Multi-stage linear cross-belt circulating sorting system

Abstract

The present invention discloses a multi-section linear cross-belt circulating sorting system, which includes a power supply track and sorting trolleys arranged on the power supply track. The power supply track is a trough-shaped track, and conductive rails are respectively arranged on the inner walls of both sides of its U-shaped groove. The power supply track includes a closed-loop main track and a plurality of sub-tracks arranged in the main track. Both ends of the sub-tracks are connected to the main track through T-shaped connecting tracks. The bottom of the sorting trolley has two brush assemblies arranged front and back along its moving direction. Both brush assemblies are inserted into the U-shaped groove of the power supply track and are in sliding electrical contact with the two conductive rails in the U-shaped groove.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of logistics sorting, and particularly relates to a multi-section linear cross-belt circulating sorting system. Background Art

[0002] In the logistics sorting industry, conductive rails are often used to carry sorting carts and supply power to the sorting carts.

[0003] Existing logistics sorting systems using rail power supply are usually circular or linear. The reason is that the power supply rails are generally arranged on one side of the rail or in the rail groove. When the rails cross, a connected area needs to be formed in the crossing area so that the cart can change lanes from the main rail to the branch rail at the rail crossing position. However, this will cause a problem: when the sorting cart needs to change lanes, the brush on the sorting cart will surely pass through the connected area of the main rail and the branch rail and switch from the main rail to the branch rail. Although the whole switching process is very short, it will still cause a power-off phenomenon, which is not beneficial for the sorting cart to perform sorting operations on the branch rail.

[0004] Due to the inability to achieve lane change, the sorting system using rail power supply cannot effectively utilize the site space it occupies, resulting in the sorting efficiency of the system not being effectively improved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Aiming at the problems existing in the prior art, the main object of the present invention is to provide a multi-section linear cross-belt circulating sorting system, which can realize lane change of the sorting cart on the rail and thus can perform goods sorting on different rails.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the multi-section linear cross-belt circulating sorting system proposed by the present invention includes a power supply rail and a sorting cart arranged on the power supply rail, and is characterized in that

[0007] The power supply rail is a trough-shaped rail, and conductive rails are respectively arranged on the inner walls of both sides of its U-shaped trough; the power supply rail includes a closed-loop main rail and a plurality of branch rails arranged in the main rail, and both ends of the branch rail are connected to the main rail through T-shaped connecting rails;

[0008] The bottom of the sorting cart has two brush assemblies arranged front and back along its moving direction, and both brush assemblies are inserted into the U-shaped trough of the power supply rail and are in sliding electrical contact with the two conductive rails in the U-shaped trough.

[0009] Optionally, a chassis is provided at the center of the bottom of the sorting cart, a main driving mechanism and a slave driving mechanism are provided on the chassis, and the two brush assemblies are respectively vertically arranged below the main driving mechanism and the slave driving mechanism and are fixed on the chassis.

[0010] Optionally, the main drive mechanism includes a first bearing block, a second bearing block, and a third bearing block, a transmission shaft, and a drive motor that are sequentially and spaced apart; there is a first rotating shaft between the first bearing block and the second bearing block, and a second rotating shaft between the second bearing block and the third bearing block. Active walking wheels are respectively provided on the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft; the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are coaxially arranged and are in meshing transmission with the transmission shaft through gears; they are transmission-connected through the transmission shaft; the output shaft of the drive motor is in meshing transmission with the transmission shaft through gears.

[0011] Optionally, the secondary drive mechanism includes a fourth bearing block, a fifth bearing block, and a sixth bearing block that are sequentially and spaced apart; there is a third rotating shaft between the fourth bearing block and the fifth bearing block, and a fourth rotating shaft between the fifth bearing block and the sixth bearing block. Driven walking wheels are respectively provided on the third rotating shaft and the fourth rotating shaft, and the two driven walking wheels correspond to the two active walking wheels one by one and are on the same straight line.

[0012] Optionally, the brush assembly includes a flange bushing fixed on the second bearing block or the fifth bearing block. The flange bushing extends into the U-shaped groove of the conductive rail, and a plurality of guide wheels and two oppositely arranged conductive brush heads are sleeved on it. The conductive ends of the conductive brush heads extend into the conductive rail on the two side walls of the conductive rail and are in sliding contact conduction with the conductive rail.

[0013] Optionally, a lifting mechanism is provided on the brush mechanism. The lifting mechanism includes a telescopic shaft, a top plate, and an electromagnet.

[0014] The telescopic shaft is slidably inserted into the flange bushing. A guide groove is recessed at the bottom of the U-shaped groove of the conductive rail. The lower end of the telescopic shaft extends into the guide groove, and its upper end passes through the chassis and extends into the sorting cart.

[0015] The top plate is perpendicular to the upper end of the telescopic shaft. The electromagnet is located below the top plate and is fixed on the sorting cart; there is a spring between the electromagnet and the top plate.

[0016] Optionally, a stop block is provided at one end outlet of the U-shaped groove of the connecting track.

[0017] Optionally, accommodation grooves are respectively recessed on the two side walls of the U-shaped groove of the conductive rail, and the conductive rail is arranged in the accommodation grooves.

[0018] In the present invention, by using a grooved track as the main body of the power supply track and arranging the conductive rail on the two inner walls of the grooved track to supply power to the sorting cart arranged on the power supply guide rail, it can facilitate the sorting cart to change tracks.

[0019] Meanwhile, two brush assemblies are arranged at the bottom of the sorting trolley in sequence along its moving direction. Thus, when the brush assembly at the front side of the sorting trolley moves to the T-shaped intersection area of the connecting track, the brush assembly at the rear side can maintain the power supply to the sorting trolley. When the brush assembly at the rear side moves to the T-shaped intersection area, the brush assembly at the front side can supply power to the sorting trolley, so as to ensure that there is no power outage during the whole lane-changing process, which provides convenience for the sorting operation of the sorting trolley on the branch track.

[0020] Through the cooperation of this grooved power supply track and the two brush assemblies arranged at the bottom of the sorting trolley, lane-changing sorting can be realized, so as to effectively utilize the space occupied inside the main track to arrange the branch track and perform goods sorting on the branch track, improving the sorting density. At the same time, it can also shorten the sorting cycle of the sorting trolley on the power supply track and improve the sorting efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is the overall schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 It is the structural schematic diagram of the connecting track in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 It is the structural schematic diagram of the main track in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 It is the structural schematic diagram of the sorting trolley in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 It is the cooperation schematic diagram of the sorting trolley and the main track in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 It is the side view of the cooperation between the sorting trolley and the main track in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 It is the cooperation schematic diagram of the brush assembly, the lifting mechanism and the main track in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 8 It is the structural schematic diagram of the driving device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 9 It is the structural schematic diagram of the main driving mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0031] Please refer to the attached Figure 1 In the embodiments of the present invention, a multi-segment linear cross-belt circulating sorting system is proposed. The multi-segment linear cross-belt circulating sorting system includes a power supply track and a sorting trolley 2 arranged on the power supply track.

[0032] As Figure 1 shown, the power supply track includes a closed-loop main track 11 and two sub-tracks 12 arranged in the main track 11. Both ends of the sub-track 12 are connected to the main track 11 through a T-shaped connecting track 13. A number of compartments 3 are respectively arranged on both sides of the main track 11 and the sub-track 12 to receive the goods sent out by the sorting trolley 2.

[0033] The main track 11, the sub-track 12 and the connecting track 13 are all channel-shaped tracks. As Figure 3 shown, taking the main track 11 as an example, the main track 11 has a U-shaped groove 11a with an upward opening, and conductive rails 111 are respectively arranged on both inner walls of the U-shaped groove 11a.

[0034] By using the channel-shaped track as the main body of the power supply track and arranging the conductive rails 111 on both inner walls of the channel-shaped track to supply power to the sorting trolley 1 arranged on the power supply guide rail, it is convenient to provide power for the sorting trolley 2 to change tracks.

[0035] As Figure 2 shown, the connecting track 13 has a T-shaped groove 13a. Both ends of the groove 13a are respectively connected to the main track 11 and communicate with the U-shaped groove 11a on the main track 11. The remaining one port faces the closed area of the main track 11 and communicates with the U-shaped groove of the sub-track 12 arranged in the closed area of the main track 11. A stop block 131 is arranged at the outlet of one end of the groove 13a communicating with the main track 11 to block the sorting trolley 2 from running along the main track 11 when the sorting trolley 2 runs to the position of the connecting track 12, so that the sorting trolley 2 changes to the sub-track 12.

[0036] As Figures 4 - 6 shown, the sorting trolley 2 includes a frame main body 211. A small conveyor belt device 22 is arranged on the upper side of the frame main body 211, and a chassis 212 is arranged in the central area at the bottom of the frame main body 211. A driving device 13 is arranged on the chassis 212 to drive the sorting trolley 2 to run on the power supply track.

[0037] Two brush assemblies 24 are vertically provided at the bottom of the chassis 212. The two brush assemblies 24 are arranged front and back along the moving direction of the sorting trolley 1. Both of the two brush assemblies 24 are inserted into the U-shaped groove 11a of the power supply track and are in sliding electrical contact with the two conductive rails 111 in the U-shaped groove 11a.

[0038] Two brush assemblies 24 are arranged in sequence along the moving direction at the bottom of the sorting trolley 2. Thus, when the brush assembly 24 at the front side of the sorting trolley 2 moves to the T-shaped intersection area of the connecting track 13, the brush assembly 24 at the rear side can maintain the power supply to the sorting trolley 2. When the brush assembly 24 at the rear side moves to the T-shaped intersection area, the brush assembly 24 at the front side can supply power to the sorting trolley 2, so as to ensure that there is no power-off phenomenon during the whole lane-changing process and ensure that the sorting trolley 1 can normally perform sorting operations on the branch track 12.

[0039] Through the cooperation of such a grooved power supply track and the two brush assemblies 24 provided at the bottom of the sorting trolley 2, lane-changing sorting can be realized, so as to effectively utilize the space occupied inside the main track 11 to arrange the branch track 12 and perform goods sorting on the branch track 12, improving the sorting density. At the same time, it can also shorten the sorting cycle of the sorting trolley 2 on the power supply track and improve the sorting efficiency.

[0040] The sorting process of the sorting system provided by the present invention is specifically as follows:

[0041] Before sorting, the compartments on the main track 11 and the two branch tracks 12 are numbered. Taking any position on the main track 11 as the loading position, the driving paths and return paths from the loading position to each compartment 3 are preset in the sorting control system.

[0042] During sorting, the goods to be sorted are placed on the sorting trolley 2, and the corresponding compartment 3 of the goods and the driving path corresponding to the compartment 3 are sent to the sorting trolley 2. The sorting trolley 2 moves to the specified compartment 3 according to the planning of the driving path, and after arriving at the specified compartment 3, the goods are sent out. After sending out the goods, it returns to the loading position according to the preset return path for secondary sorting.

[0043] When the sorting trolley 2 is driving along the driving path, it will judge whether it needs to change lanes according to the driving distance and the preset driving path. Since the position and path from the loading position to any connecting track are fixed, the connecting track 13 that the sorting trolley 2 travels to can be determined by the distance that the sorting trolley 2 travels out from the loading position. In this way, the sorting trolley 2 can perform a lane-changing operation or a straight-line operation when it reaches the connecting track 13, and return to the loading position along the return path after sorting is completed.

[0044] In addition, it is also possible to determine which connecting track 13 the sorting trolley 2 travels to according to the time when the sorting trolley 2 exits the loading position, so as to control the sorting trolley 2 to automatically change lanes or go straight.

[0045] Optionally, as Figure 3 shown, in this embodiment, receiving grooves 11c are respectively recessed in the two side walls of the U-shaped groove 11a of the main track 11, and the conductive rails 111 are arranged in the receiving grooves 11c. By arranging the receiving grooves 11c on the two side walls of the U-shaped groove 11a to accommodate the conductive rails 111, the conductive rails 111 are prevented from being directly exposed outside, reducing the potential safety hazard of power supply for the conductive rails 111.

[0046] Optionally, as Figure 7 shown, in this embodiment, the brush assembly 24 includes a flange bushing 241 vertically arranged below the chassis 212. The flange bushing 241 extends into the U-shaped groove 11a of the power supply track, and two conductive brush heads 242 arranged back to back are inserted thereon. The conductive ends of the conductive brush heads 242 extend into the conductive rails 111 arranged on the two side walls of the U-shaped groove 11a and are in sliding electrical contact with the conductive rails 111. Thus, the conductive brush heads 242 arranged on the flange bushing 241 can draw power from the two conductive rails 111 in the conductive rail 2 to supply power to the drive motors 2319 of the driving small conveyor belt device 12 and the main driving mechanism 231.

[0047] Moreover, two groups of guide wheels 243 are also sleeved on the flange bushing 241, and the conductive brush heads 242 are clamped between the two groups of guide wheels 243. By arranging the guide wheels 243, it provides guidance for the sorting trolley to change lanes, go straight, and turn on the power supply track, avoiding the sorting trolley from deviating from the track.

[0048] Optionally, as Figure 3 、 4 and shown in 7, in this embodiment, a lifting mechanism 25 is provided on the brush assembly 24. The lifting mechanism 25 includes a telescopic shaft 151, a top plate 252, and an electromagnet 253. The telescopic shaft 251 is slidably inserted into the flange bushing 241, and its lower end portion passes through the flange bushing 241 and extends into the U-shaped groove 11a in the power supply track. A guide groove 11b for inserting the telescopic shaft 251 is recessed at the bottom of the U-shaped groove 11a of the power supply track. The upper end portion of the telescopic shaft 251 passes through the chassis 212 and extends into the frame body 211.

[0049] The top plate 252 is vertically provided at the upper end of the telescopic shaft 251. The electromagnet 253 is located below the top plate 252 and fixed on the vehicle frame main body 111. There is a spring (not shown) between the electromagnet 153 and the top plate 152. When the electromagnet 253 is energized, it can adsorb the top plate 252, causing the top plate 252 to move downward and drive the lower end of the telescopic shaft 251 to extend downward and insert into the guide groove 11b of the U-shaped groove 11a; when the electromagnet 253 is powered off, the top plate 252 will move upward under the action of the elastic restoring force of the spring, causing the telescopic shaft 251 to retract upward, so that the lower end of the telescopic shaft 251 is withdrawn from the guide groove 11b.

[0050] Thus, when the sorting trolley 2 runs to the intersection of the T-shaped groove of the connecting track 13, the telescopic shaft 251 can be controlled by the electromagnet 253 to expand and contract to achieve the purpose of changing the guide rail. Specifically, when lane change is not required, the power supply of the electromagnet 253 is disconnected, and the telescopic shaft 251 will always remain in the state of being disengaged from the guide groove 11b under the action of the spring. At this time, the sorting trolley 2 will run along the main track 11; when lane change is required, the power supply of the electromagnet 253 is turned on, and the telescopic shaft 251 is controlled to extend downward and insert into the guide groove 11b of the main track 11. When the lower end of the telescopic shaft 251 contacts and collides with the stop block 131, the sorting trolley 2 will deviate to the side of the sub-track 12 without the stop block 131 under the action of inertia, thus completing the forced lane change of the sorting trolley 2.

[0051] Using the cooperation of such a stop block 131 and the lifting mechanism 25 to achieve lane change, the structure is simple and easy to implement.

[0052] Optionally, as Figures 8 - 9 shown, in this embodiment, a main drive mechanism 231 and a slave drive mechanism 232 are provided on the chassis 212. The two brush assemblies 24 are respectively vertically provided below the main drive mechanism 231 and the slave drive mechanism 232 and fixed on the chassis 212.

[0053] The main drive mechanism 231 includes a first bearing seat 2311, a second bearing seat 2312, and a third bearing seat 2313, a transmission shaft 2318, and a drive motor 2319 that are sequentially arranged at intervals. There is a first rotating shaft 2314 between the first bearing seat 2311 and the second bearing seat 2312, and a second rotating shaft 2315 between the second bearing seat 2312 and the third bearing seat 2313. The first rotating shaft 2314 and the second rotating shaft 2315 are coaxially arranged, and driving wheels (1316, 1317) are respectively provided on the first rotating shaft 2314 and the second rotating shaft 2315.

[0054] One end of the first rotating shaft 2314 close to the first bearing seat 2311 extends outward and is provided with a first gear 23141. One end of the second rotating shaft 2315 close to the third bearing seat 2313 extends outward and is provided with a second gear 23151. The transmission shaft 2318 is parallel to the first rotating shaft 2314 and the second rotating shaft 2315, and is provided with a third gear (23181, 23812) at both ends thereof. The first gear 23141 and the second gear 23151 are respectively engaged with the third gears (23181, 23812) at both ends of the transmission shaft 2318 for transmission.

[0055] The driving motor 2319 is fixed on the chassis 212 , and its output shaft is parallel to the transmission shaft 2318 . An output tooth 23191 is provided on the output shaft, and the output tooth 23191 meshes with the third gear 13181 at one end of the transmission shaft 2318 for transmission.

[0056] Thus, the driving motor 2319 can drive the two active running wheels (2316, 2317) to rotate synchronously through the gears, thereby driving the sorting trolley 2 to run on the power supply track.

[0057] The slave drive mechanism 232 includes a fourth bearing seat 2321, a fifth bearing seat 2322, and a sixth bearing seat 2323, which are arranged in sequence. A third rotating shaft 2324 is provided between the fourth bearing seat 2321 and the fifth bearing seat 2322, and a fourth rotating shaft 1325 is provided between the fifth bearing seat 2322 and the sixth bearing seat 1323. Driven running wheels (2326, 2327) are provided on the third rotating shaft 2324 and the fourth rotating shaft 2325, respectively. The two driven running wheels (2326, 2327) correspond to the two active running wheels (2316, 2317) one by one and are located in the same straight line.

[0058] The slave drive mechanism 232 can cooperate with the main drive mechanism 231 to maintain the stability of the sorting trolley 2 moving on the power supply track.

[0059] Alternatively, as Figure 8 As shown, the small conveyor belt device 22 includes a driving roller 221 and a driven roller 222, which are connected by a synchronous belt (not shown). The driving roller 221 draws power from the power supply rail via a brush assembly 24 to drive the synchronous belt to rotate, thereby delivering the goods placed on the synchronous belt.

[0060] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to be construed as limiting the present invention. Any minor modifications, equivalent replacements, and improvements to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention shall be included in the scope of protection of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi - section linear cross - belt circulating sorting system, comprising a power supply track and sorting trolleys arranged on the power supply track, characterized in that the power supply track is a trough - shaped track, and conductive rails are respectively arranged on the inner walls of both sides of its U - shaped groove; the power supply track includes a closed - loop main track and a plurality of sub - tracks arranged in the main track, and both ends of the sub - track are connected to the main track through T - shaped connecting tracks; the bottom of the sorting trolley has two brush assemblies arranged front and back along its moving direction, and both brush assemblies are inserted into the U - shaped groove of the power supply track and are in sliding electrical contact with the two conductive rails in the U - shaped groove; a chassis is arranged at the center of the bottom of the sorting trolley, and a main driving mechanism and a slave driving mechanism are arranged on the chassis. The two brush assemblies are respectively vertically arranged below the main driving mechanism and the slave driving mechanism and are fixed on the chassis; the main driving mechanism includes a first bearing seat, a second bearing seat, and a third bearing seat, a transmission shaft, and a driving motor arranged at intervals in sequence; there is a first rotating shaft between the first bearing seat and the second bearing seat, and a second rotating shaft between the second bearing seat and the third bearing seat. Active running wheels are respectively arranged on the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft; the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are coaxially arranged and are in meshing transmission with the transmission shaft through gears; the output shaft of the driving motor is in meshing transmission with the transmission shaft through gears; the slave driving mechanism includes a fourth bearing seat, a fifth bearing seat, and a sixth bearing seat arranged at intervals in sequence; there is a third rotating shaft between the fourth bearing seat and the fifth bearing seat, and a fourth rotating shaft between the fifth bearing seat and the sixth bearing seat. Driven running wheels are respectively arranged on the third rotating shaft and the fourth rotating shaft, and the two driven running wheels correspond to the two active running wheels one by one and are on the same straight line; the brush assembly includes a flange shaft sleeve fixed on the second bearing seat or the fifth bearing seat. The flange shaft sleeve extends into the U - shaped groove of the conductive rail, and a plurality of guide wheels and two oppositely arranged conductive brush heads are sleeved on it. The conductive ends of the conductive brush heads extend into the conductive rails on the two side walls of the conductive rail groove and are in sliding contact conduction with the conductive rails.

2. The multi-segment linear cross-belt circulating sorting system according to claim 1, wherein a lifting mechanism is arranged on the brush assembly, and the lifting mechanism includes a telescopic shaft, a top plate, and an electromagnet; the telescopic shaft is slidably inserted into the flange shaft sleeve. A guide groove is recessed at the bottom of the U - shaped groove of the conductive rail. The lower end of the telescopic shaft extends into the guide groove, and its upper end passes through the chassis and extends into the sorting trolley; the top plate is vertically arranged at the upper end of the telescopic shaft. The electromagnet is located below the top plate and is fixed on the sorting trolley; there is a spring between the electromagnet and the top plate.

3. The multi-segment straight cross-belt circulation sorting system according to claim 2, wherein, A stop block is arranged at the outlet of one end of the U - shaped groove of the connecting track.

4. The multi-stage linear cross-belt circulation sorting system according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Receiving grooves are respectively recessed on the two side walls of the U - shaped groove of the conductive rail, and the conductive rail is arranged in the receiving groove.

Images