A guiding mechanism and cross-belt sorting equipment

Abstract

The present invention belongs to the technical field of automated sorting equipment, and specifically relates to a guide mechanism and a cross-belt sorting equipment, comprising a guide rail and a wheel set, wherein the outer periphery of the guide rail has at least one first support position and two second support positions, and the first support position and the second support position are arranged at an acute angle; the wheel set comprises a wheel frame, at least one running wheel and at least two angle wheels, the running wheel and the angle wheels are fixedly mounted on the wheel frame, the axis of the running wheel and the axis of the angle wheel are arranged at an acute angle, the running wheel is rollingly connected to the first support position, and the two angle wheels are rollingly connected to the two second support positions respectively and correspondingly. The guide mechanism can limit the freedom of the cross-belt sorting trolley in two directions of sliding on the guide rail through an angle wheel, that is, one angle wheel plays a role of limiting and supporting two running wheels, reducing the use of wheels, reducing costs, and reducing the weight of the equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of automated sorting equipment, and in particular to a guide mechanism and a cross-belt sorting equipment. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, automated sorting equipment has played a major role in many fields such as industrial production, logistics and warehousing, especially cross-belt sorters, which are widely used. The cross-belt sorter consists of several sorting carts connected end to end, forming a loop and running along a fixed track. Existing cross-belt sorters generally use two parallel rectangular tubular tracks, and at least six wheels are required to limit the four degrees of freedom of the sorting cart: up, down, left, and right. The wheels are used in large quantities, the cost is high, and the equipment is heavy. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a guiding mechanism and a cross-belt sorting device, which can limit the freedom of the device in two directions of sliding on the guide rail through an angle wheel, greatly reduce the use of wheels, reduce production costs, and make the equipment lighter.

[0004] To achieve this object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] In one aspect, the present invention provides a guiding mechanism, comprising:

[0006] A guide rail, the outer periphery of which has at least one first support position and at least two second support positions, wherein the first support position and the second support position are arranged at an acute angle;

[0007] The wheel set includes a wheel frame, at least one walking wheel and at least two corner wheels, wherein the walking wheel and the corner wheels are fixedly mounted on the wheel frame; the axis of the walking wheel is arranged at an acute angle to the axis of the corner wheel, the walking wheel is rollingly connected to the first support position, and the two corner wheels are rollingly connected to the two second support positions respectively.

[0008] As a preferred structure of the present invention, the first support position is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the second support position forms an acute angle with the horizontal plane; the axis of the walking wheel is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the axis of the angle wheel forms an acute angle with the horizontal plane and is parallel to the second support position.

[0009] As a preferred structure of the present invention, the angle between the axis of the corner wheel and the horizontal plane is 30° to 60°.

[0010] As a preferred structure of the present invention, two walking wheels are provided on both sides of the wheel frame, and the guide rail includes two parallel tracks located in the same horizontal plane, and each track is provided with at least one first support position and at least one second support position, which are respectively used for rolling connection with the walking wheel and the angle wheel.

[0011] As a preferred structure of the present invention, the cross-section of the track is circular, the top of the circle corresponds to the first supporting position, and the lower side of the circle corresponds to the second supporting position.

[0012] As a preferred structure of the present invention, the cross section of the track is a right triangle, the first right-angled side of the upper portion of the right triangle corresponds to the first support position, and the hypotenuse on one side of the right triangle corresponds to the second support position.

[0013] As a preferred structure of the present invention, a walking wheel is provided in the middle of the wheel frame, and the guide rail includes a track with a trapezoidal cross-section, the long bottom side of the upper part of the trapezoid corresponds to the first support position, and the two sides of the trapezoid correspond to the two second support positions, the walking wheel is rollingly connected to the first support position, and the two corner wheels are rollingly connected to the two second support positions.

[0014] As a preferred structure of the present invention, the wheel assembly further comprises a corner wheel mounting frame, one end of the corner wheel mounting frame is mounted on the wheel frame, and the other end is rotatably connected to the corner wheel.

[0015] As a preferred structure of the present invention, the angle wheels and the travel wheels are polyurethane-coated smooth wheels.

[0016] On the other hand, the present invention provides a cross-belt sorting device, comprising the above-mentioned guiding mechanism.

[0017] Beneficial effects of the present invention: The guiding mechanism and cross-belt sorting equipment provided by the present invention have two corner wheels set at an angle to the horizontal plane and one or more running wheels perpendicular to or parallel to the horizontal plane. One corner wheel can limit the freedom of the sorting trolley in two directions of sliding on the guide rail, that is, one corner wheel plays a limiting and supporting role for the two running wheels, thereby reducing the use of wheels, reducing costs, and reducing the weight of the equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a guide mechanism provided in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 : is a structural schematic diagram of the guide mechanism provided in the first embodiment of the present invention (the arrows in the figure indicate the force conditions of the wheel set);

[0020] Figure 3 : is a structural schematic diagram of the guide mechanism provided in the second embodiment of the present invention (the arrows in the figure indicate the force conditions of the wheel set);

[0021] Figure 4 : is a schematic diagram of the structure of the guide mechanism provided in the third embodiment of the present invention (the arrows in the figure indicate the force conditions of the wheel set);

[0022] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the partial structure of the cross-belt sorting device provided in the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 It is a partial front view of the cross-belt sorting device provided in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] In the figure:

[0025] 1. Guide rail;

[0026] 2. Wheel set; 21. Wheel frame; 22. Travel wheel; 23. Angle wheel; 24. Angle wheel mounting frame;

[0027] 3. Rack;

[0028] 4. Sorting cart. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It is to be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, rather than to limit the present invention. It is also necessary to explain that, for ease of description, only the parts related to the present invention, rather than all structures, are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0030] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected", and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0031] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include that the first and second features are in direct contact, or may include that the first and second features are not in direct contact but are in contact through another feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being "above", "above" and "above" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below", "below" and "below" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0032] In the description of this embodiment, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and other directions or positional relationships are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operate in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish in the description and have no special meaning.

[0033] Embodiment 1

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a guide mechanism, including a guide rail 1 and a wheel set 2, and the wheel set 2 is slidably connected to the guide rail 1. The guide rail 1 includes two parallel tracks, and the two tracks are located in the same horizontal plane. The cross-section of the track is annular, and each track is provided with at least one first support position and at least one second support position, which are respectively used for rolling connection with the running wheel 22 and the corner wheel 23. The wheel set 2 includes a wheel frame 21, a running wheel 22 and a corner wheel 23, and the running wheel 22 and the corner wheel 23 are fixedly mounted on the wheel frame 21. Preferably, the running wheel 22 and the corner wheel 23 are both smooth-wrapped polyurethane round wheels. In order to cooperate with the setting of two tracks, the guide mechanism of this embodiment includes two walking wheels 22 and two angle wheels 23. The two walking wheels 22 are fixedly installed on both sides of the wheel frame 21 and are respectively located at the first support positions of the two tracks. The axis of the walking wheel 22 is parallel to the horizontal plane; the two angle wheels 23 are fixedly installed below the wheel frame 21, and their axes are set at an acute angle to the horizontal plane. The walking wheels 22 and the angle wheels 23 slide along the surface of the circular track at the first support position and the second support position respectively, thereby driving the wheel frame 21 to move along the track. In other embodiments, a track with a partial arc cross-section may also be used, and the walking wheels 22 and the angle wheels 23 slide along the partial arc track surface. The cross-sectional shape of the track is not limited to this embodiment. Figure 2 As shown, the two running wheels 22 simultaneously limit the lower degree of freedom of the wheel frame 21, wherein the left corner wheel 23 is used to limit the upper degree of freedom and the left degree of freedom, and the right corner wheel 23 is used to limit the upper degree of freedom and the right degree of freedom. A corner wheel 23 having a mounting angle with the horizontal plane can limit the degrees of freedom in two directions, thereby reducing the number of wheels used in the guide mechanism. In other embodiments, the two corner wheels 23 can also be simultaneously abutted against the second support position of the same track, even if the two corner wheels 23 respectively abut against the inner lower part and the outer lower part of the circular track, it is not limited to this embodiment.

[0035] Furthermore, the angle between the axis of the corner wheel 23 and the horizontal plane is 30° to 60°. In the embodiment of the present invention, the installation angle of the corner wheel 23 is 45°. When the corner wheel 23 contacts the surface of the cylindrical guide rail 1, the force on the corner wheel 23 is more uniform and the rolling friction is smaller, so that the operation of the guide mechanism is more stable and reliable.

[0036] Furthermore, the wheel set 2 further includes a corner wheel mounting frame 24. Preferably, the corner wheel mounting frame 24 is an L-shaped bracket, one end of which is obliquely mounted on the lower surface of the wheel frame 21, and the other end is rotatably connected to the corner wheel 23. The L-shaped corner wheel mounting frame 24 can provide effective support for the corner wheel 23 and avoid the guide rail 1 to avoid motion interference.

[0037] Embodiment 2

[0038] like Figure 3 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a guiding mechanism, including a guide rail 1 and a wheel set 2, and the wheel set 2 is slidably connected to the guide rail 1. The guide rail 1 includes two parallel tracks, and the two tracks are located in the same horizontal plane. Each track is provided with a first support position and a second support position, which are respectively used for rolling connection with the walking wheel 22 and the angle wheel 23, and the cross section of the track is a triangle. In this embodiment, the triangle is an equilateral right triangle, in which one of the right-angled sides is horizontally arranged, corresponding to the first support position, and the hypotenuse surfaces of the two triangular tracks are arranged oppositely, corresponding to the second support position. In other embodiments, other shapes of triangles or tracks with a partial shape of a triangle in the cross section can also be used, and are not limited to this embodiment. The wheel set 2 includes a wheel frame 21, a walking wheel 22 and an angle wheel 23, and the walking wheel 22 and the angle wheel 23 are fixedly mounted on the wheel frame 21. Preferably, the walking wheel 22 and the angle wheel 23 are both smooth-wrapped polyurethane round wheels. To match the setting of two tracks, the guide mechanism of this embodiment includes two running wheels 22 and two angle wheels 23. The two running wheels 22 are fixedly mounted on both sides of the wheel frame 21 and are respectively located at the first support position of the two tracks. The axis of the running wheel 22 is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the peripheral surface of the running wheel 22 abuts against the top right-angled surface of the triangular track to form a line contact; the two angle wheels 23 are fixedly mounted below the wheel frame 21, and the axis thereof is set at an angle with the horizontal plane, and the angle wheels 23 abut against the second support position of the triangular track. The running wheels 22 and the angle wheels 23 slide along the first support position and the second support position of the triangular track respectively, thereby driving the wheel frame 21 to move along the track. The two running wheels 22 simultaneously limit the lower degree of freedom of the wheel frame 21, wherein the left angle wheel 23 is used to limit the upper degree of freedom and the left degree of freedom, and the right angle wheel 23 is used to limit the upper degree of freedom and the right degree of freedom. One angle wheel 23 having an installation angle with the horizontal plane can limit the degrees of freedom in two directions, thereby reducing the number of wheels used in the guide mechanism.

[0039] Furthermore, the angle between the axis of the corner wheel 23 and the horizontal plane is 30° to 60°. In the embodiment of the present invention, the installation angle of the corner wheel 23 is 45°. The installation angle of 45° can make the side of the corner wheel 23 form a line contact with the second support position of the triangular track, avoiding wear during the rotation and sliding of the corner wheel 23, thereby making the operation of the guide mechanism more stable and reliable.

[0040] Furthermore, the wheel set 2 further includes a corner wheel mounting frame 24. Preferably, the corner wheel mounting frame 24 is an L-shaped bracket, one end of which is obliquely mounted on the lower surface of the wheel frame 21, and the other end is rotatably connected to the corner wheel 23. The L-shaped corner wheel mounting frame 24 can provide effective support for the corner wheel 23 and avoid the guide rail 1 to avoid motion interference.

[0041] Embodiment 3

[0042] like Figure 4 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a guiding mechanism, including a guide rail 1 and a wheel set 2, and the wheel set 2 is slidably connected to the guide rail 1. The guide rail 1 is a horizontally arranged track, and the cross section of the track is a trapezoid. In this embodiment, the trapezoid is an isosceles trapezoid, and the upper base and the lower base are arranged horizontally, the long bottom side of the upper part of the trapezoid corresponds to the first support position, and the two sides of the trapezoid correspond to the second support position. In other embodiments, other shapes of trapezoids or tracks with a partial shape of a trapezoidal cross section can also be used, and are not limited to this embodiment. The wheel set 2 includes a wheel frame 21, a running wheel 22 and an angle wheel 23, and the running wheel 22 and the angle wheel 23 are fixedly mounted on the wheel frame 21. Preferably, the running wheel 22 and the angle wheel 23 are both smooth-wrapped polyurethane round wheels. The guiding mechanism of this embodiment includes a running wheel 22 and two angle wheels 23; the running wheel 22 is fixedly mounted on the lower side of the wheel frame 21, and to ensure the stability of the guide, the running wheel 22 is on the center line of the wheel frame 21. The axis of the running wheel 22 is parallel to the horizontal plane, forms a line contact with the first support position of the trapezoidal guide rail 1, and slides along the plane; the two corner wheels 23 are fixedly installed below the wheel frame 21, and their axes are set at an angle to the horizontal plane. Preferably, the two corner wheels 23 are respectively in contact with the two second support positions of the trapezoidal guide rail 1, and slide along the two waist surfaces of the guide rail 1. The running wheel 22 limits the lower degree of freedom of the wheel frame 21, the corner wheel 23 on the right side of the guide rail 1 is used to limit the upper degree of freedom and the left degree of freedom, and the corner wheel 23 on the left side of the guide rail 1 is used to limit the upper degree of freedom and the right degree of freedom. A corner wheel 23 with an installation angle with the horizontal plane can limit the degrees of freedom in two directions, thereby reducing the number of wheels used in the guide mechanism.

[0043] Furthermore, the angle between the axis of the corner wheel 23 and the horizontal plane is 30° to 60°. In the embodiment of the present invention, the installation angles of the two corner wheels 23 are determined according to the cross-sectional shape of the guide rail 1, so that the peripheral surface of the corner wheel 23 forms a line contact with the two waist surfaces of the trapezoidal track, avoiding wear during the rotation and sliding of the corner wheel 23, thereby making the operation of the guide mechanism more stable and reliable.

[0044] Furthermore, the wheel set 2 further includes a corner wheel mounting frame 24. Preferably, the corner wheel mounting frame 24 is an L-shaped bracket, one end of which is fixedly and tiltedly mounted on the lower surface of the wheel frame 21, and the other end is rotatably connected to the corner wheel 23. In this embodiment, two L-shaped corner wheel mounting frames 24 are installed on both sides of the running wheel 22. The L-shaped corner wheel mounting frames 24 can not only provide effective support for the corner wheel 23, but also avoid the guide rail 1 to avoid motion interference.

[0045] Embodiment 4

[0046] This embodiment provides a cross-belt sorting device, such as Figure 5 As shown, it includes a sorting trolley 4 and any one of the guide mechanisms in embodiments one to three. The sorting trolley 4 is used to carry items and is fixedly installed above the wheel frame 21. The guide mechanism provides movement guidance for the sorting trolley 4, and guides the sorting trolley 4 to slide along the guide rail 1. The wheel frame 21 is a flat plate, and the running wheels 22 and the angle wheels 23 are both installed at the front end of the wheel frame 21 for easy guidance. The angle wheels 23 limit the movement of the sorting trolley 4 in a certain direction, and can be decomposed into limiting the freedom of the sorting trolley 4 in two directions. Since a corner wheel 23 with an installation angle with the horizontal plane can limit the freedom of the sorting trolley 4 in two directions on the guide rail, the number of wheels used in the guide mechanism can be reduced.

[0047] Furthermore, the guide rail 1 is fixed on the frame 3 to form an annular guide rail. The wheel set 2 has multiple wheel frames 21 of multiple wheel sets 2 are hingedly connected head to tail to form a loop, so that the wheel set 2 can slide synchronously along the annular guide rail 1. Preferably, the sorting trolley 4 also has multiple, and multiple sorting trolleys 4 form a ring through hinged wheel frames 21. In addition to the support of the running wheels 22 and corner wheels 23 of each wheel frame 21, it is also supported by the running wheels 22 and corner wheels 23 on the adjacent wheel frames 21 through hinges. The two wheel frames 21 borrow the wheel system from each other to jointly limit the rotational freedom of each sorting trolley 4, so that the sorting trolley 4 can slide smoothly on the annular guide rail 1, and the walking is reliable and safe, realizing the transmission and unloading of the carried items.

[0048] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, various obvious changes, readjustments and substitutions can be made without departing from the protection scope of the present invention. It is not necessary and impossible to list all the embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A guiding mechanism, characterized in that: include: A guide rail (1), the outer circumference of which has at least one first support position and two second support positions, wherein the first support position and the second support position are arranged at an acute angle; The wheel set (2) comprises a wheel frame (21), a running wheel (22) and at least two corner wheels (23), wherein the running wheel (22) and the corner wheels (23) are fixedly mounted on the wheel frame (21); the axis of the running wheel (22) and the axis of the corner wheels (23) are arranged at an acute angle, the running wheel (22) is rollingly connected to the first support position, and the two corner wheels (23) are rollingly connected to the two second support positions respectively; The first support position is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the second support position is at an acute angle to the horizontal plane; the axis of the walking wheel (22) is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the axis of the angle wheel (23) is at an acute angle to the horizontal plane and parallel to the second support position; The angle between the axis of the corner wheel (23) and the horizontal plane is 30° to 60°; A walking wheel (22) is disposed on each side of the wheel frame (21); the guide rail (1) comprises two parallel tracks located on the same horizontal plane; each track is provided with at least one of the first supporting positions and at least one of the second supporting positions, which are respectively used for rolling connection with the walking wheel (22) and the angle wheel (23); The cross section of the track is a circle or a right triangle. When the cross section of the track is a circle, the top of the circle corresponds to the first support position, and the lower side of the circle corresponds to the second support position; When the cross section of the track is the right triangle, the first right-angled side at the upper portion of the right triangle corresponds to the first support position, and the hypotenuse on one side of the right triangle corresponds to the second support position.

2. The guide mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wheel assembly (2) further comprises a corner wheel mounting frame (24), one end of the corner wheel mounting frame (24) being mounted on the wheel frame (21), and the other end being rotatably connected to the corner wheel (23).

3. The guide mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: The corner wheels (23) and the running wheels (22) are polyurethane-coated smooth wheels.

4. A cross-belt sorting device, characterized in that: It comprises the guiding mechanism described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images