JPH06191635A - Article sorting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an article sorting device with a high reliability of expenditure, without requiring a driving motor of an endless belt for articles in carriers, and a brush to feed the power to the driving motor. CONSTITUTION:The driving force of an endless belt 207 for articles in carriers is obtained from a wheel 203 rotating in constant contact with a track 3 through a clutch 221, and the engagement of the clutch 221 is controlled by an electromagnetic member 216 provided to each carrier 2, to absorb and repel the engagement of the clutch by an electromagnetic device 12 provided corresponding to each chute. In such a way, a driving motor of the belt and a brush to feed the power to the motor are made unnecessary, and the reliability of expending articles can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article sorting apparatus, and more particularly to a conveyor apparatus having a large number of carriers driven along a predetermined track such as an endless track or an endless track, and a conveyor apparatus arranged along this conveyor apparatus. An article sorting apparatus having a plurality of load receiving means, comprising: an endless belt driven in a direction in which the carrier intersects a length direction of the track,
An article is placed on the endless belt and conveyed along the track, and the endless belt is timely driven to deliver the article to a desired load receiving means. , To obtain from a wheel provided on a carrier and traveling along the track, thus eliminating the need for a drive motor for the endless belt.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 16 shows, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-11302.
FIG. 17 is a plan view of a conventional article sorting apparatus of the type described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7, a side view of a carrier in the conventional article sorting apparatus of FIG. 16, and FIG. 18 is a line XVIII-XVIII of FIG.
It is sectional drawing along.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a conveyor device which is composed of a large number of carriers 2 connected endlessly and travels along an endless track 3 in the conveying direction indicated by an arrow 4 as a whole. Reference numeral 5 is a loading conveyor for loading articles onto the carrier 2 from the side of the endless track 3 and is driven in the direction of arrow 6. 7 is a chute which is a plurality of load receiving means arranged along the conveyor device 1, 8 is a transport conveyor for transporting articles unloaded from a truck to the loading conveyor 5, 9 is a worker, and 10 is a sorting destination of the articles. It is a keyboard for entering the number of the shoot by computer.

Each carrier 2 is, for example, as shown in FIGS.
8, the reference numeral 200 denotes a frame, and the frame 200 has an endless track 3
Wheels 201 that travel on the top surface of the carrier 2 and receive the vertical load of the carrier 2, and wheels 202 and 203 that travel along both sides of the endless track 3 to guide the carrier 2 along the endless track 3.
And the carrier 2 is provided with these wheels 20
1, 202, 203 can travel on the endless track 3 along the endless track 3.

Reference numeral 204 denotes a drive motor for causing the carrier 2 to travel along the endless track 3. In the illustrated case, the axle 202 is rotationally driven via a toothed belt 205 and an axle 206, and the wheels 202 cause the carrier to rotate. 2 is made to run along the endless track 3. Such drive motors 204 are provided on each carrier 2 or on some selected carriers 2. Reference numeral 207 denotes an endless belt for placing an article on its upper surface and for discharging the article from this upper surface, which crosses the drum 208A, 208B at a substantially right angle to the lengthwise direction of the endless track 3. Supported by the frame 200. 209 is a drive motor for driving the endless belt 207, which rotates one drum 208A via the toothed belt 210,
This drives the endless belt 207.
In addition, 211 is a brush for the drive motor 204, 212 is a brush for the drive motor 209, and slides in contact with a power supply rail (not shown) provided along the endless track 3 to drive the drive motors 204, 209. It supplies power to. 213 is a bearing box for the axle 206, 21
4 is a bearing box for the other axle 215.

Next, the operation will be described. The worker 9 inputs into the keyboard 10 the sorting destination of the articles G loaded from the transfer conveyor 8 to the loading conveyor 5 in the form of the number of the chute 7. Now, assuming that the sorting destination of the article G is the chute 7A, when the carrier 2 on which the article G is placed travels to the article payout start position on the chute 7A,
According to the sorting destination information input to the computer by the keyboard 10, the drive motor 209 rotates in a predetermined direction to drive the endless belt 207 in the direction of arrow 11, and the article G placed on the endless belt 207 is directed to the chute 7A. Pay out.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional article sorting apparatus, the drive motor 209 of the endless belt 207 is required for each carrier 2, but the brush 212 and the power feeding rail are always in sliding contact with each other. Therefore, the brush 212 is mechanically worn, an arc is generated and electrically corroded, a power supply failure from the power supply rail occurs, the control of the drive motor 209 becomes poor, and the article is properly discharged. There was a problem that I could not understand. The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional one, and an object of the present invention is to provide an article sorting apparatus with high reliability of article dispensing.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is provided between a wheel provided on a carrier, which is in constant contact with a track, and which is constantly rotating while the carrier is running, and an endless belt of the carrier. Is provided with a clutch, and the engagement of the clutch is controlled by a magnetic member provided on each carrier so as to be attracted or repelled by an electromagnet device provided corresponding to each load receiving means.

[0009]

In the article sorting apparatus configured as described above, the electromagnet device provided corresponding to the article receiving means of the delivery destination operates when the carrier on which the article to be delivered is placed arrives. By doing so, the magnetic member is attracted or repelled by the electromagnet device and the clutch is engaged, the rotation of the wheel is transmitted to the endless belt through the clutch, the belt is driven, and the article is discharged. .

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 is a side view of a carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a partial sectional perspective view of a main part of this embodiment. The same parts as those in FIG.

In the figure, 12 is an electromagnet device provided corresponding to each chute, 216 is a disk-shaped magnetic member, and the electromagnet device 12 is the frame 1 in this embodiment.
21 and an alternating current electromagnet 123 provided in series along both edges of the top opening 122 of the frame 121 in parallel with the transport direction 4, and the magnetic member 216 is not magnetized. It is made of magnetic material.

A clutch 221 is provided between the wheel 203 and the endless belt 207, and is composed of a driving side clutch member 222 and a driven side clutch member 223. The axle 215 has a through hole 22 extending over its entire length.
4 is formed as a hollow shaft, and the axle 215 rotates integrally with the wheel 203. Through hole 2 of axle 215
A transmission shaft 225 extends slidably in the shaft 24. The transmission shaft 225 has a portion 226 having a quadrangular cross section (other polygons may be used), and the through hole 224 has a portion 22.
6 has a section 227 having a rectangular cross section, and thus the transmission shaft 225 has a section 226 having a section 2 of the through hole 224.
It is fitted to 27 so as to rotate together with the axle 215.

The portion 226 projects to the outside from the through hole 224, and the driving side clutch member 222 is provided at the projecting end.
Is fixed. Then, the axle 215 and the transmission shaft 22
The portion 226 of the clutch 221 rotates the rotation of the wheel 203.
The first transmission device 228 that transmits the driving force to the driving side clutch member 222 of FIG. In addition, 229 and 230 are provided in the bearing box 214 (not shown in FIG. 3),
It is a bearing that rotatably supports the axle 215.

Reference numeral 231 denotes a rotary shaft having one end fixed to the driven side clutch member 223 of the clutch 221, and a bevel gear 232 fixed to the other end. 233,23
Reference numeral 4 denotes a bearing which is provided in the bearing box 235 and rotatably supports the rotating shaft 231. The drums 208 </ b> A and 208 </ b> B are fixed to the toothed pulley 237 fixed to the respective shafts 236, the toothed belt 210 and the toothed pulley 239 fixed to one end of the other shaft 238, and the other end of the shaft 238 to be fixed to the above-mentioned caps. It is coupled to the bevel gear 232 via a bevel gear 240 that meshes with the gear 232. Then, the shaft 231, the bevel gears 232, 24
0, shaft 238, toothed pulley 239, toothed belt 21
0, toothed pulley 237, shaft 236 and drum 208
A and 208B configure a second transmission device 241 that transmits the rotation of the driven side clutch member 223 to the endless belt 207.

242 is a transmission shaft 2 in the axle 215.
A shoulder provided at the lower end of 25 abuts a shoulder 244 of a sleeve 243 fixed in the axle 215 to define a lower limit position of the transmission shaft 225. The transmission shaft 225 is the electromagnet device 1
2 extends below the AC electromagnet 123 through the top opening 122 of the magnetic member 21.
6 is fixed so as to face the AC electromagnet 123. Then, when the magnetic member 216 passes through the electromagnet device 12 while the AC electromagnet 123 is energized, the magnetic member 216 is attracted by the AC electromagnet 123, and the drive side clutch member 222 is passed through the transmission shaft 225.
To be engaged with the driven side clutch member 223. Thus, the transmission shaft 225 is provided between the magnetic member 216 and the clutch 221, and constitutes the third transmission device 245 that engages the clutch 221 while the magnetic member 216 is attracted to the electromagnet device 12. .
246 is a ring fixed to the transmission shaft 225,
7 is the shoulder portion 2 of the through hole 224 of the ring 246 and the axle 215.
When the magnetic member 216 is moved away from the electromagnet device 12 by a compression spring provided between the transmission shaft 225 and
Is pressed down to restore.

As shown in FIG. 16, when the chutes 7 are provided on both sides of the conveyor device 1 and the articles need to be discharged to either side, the electromagnet device 1 described above is used.
2, magnetic member 216, first transmission device 228, second transmission device 241, third transmission device 245 and clutch 2.
21 are provided on both the left and right sides of the carrier 2 as shown in FIG.

Next, the operation will be described. Assuming that the sorting destination of the article G is the chute 7A in FIG. 2, when the carrier 2 on which the article G is placed reaches the payout start position to the chute 7A, the electromagnet device 12 corresponding to the chute 7A (in FIG. 2). The AC electromagnet 123 of the right electromagnet device is biased by its control device (not shown), and when the magnetic member 216 passes through this electromagnet device 12 in this state, the magnetic member 216 is attracted toward the AC electromagnet 123. The third transmission device 245 is connected to the magnetic member 216.
By transmitting such a movement to the driving side clutch member 222,
The driving side clutch member 222 is connected to the driven side clutch member 22.
3 is engaged. The magnetic member 216 is naturally attached to the transmission shaft 225 so as not to come into contact with the AC electromagnet 123 when the clutch 221 is engaged.

On the other hand, since the rotation of the wheel 203 is always transmitted to the driving side clutch member 222 by the first transmission device 228, the driving side clutch member 222 is engaged with the driven side clutch member 223 as described above. Then, the driven side clutch member 223 is rotated by the driving side clutch member 222. Then, the driven side clutch member 22
Rotation of the drum 208 by means of the second transmission 241
After being transmitted to A, the endless belt 207 is driven in the direction of arrow 11 in FIG. 2 and the article G is discharged to the chute 7A.

When the payout is completed and the magnetic member 216 is separated from the electromagnet device 12, the transmission shaft 225 is pushed down to the initial position by the spring 247, and the clutch 221 is disengaged.
Thus, the length of the electromagnet device 12 is selected so that the clutch 221 is engaged for the time required to dispense the article, and the electromagnet device 12 is deenergized by its controller after the dispensing is completed. . When paying out to the chute 7B (FIG. 2) on the side opposite to the chute 7A, the mechanism provided on the left side of the carrier 2 in FIG. 2 operates exactly as described above, and the endless belt 207 is opposite to the arrow 11. Drive in the direction.

As can be seen from the above description, the belt 207
The driving force of the endless belt 207 is always contacted with the endless track 3 and is obtained only when necessary from the wheel 203 which is constantly rotating during the traveling of the carrier 2 via the clutch 221.
Since a dedicated motor for driving the motor is unnecessary, a brush 212 for supplying power to the motor from the power supply rail is provided.
(FIGS. 17 and 18) are also unnecessary, and therefore, defective feeding due to mechanical wear and electrical corrosion of the brush can be eliminated, and articles can be discharged accurately.

It should be noted that the endless belt 2 is removed from the wheels only when necessary.
In order to obtain a driving force of 07, the carrier 2 is provided with a dedicated wheel so as not to come into contact with the endless track 3, and a static friction plate provided at a predetermined position along the endless track 3 is provided during the payout. It is conceivable that only the wheel is brought into contact with the wheel to rotate the wheel and the rotation is transmitted to the drums 208A and 208B, but in that case, since the wheel is always in the non-rotating state, the speed up to the payout is reached. Since a long response time is required until the number of revolutions rises, a long static friction plate is required, effective utilization of the floor area is desired, and the chutes 7 having the smallest width are arranged closely to each other. In the current article sorting equipment that is required to
I can't say I'm satisfied. Also, in order to rotate the wheel that is the power source, it is necessary to press the static friction plate against the wheel with a large force, but in order to press with such a large force, a large air cylinder or hydraulic cylinder is required. However, the strength on the wheel side must be increased, which is not practical. Further, since the static friction plate is pressed against the wheels with a large force, there is a problem that noise is generated. In this respect, according to the present invention,
Since the magnetic member 216 is operated in a contactless manner by the electromagnet device 12, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder is not required, noise is low, and it is small and practical. In order to further reduce noise, it is preferable that the clutch 221 be a closed type.

The principle of the main part of another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
In side view. This embodiment is shown in FIGS.
In the embodiment of FIG.
It was a suction type at 23, but a repulsive type.

That is, 123A is a DC electromagnet corresponding to the AC electromagnet 123 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the upper end of the iron core 124 is magnetized to, for example, the N pole and the lower end to the S pole. Reference numeral 216A is a magnetic member corresponding to 216 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, and in this embodiment, magnetized in the clutch actuating motion (the motion of the magnetic member 216A in the direction of engaging and disengaging the clutch 221) in the direction M. Of the permanent magnet, and the side opposite to the DC electromagnet 123A is the N pole having the same polarity as the upper end of the iron core 124 and the opposite side is the S pole, and the transmission shaft 2 is located above the DC electromagnet 123A.
It is fixed to the lower end of 25. The other structure is similar to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

However, when the magnetic member 216A arrives while the DC electromagnet 123A is energized, the N pole of the DC electromagnet 123A and the magnetic member 216A which face each other.
And the magnetic member 216A moves upward due to the repulsive force, that is, in the moving direction M1 when the clutch is engaged.
Subsequent operations and effects are similar to those of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

The principle of the main part of still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in a side view in FIG. In this embodiment, the attraction of the embodiment of FIG. 4 is obtained by utilizing the repulsion between the DC electromagnet 123A and the magnetic member 216A made of a permanent magnet.

That is, all of the lower end of the iron core of the DC electromagnet 123A is magnetized to, for example, the N pole and the upper end is magnetized to the S pole, and the magnetic member 216A made of a permanent magnet is connected to the DC electromagnet 123A at the lower end of the iron core 124. S with the opposite polarity to the N pole
The pole and the opposite side are N poles, which are fixed to the lower end of the transmission shaft 225 below the DC electromagnet 123A. Other configurations are shown in FIG.
3 to the embodiment shown in FIG.

However, when the magnetic member 216A arrives while the DC electromagnet 123A is energized, the N pole of the DC electromagnet 123A and the magnetic member 216A which face each other.
Attractive force is generated between the magnetic pole 216A and the S pole of the magnetic member 216A.
Is sucked into. The subsequent operations and effects are shown in FIGS.
It is similar to the embodiment of.

The principle of the main part of still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in a side view in FIG. In this embodiment, the response speed of the magnetic member with respect to the electromagnet device is enhanced by combining the structure shown in FIG. 4 and the structure shown in FIG.

The magnetic member 216A is composed of a permanent magnet magnetized in the clutch operating movement direction M, as in FIGS. 4 and 5, and in the illustrated case, the clutch engaging movement direction M.
One side is the S pole, and the M2 side in the moving direction when disengaging the clutch is N
It is magnetized to the pole.

The DC electromagnets 123A are provided on the magnetic member 216A on the clutch engaging movement direction M1 side and the clutch disengaging movement direction M2 side, respectively. Reference numeral 123B
Indicates a magnetic member 216 from the DC electromagnet (the whole is indicated by reference numeral 123C) on the side of the moving direction M1 when the clutch is engaged.
It is arranged close to A.

The DC electromagnet 123C on the clutch engaging movement direction M1 side urges in the direction to attract the magnetic member 216A, and the DC electromagnet 123B on the clutch releasing movement direction M2 side in the direction to repel the magnetic member 216A. Be energized. That is, in the illustrated example, the DC electromagnet 123C on the clutch engaging movement direction M1 side is the magnetic member 216A.
The magnetic pole on the side facing the magnetic member 216A is biased so that the magnetic pole on the side facing the magnetic member 216A becomes the N pole, and the DC electromagnet 123B on the moving direction M2 side when the clutch is disengaged. is there.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the magnetic member 216A passes through the DC electromagnets 123B and 123C when the DC electromagnets 123B and 123C are not energized.
If C is energized, the magnetic member 216A arriving at this electromagnet device first receives a strong repulsive force because the magnetic member 216A approaches the DC electromagnet 123B on the M2 side in the moving direction M2 when the clutch is disengaged. When moving in the direction of movement M1,
DC electromagnet 12 on the moving direction M1 side when the clutch is rapidly engaged
3C will be strongly attracted. That is, the magnetic member 216A always receives a strong magnetic force by the DC electromagnets 123B and 123C during the clutch engaging movement.

Therefore, the response to the magnetic force of the electromagnet device becomes faster than that of the one which receives only the repulsive force or the suction force as shown in FIGS. There is an effect that can reduce the size.

The main part of another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7 in a partial sectional side view. The same parts or corresponding parts as those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, the first transmission device 228 is formed by a sleeve 249 axially slidably engaged with one end of the axle 215 by a spline, and the drive side clutch member 22 is attached to the sleeve 249.
2 is fixed. Reference numeral 250 denotes a large number of protrusions formed on the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve 249 in the axial direction.
The spline engagement is performed by fitting a plurality of grooves 251 in the axial direction formed at the one end corresponding to the protrusion 250.

An arm 252 has a magnetic member 216 that is not magnetized at one end, and an arm pivotally attached to the frame 200 at the other end by a link 253. 254 is a bearing attached to the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 249. 255 is a bearing 25.
A tubular member attached to the sleeve 249 via 4;
6 is a pin 257 fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 255.
The first transmission arm 259 has one end pivotally supported on the arm 252 by the pin 258, and the one end 259 is pivotally supported on the frame 200 by the pin 260 and the other end pivotally supports the other end of the first transmission arm 257 by the pin 261. The second transmission arm 259 is a circular second transmission arm.
An elongated slot 262 is formed for slidably receiving 56. Note that reference numeral 263 is a spring that biases the second transmission arm 259 clockwise around the pin 260.

Therefore, the magnetic member 216 is the AC electromagnet 1
When the arm 252 is sucked by 23 and moves to the upper right as a whole, the first transmission arm 257 rises and swings the second transmission arm 259 counterclockwise about the pin 260. This movement takes place from the slot 262 through the pin 256, the tubular member 255 and the bearing 254 to the sleeve 2
49 is raised to engage the driving side clutch member 222 with the driven side clutch member 223. Therefore, the first and second transmission arms 257, 259, the slot 262, the pin 256, the tubular member 255, the bearing 254 and the sleeve 249 engage the clutch 221 while the magnetic member 216 is attracted by the electromagnet device 12. The third transmission device 245 is formed. The transmission mechanism from the bevel gear 232 to the drum 208A is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

When the magnetic member 216 is attracted by the electromagnet device 12, the clutch 221 is engaged by the third transmission device 245. On the other hand, since the rotation of the wheel 203 is constantly transmitted to the drive side clutch member 222 by the first transmission device 228, the endless belt 207 is provided with the second transmission device (the shaft 231 and the bevel gear 232 are shown in FIG. 6). However, the other parts are not shown in the drawing) and are transmitted to the endless belt 207 via the belt 20.
7 is driven.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, each AC electromagnet 12
While the three iron cores 124 are magnetically coupled to each other by the yoke 125 and the magnetization polarities of the iron cores 124 of the AC electromagnets 123 are alternately opposite to each other, the magnetic efficiency is improved. The configuration is equally applicable to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 and the embodiments described later. The iron core 124 and the yoke 125 may be integrally formed.

7 is provided on both the left and right sides of the carrier 2 as shown in FIG. 2 when the articles are to be delivered to the left and right sides of the conveyor device 1. The third transmission device 245 includes the tubular member 255 and the second transmission arm 25.
9 may be omitted and the other end of the first transmission arm 257 may be pivotally supported on the outer ring of the bearing 254. This example
In addition to achieving the same effects as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, there is an advantage that the axle 215 does not need to be hollow and the manufacturing is easy.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
Is shown in. 8 is a side view of the carrier in this embodiment, FIG. 9 is a bottom view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is an axial sectional view of the main part of this embodiment. The same or corresponding parts as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the figure, reference numeral 264 denotes a wheel which is a driving source of the endless belt 207, and is mounted on the carrier 2 so as to run on the top surface of the endless track 3 and rotate constantly during the running of the carrier 2. . 265 is an axle for fixedly supporting the wheel 264, and the bearing 26 mounted in the bearing boxes 266, 267 fixed to the frame 200.
It is rotatably supported by 8, 269. The drive side clutch member 222 of the clutch 221 is fixed to the axle 265. Thus, in this embodiment, the axle 265 causes the rotation of the wheels 264 to drive the clutch member 2 on the drive side.
A first electric device 228 that transmits the electric power to the motor 22 is configured.

Reference numeral 215A is a hollow shaft corresponding to the axle 215 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, but in this embodiment, no wheel is attached to the hollow shaft 215A. Hollow shaft 2
15A is rotatably supported by bearings 271, 272 mounted in a bearing box 270 fixed to the frame 200. The hollow shaft 215A has a through hole 224 as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in which a transmission shaft 225 is slidably inserted in the axial direction. May be a polygon)
Of the transmission shaft 2 and the through hole 224 has a portion 227 of a square cross section corresponding to the portion 226.
25, the portion 226 thereof is fitted into the portion 227 of the through hole 224 so that it can rotate together with the hollow shaft 215A. The portion 226 projects to the outside from the through hole 224, and the driven side clutch member 223 is fixed to the projecting end.

A magnetic member 216 is attached to one end of 273,
An intermediate portion is a swing arm pivotally supported by a frame (not shown in FIG. 10) by a pin 274 and having a protrusion 275 at the other end. Inside the hollow shaft 215A, a bearing ball 276 is provided in contact with the end of the transmission shaft 225 opposite to the end to which the driven side clutch member 223 is fixed.
The bearing ball 276 is held by a sleeve 277 fixed inside the hollow shaft 215A so as not to fall off from the hollow shaft 215A. The projection 275 is provided so as to face the bearing ball 276. Reference numeral 278 is a return spring that biases the swinging arm 273 clockwise around the pin 274, and 27
9 is a stopper.

When the magnetic member 216 passes through the electromagnet device 12 energized by the AC electromagnet 123, the magnetic member 216 is attracted by the electromagnet device 12 and the swing arm 273 rotates counterclockwise about the pin 274. The projection 275 engages the driven side clutch member 223 with the driving side clutch member 222 via the bearing ball 276 and the transmission shaft 225. Thus, the swing arm 273, the bearing ball 276, and the transmission shaft 225
Is provided between the magnetic member 216 and the clutch 221 and constitutes a third transmission device 245 that engages the clutch 221 while the magnetic member 216 is attracted by the electromagnet device 12. Then, the third transmission device 245
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the drive-side clutch member 2
22 is moved toward the driven side clutch member 223, while the driven side clutch member 223 is moved toward the driving side clutch member 222 in the opposite manner in the present embodiment. Point and transport direction 4
In the case of paying out to the right side as seen in FIG. 1, the other points are the same except that the electromagnet device 12 on the left side is biased.

FIG. 10 shows a mechanism provided on the right side of the carrier 2 when viewed in the transport direction 4 in FIG. 9, but in this mechanism, the hollow shaft 215A has a bevel gear 232 similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 3. Is fixed, and the bevel gear 232 is fixed.
The configuration of the second electric device 241 from the belt to the belt 207 is exactly the same as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3.

In FIG. 9, the mechanism provided on the left side of the carrier 2 when viewed in the transport direction 4 is the same as the mechanism on the right side.

Therefore, in each of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 and the embodiment of FIG. 7, the driving force of the endless belt 207 is
Wheels 2 for guiding the carrier 2 along an endless track 3.
In contrast to the example shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10 is basically different in that a dedicated wheel 264 is provided and is obtained from the wheel 264. It is shown that the dedicated wheels can be provided in this way to obtain the driving force for the endless belt 207, and the same effects as those of FIGS. 1 to 3 can be obtained. Absent.

Finally, an example of the control method of the electromagnet device 12 will be described with reference to the schematic flow chart of FIG. Worker 9
(FIG. 16) is a control device for controlling the energization and de-energization of the electromagnet device 12 when the sorting destination of the articles transferred from the transfer conveyor 8 to the input conveyor 5 is input to the keyboard 10 in the form of the number of the chute 7. A photocell device 14 provided at a predetermined position upstream of the chute 7 in a counter (not shown)
The pulse number corresponding to the distance from the sorting destination chute that is input from (FIG. 16) is set as the pulse number from a pulse generator (not shown) that generates a pulse in synchronization with the traveling of the carrier 2. At the same time, the left / right determination is made as to whether the chute of the sorting destination is on the left or right side of the endless track 3.

After the articles are transferred from the loading conveyor 5 to the carrier 2 and the carrier 2 passes through the phototube device 14, the phototube device 14 detects the position of the carrier 2 and the detection signal is sent to the counter. When sent, the counter starts the subtraction. When the carrier 2 reaches the article payout start position for the sorting chute, the counter is decremented to zero.

Up to this point, the operation of the conventional device is the same, but in the present invention, when the counter is subtracted to zero, either the left or right electromagnet device 12 is determined based on the above-mentioned left / right judgment.
Is activated. Then, the magnetic member 216 of the carrier 2 is attracted or repelled by the electromagnet device 12 to dispense the article as described above, and when the delivery of the article is completed, the timer is set before the arrival of the magnetic member 216 of the next carrier 2. The electromagnet device 12 is deenergized. This timer can be started simultaneously with the energization of the electromagnet device 12.

By the way, although the transfer of the article to the carrier 2 is carried out, in the conventional case, the endless belt 207 is attached to each carrier 2.
Since a drive motor 209 for the transfer is provided, the drive motor 20 during transfer is synchronized with the movement of the feeding conveyor 5.
By driving the endless belt 207 in the article receiving direction by means of 9, it was possible to smoothly transfer the article from the feeding conveyor 5 to the endless belt 207.

However, according to the present invention, since the drive motor 209 for the endless belt 207 is not provided as described above, it is not possible to utilize this to transfer the article from the input conveyor 5. The first method considered there is to throw the articles onto the endless belt 207 by means of the input conveyor 5. In this case, the feeding conveyor 5 has to run at a considerably high speed, and it is necessary to provide a receiving plate on the opposite side so that the thrown articles do not drop from the endless belt 207 to the opposite side.

This method can also be adopted as one transfer method, but the article is impacted when it hits the receiving plate, and the position of the article on the endless belt 207 is not constant, so that the width of the chute 7 is small. If the width is not wide, it is expected that the discharged articles will not fall well on the chute 7 and will be caught on the upper end thereof.

Therefore, as a second method, the method shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 can be considered. 12 is a plan view of the entire sorting apparatus similar to FIG. 16, and FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of the article transfer section of FIG. Note that, in FIG. 13, the detailed configuration of the carrier is omitted for the sake of simplification of the drawing.

In this method, the loading conveyor 5 is connected to the carrier 2.
Is provided so as to insert articles in the same direction as the traveling direction of the carrier 2 as shown by an arrow 501, and a receiving plate 282 is provided in front of each carrier 2. According to this method, the article G is thrown out in the same direction as the traveling direction of the carrier 2, so that the speed of the feeding conveyor 5 is made to be about the same as the traveling speed of the carrier 2 and is more stable than the first method described above. There is an advantage that it can be transferred to a position, the possibility that the article G hits the receiving plate 282 is small, and the impact is small even if it hits.

Therefore, although it can be said that the second method is more practical than the first method, since the article G is dropped onto the endless belt 207 from above, the article G is given a shock due to the fall. Can't be avoided.

As a method of avoiding such an impact and transferring the article to a stable position, the methods shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 can be considered. FIG. 14 is a plan view of the entire sorting apparatus similar to FIGS. 12 and 16, and FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the article transfer operation. The third method uses the above-described mechanism for paying-out also when transferring articles from the input conveyor 5 to the endless belt 207 of the carrier 2.

In this method, however, the feeding conveyor 5 is arranged so as to transfer articles from the side of the endless track 3 onto the endless belt 207, as in the case of FIG. In the illustrated case, the loading conveyor 5 is provided outside the loop of the endless track 3, so that the endless belt 207 moves rightward in the traveling direction of the carrier 2 when transferring the articles.
That is, it is necessary to drive in the direction of arrow 11 in FIG. 2, and for that reason, the electromagnet device 1 similar to the payout electromagnet device 12 is used.
2A is installed corresponding to the input conveyor 5 on the opposite side of the endless track 3 (when the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 is adopted).
Further, in the case of the embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 10, the endless track 3
The electromagnet device 12A is arranged on the side of the input conveyor 5.

FIG. 15 shows the article transfer operation with the following configuration.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. As described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 11, the worker 9 uses the number of the chute 7 to identify the sorting destination of the articles loaded from the transfer conveyor 8 to the loading conveyor 5 for the payout control.
Enter 0. After that, when the carrier 2 on which the article is to be transferred passes the reference point A on the upstream side of the loading conveyor 5 when viewed in the article transporting direction 4, that is an appropriate detecting means (not shown) such as a photoelectric tube or a proximity switch. Is detected by the detection signal, and the input conveyor starts the loading conveyor 5 with the article placed thereon.

Next, when the front end of the carrier 2 passes the reference point B immediately before the feeding conveyor 5 on the downstream side of the reference point A, an appropriate detecting means similar to that described above (this is also not shown). ), The electromagnet device 12A is energized by this detection signal. Then, the carrier 2
When the magnetic member 216 of the end reaches the electromagnet device 12A, the endless belt 207 is formed in the same manner as described in the embodiment of FIGS.
Is driven in the direction of arrow 11 (FIG. 2) and the loading conveyor 5
The article sent out from is pulled onto the endless belt 207.

When the pulling-in is completed, the feeding conveyor 5 is stopped by the timer (which can be started simultaneously with the energization of the electromagnet device 12A), the electromagnet device 12A is deenergized, and the article is transferred onto the endless belt 207. It

According to this third method, the articles are driven by the endless belt 207 which is driven in synchronization with the input conveyor 5.
Since the endless belt 207 is positively pulled onto the endless belt 207, no impact is applied to the article at the time of transfer unlike the first method and the second method described above, and the article is transferred to a stable position. It In this sense, it can be said that the third method is the best as the method of transferring the article to the carrier 2 when the present invention is carried out.

In the above embodiment, the mechanism for transmitting the rotation of the wheel to the endless belt 207 is explained as being provided on both the left and right sides of the carrier, but this can deliver the article to both the left and right sides of the carrier 2. In a case where it is required and the payout may be made only on one of the left and right sides of the carrier 2, it may be provided only on one side. Further, although the example in which the endless belt 207 is driven to reciprocate in the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the endless track 3 is shown, when the endless belt 207 is paid out to only one side,
For example, the relative speed of the article with respect to the chute can be reduced by driving it obliquely backward.

In addition, it goes without saying that the driving force of the endless belt 207 may be obtained from the wheels 202 in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 and 7. Further, although the conveyor device 1 is shown as one in which a large number of carriers 2 are connected endlessly, one in which the carriers 2 individually run, or one in which several carriers 2 run as a group, etc. The present invention can be similarly applied to the case where the carrier 2 is not connected endlessly. Also, the control devices for the electromagnet devices 12 and 12A can be of various types.

Further, although the orbit 3 is described as an endless orbit, it is an orbit having an end, that is, an orbit having both ends and connecting some carriers 2 between the two ends for reciprocating motion. Is also good. In that case, carrier 2 near one end
It is possible to load articles on the other end and pay them out while traveling toward the other end so that the return route will be empty, or load the articles on both ends and pay out the articles when traveling in either direction. You can also do so.

Further, although the chute 7 is shown as the cargo receiving means, it is not limited to the chute 7, and the conveyor for receiving the delivered articles and conveying them to another place, the direct receipt of the delivered articles and the other processing. It may be a transportation vehicle or a secondary sorting device. Further, although the carrier 2 is shown to be driven by the drive motor 204 mounted therein, it may be driven by a linear motor as described in, for example, JP-A-63-66024.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention, the driving force of the endless belt of the carrier is constantly contacted with the track so as to be obtained only when necessary from the wheel which is constantly rotating during the traveling of the carrier through the clutch. Therefore, since a dedicated motor for driving the endless belt is not required, a brush for supplying power to the motor from a power supply rail is also unnecessary, and therefore mechanical wear or electrical corrosion of the brush is a cause. The effect that the power supply failure can be eliminated and the articles can be surely delivered can be obtained without damaging the effective use of the floor area, making the device large, and generating a large noise.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a carrier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

3 is an axial cross-sectional perspective view of the main part of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a main part of still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a carrier according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a bottom view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG.

10 is an axial cross-sectional view of the main part of the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic flowchart of the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the entire article sorting apparatus equipped with the article transfer device to the carrier, which can be used for carrying out the present invention.

13 is a schematic side view of the article transfer unit of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the entire article sorting apparatus provided with another type of article transfer apparatus to a carrier, which can be used in implementing the present invention.

15 is a schematic flowchart of the article transfer operation in FIG.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the entire conventional article sorting apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a side view of a carrier in the conventional article sorting apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVIII-XVIII in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyor device 2 Carrier 3 Orbit 5 Loading conveyor 7 Load receiving means (shoot) 7A Load receiving means (shoot) 7B Load receiving means (chute) 202 Wheels 203 Wheels G Article M Clutch operating movement direction M1 Clutch engagement movement direction M2 Clutch release Movement direction 264 Wheels 207 Endless belt 12 Electromagnet device 12A Electromagnet device 123 AC electromagnet 123A DC electromagnet 123B DC electromagnet 123C DC electromagnet 216 Magnetic member 216A Magnetic member (permanent magnet) 221 Clutch 222 Drive side clutch member 223 Driven side clutch member 228th 1st transmission device 241 2nd transmission device 245 3rd transmission device 215 axle 224 through hole 225 transmission shaft 249 sleeve 254 bearing 257 first transmission arm 259 second transmission arm

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An article sorting apparatus comprising a conveyor device having a large number of carriers traveling along a predetermined track and a plurality of load receiving means arranged along the conveyor device, wherein the carriers are the tracks. The endless belt is driven in a direction crossing the length direction of the article, the article is placed on the endless belt and conveyed along the track, and the endless belt is driven at appropriate times to the desired load receiving means. In an article sorting apparatus adapted to dispense articles, an electromagnet device provided corresponding to each load receiving means, a bias of the electromagnet device,
A control device for controlling deenergization, a magnetic member provided on the carrier so as to move along a path adjacent to the electromagnet device, and attracted or repelled by the electromagnet device when passing through the energized electromagnet device, A clutch provided on the carrier, a first wheel provided on the carrier, which is in constant contact with the track, is coupled to a wheel which is constantly rotating while the carrier is running, and which transmits the rotation of the wheel to a clutch member on the driving side of the clutch. Is provided between the magnetic member and the clutch, the second transmission device transmitting the rotation of the driven side clutch member of the clutch to the endless belt, and the magnetic member is attracted by the electromagnet device. Alternatively, the article sorting apparatus is provided with a third transmission device for engaging the clutch while being repelled. 2. A conveyor device having a large number of carriers traveling along a predetermined track, a plurality of load receiving means arranged along the conveyor device, and articles transferred from the sides of the track to the carriers. And an endless belt driven in a direction crossing the length direction of the track, and driving the endless belt near the input conveyor to move the endless belt onto the endless belt. Article sorting apparatus for transferring articles, conveying the transferred articles along the track, and driving the endless belt at appropriate times to deliver the articles on the endless belt to a desired load receiving means. , An electromagnet device provided corresponding to the loading conveyor and each of the load receiving means, a control device for controlling energization and deenergization of the electromagnet device, and a transfer device along a path adjacent to the electromagnet device. A magnetic member that is provided on the carrier so as to move and is attracted or repelled by the electromagnet device when passing through an electromagnet device that is biased, a clutch provided on the carrier, and a track provided on the carrier at all times. A first transmission device that is in contact with and is coupled to a wheel that rotates at all times during the traveling of the carrier and that transmits the rotation of the wheel to the driving side clutch member of the clutch, and the rotation of the driven side clutch member of the clutch And a third transmission device that is provided between the magnetic member and the clutch and that engages the clutch while the magnetic member is attracted or repelled by the electromagnet device. An article sorting device characterized by being provided. 3. An axle of the wheel is a hollow shaft having a through hole extending over the entire length, and a third transmission device extends through the through hole so as to be swingable in the axial direction thereof and together with the hollow shaft. It is formed by a rotating transmission shaft, one end of this transmission shaft is fixed to one clutch member of the clutch, a magnetic member is fixed to the other end, and the magnetic member is attracted or repelled by an electromagnet device. 3. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the member engages the one clutch member with the other clutch member via the transmission shaft. 4. A first transmission device is formed of a sleeve slidably engaged with one end of an axle of the wheel in an axially slidable manner, and a drive side clutch member of the clutch is fixed to the sleeve. The third transmission device is formed of the sleeve, a bearing mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve, and a transmission arm having one end coupled to the magnetic member and the other end coupled to the sleeve via the bearing. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. 5. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnet device is an alternating current electromagnet, and the magnetic member is a non-magnetized magnetic material. 6. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnet device is a DC electromagnet, and the magnetic member is a permanent magnet. 7. The magnetic member comprises a permanent magnet magnetized in the clutch operating movement direction, and DC electromagnets are arranged on the clutch engaging movement direction and the clutch releasing movement direction side of the magnetic member, respectively. The DC electromagnet on the movement direction side when the clutch is disengaged is disposed closer to the magnetic member than the DC electromagnet on the movement direction side when the clutch is engaged, and the DC electromagnet on the movement direction side when the clutch is engaged attracts the magnetic member. 7. The article sorting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the DC electromagnet on the side of the moving direction when the clutch is disengaged is biased in a direction to repel the magnetic member.