 30 are sequentially sent to the management personal computer 160, and the control unit 163 of the management personal computer 160 recognizes the store corresponding to the store ID. At this time, the order in which the store IDs are read via the reading antenna 30 is also managed by the management personal computer 160.

  In the management personal computer 160, the stores identified by the store IDs read through the reading antenna 30 are displayed on the display unit 161 in the reading order of the store IDs under the control of the control unit 163 (step S108). .

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating information displayed on the display unit 161 of the management personal computer 160 in the sorting system illustrated in FIG. 7. FIG. 9A illustrates the size of the product 70 within the reading range of the reading antenna 30. The figure which shows the information displayed when three goods enter, (b) is displayed when the magnitude | size of the goods 70 can enter only two goods in the reading range in the reading antenna 30. It is a figure which shows information.

  As shown in FIG. 9, on the display unit 161 of the management personal computer 160, stores identified by the store ID read via the reading antenna 30 indicate the reading order of the store ID, that is, the sub-conveyor 20- 1 are displayed in order of arrangement on the screen. This display is performed based on the number set in step S106. That is, when the size of the product 70 is such that three products fall within the reading range of the reading antenna 30, as shown in FIG. 9A, a store to which the three products are delivered is displayed. When the size of the product 70 is such that only two products are within the reading range of the reading antenna 30, the store that is the delivery destination of the two products is displayed as shown in FIG. 9B. become.

  Thereafter, when the product 70 that has been transported to the terminal area of the sub-conveyor 20-1 is removed from the sub-conveyor 20-1 so as to be transferred to the transport truck, the store ID is determined from the RFID label 72 that is affixed to the product 70. Cannot be read by the reading antenna 30 (step S109).

  Then, in the control unit 163 of the management personal computer 160, in the same manner as that shown in the first embodiment, the order in which the stores to which the products 70 are delivered is removed from the sub-conveyor 20-1. (Step S110), and the order of the stores displayed on the display unit 161 is shifted accordingly.

  In addition, the number of reading orders is subtracted from the current number by the number of products removed from the sub-conveyor 20-1 (step S111), and the reading shop 30 reads the next store ID. Will be confirmed.

  If the store ID is not read through the reading antenna 30 even though the product 70 is detected by the light shielding sensor 40 in step S104, the reading antenna 30 on the sub-conveyor 20-1 is not read. An alarm is output that the RFID label 72 is not attached to the product existing in the reading range or that the RFID label 72 attached to the product is broken (step S112).

  In the two embodiments described above, as an example of a product to be sorted, a plurality of products of the same type are packaged in a cardboard box, and the barcode label 71 is provided on the side surface. It may be affixed and stored in a container or the like in which the RFID label 72 is incorporated on the bottom surface.

  Further, in the above-described two embodiments, the RFID label 72 is attached to the bottom surface of the product 70 and the reading antenna 30 is attached to the lower surface of the sub-conveyors 20-1 to 20-n. As described above, the RFID label 72 may be attached to the side surface of the product 70, and the reading antenna 30 may be disposed on the side of the terminal region of the sub-conveyors 20-1 to 20-n.

  In the above-described two embodiments, when transferring a product from the sub-conveyors 20-1 to 20-n to the transport trucks 80a and 80b, an operator ID that can identify the operator and the transfer operation thereof. It is also conceivable that a work ID that can be identified is written on the RFID label 72 attached to the product 70 and then used as a work record.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the conveyance path | route where the sorting system of this invention is employ | adopted. It is a figure which shows 1st Embodiment of the sorting system of this invention employ | adopted for the goods sorting using the conveyance path | route shown in FIG. 1, (a) is an external view, (b) is a block diagram. . It is a figure which shows the structure of the goods sorted by the sorting system shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the method of classifying the goods shown in FIG. 3 using the sorting system shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. It is a figure for demonstrating operation | movement when the several goods are conveyed continuously to the termination | terminus area | region of a sub conveyor in the sorting system shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement at the time of the goods removed from the sub conveyor in the sorting system shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment of the sorting system of this invention employ | adopted for the goods sorting using the conveyance path | route shown in FIG. 1, (a) is an external view, (b) is a block diagram. . It is a flowchart for demonstrating the method of classifying the goods shown in FIG. 3 using the sorting system shown in FIG.1 and FIG.7. It is a figure which shows the information displayed on the display part of the management personal computer in the sorting system shown in FIG. 7, (a) is a thing in which three goods enter the reading range in the reading antenna in the size of goods. The figure which shows the information displayed in the case, (b) is a figure which shows the information displayed when the magnitude | size of goods is what can enter only two goods into the reading range in a reading antenna.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main conveyor 11 Bar code reader 20-1-20-n Sub conveyor 21-1-21-n Direction control board 30 Reading antenna 40 Light-shielding sensor 50 Indicator lamp 50a-50c Lighting area 60,160 Management personal computer 61,161 Display unit 62, 162 Operation unit 63, 163 Control unit 70, 70-1 to 70-3 Product 71 Bar code label 72 RFID label 80a, 80b Transport truck 81a, 81b Identification tag

Claims (1)

A sorting system for sorting articles that have been transported on a transport path for each delivery destination in a terminal area of the transport path,
An RFID medium in which identification information capable of identifying the delivery destination of the article is written is attached to the article,
An antenna provided in a terminal area of the transport path, and having a reading range that enables reading of the identification information from RFID media attached to a plurality of articles transported to the terminal area;
Based on the order of the identification information read through the antenna and the subsequent reading state of the identification information through the antenna, the delivery destination of the articles arranged in the reading range on the transport path Control means for recognizing the order;
A sorting system comprising: display means for displaying information indicating delivery destinations of articles arranged in the reading range on the transport path so as to identify the order by control of the control means.

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