Powder / granule transport vehicle, and method of transporting powder / granule

Abstract

To provide a powder / granule transport vehicle that loads powder / granule from a first silo, transports the powder / granule, discharges and unloads the powder / granule to a second silo, and can suppress occurrence of so-called erroneous delivery.SOLUTION: A powder / granule transport vehicle comprises: a vehicle body 2; a tank 4 which is mounted on the vehicle body 2, and is capable of loading powder / granule; a compressor 5 which supplies air into the tank 4, and is capable of discharging the powder / granule loaded in the tank 4 to the outside; a reading device 90 which is provided for a silo (first silo) S1 on a loading side, and reads out a loading side RF tag (information recording medium) T1 storing type information (loading side type information) of powder / granule stored in the silo S1; and a controller 76 which displays type of powder / granule on a liquid crystal screen (display means) 71 on the basis of type information (loading side type information) read out by the reading device 90.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a powder / granular material transport vehicle and a powder / granular material transport method using the powder / granular material transport vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Powder and granular material transport vehicles have been known for some time now for loading and transporting powder and granular material, such as mineral products such as bulk cement, calcium carbonate, and lime, resin pellets such as polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene, or food ingredients such as sugar and flour. A powdered material transport vehicle is mainly equipped with a tank capable of temporarily loading (storing) the powdered material to be transported, a compressor capable of supplying compressed air at a predetermined set pressure into the tank, and a PTO installed between the compressor and the engine. In addition, a powdered material transport vehicle is equipped with a meter panel that displays the status of the equipment consisting of the tank and the compressor (for example, the pressure inside the tank, the compressor rotation speed, etc.). After loading the powdered material into the loading silo, the powdered material transport vehicle moves (transports) it to the unloading silo, and upon arriving at the unloading silo, the PTO is operated to transmit the engine's driving force to the compressor, supplying compressed air into the tank and discharging (unloading) the powdered material into the unloading silo (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6781522 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, in the case of powdered or granular materials that exist in multiple types, such as bulk cement, it is common for multiple silos, each classified by type, to be arranged adjacent to each other on the loading and unloading sides. As a result, there was a risk that a certain type of powder would be loaded from a silo in which that powder was stored into a tank for transportation on the loading side, and then, on the unloading side, the powder would be mistakenly unloaded into a silo in which a different type of powder was stored, resulting in a so-called misdelivery.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the current problems described above, and has an object to provide a powdered material transport vehicle that loads and transports powdered material from a first silo and then unloads the powdered material into a second silo, and a method for transporting powdered material using the powdered material transport vehicle, which are capable of reducing the occurrence of the above-mentioned incorrect deliveries. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention has been described above, and the means for solving this problem will now be described.

[0007] That is, the powdered or granular material transport vehicle of aspect 1 of the present invention is a powdered or granular material transport vehicle that loads and transports powdered or granular material from a first silo and discharges and unloads the powdered or granular material into a second silo, and is characterized in that it comprises a vehicle body, a tank mounted on the vehicle body and capable of loading powdered or granular material, a compressor that supplies air into the tank and can discharge the powdered or granular material loaded in the tank to the outside, a reading device provided in the first silo that reads an information recording medium that stores type information of the powdered or granular material stored in the first silo, and a control device that displays the type of the powdered or granular material on a display means based on the type information read by the reading device. By having such a configuration, the powdered or granular material transport vehicle of the present invention does not need to perform a large-scale operation such as opening the lid of the first silo located on the loading side to check the inside, and the type of powdered or granular material stored in the first silo can be immediately confirmed by simply visually checking the image displayed on the display means. Therefore, when loading powdered or granular material from the first silo into the tank, it is easy to prevent a type of powdered or granular material different from the planned type from being mistakenly loaded, and it is possible to prevent a type of powdered or granular material different from the predetermined type from being mistakenly unloaded (misdelivered) in a second silo located on the unloading side, for example.

[0008] In addition, a powdered or granular material transport vehicle according to a second aspect of the present invention is a powdered or granular material transport vehicle that loads and transports powdered or granular material from a first silo and discharges and unloads the powdered or granular material into a second silo, and is equipped with a vehicle body, a tank mounted on the vehicle body and capable of loading powdered or granular material, a compressor that supplies air into the tank and can discharge the powdered or granular material loaded in the tank to the outside, and a control device that receives input information about the type of powdered or granular material and is capable of temporarily storing the input type information, and is characterized in that the control device executes interference control that prevents the powdered or granular material from being discharged from the tank by the air until the type of powdered or granular material based on the input type information matches the type of powdered or granular material based on the type information previously input. By having such a configuration, the powdered or granular material transport vehicle of the present invention can, for example, continue to execute the interference control until the type of powdered or granular material based on the type information input at the second silo matches the type of powdered or granular material based on the type information previously input at the first silo, thereby preventing a type of powdered or granular material different from a predetermined type from being erroneously unloaded (misdelivered) at the second silo.

[0009] In addition, a powdered or granular material transport vehicle according to aspect 3 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned aspect 2, the control device executes interference release control to forcibly release the interference control by a specific operation other than the input operation of the powder or granular material type information while the interference control is being executed. By having such a configuration, the powdered or granular material transport vehicle of the present invention can prevent a situation in which, for example, due to an unexpected malfunction, the powdered or granular material type information cannot be properly input into the control device, and the type of powdered or granular material based on the type information input at the second silo does not match the type of powdered or granular material based on the type information previously input at the first silo, causing interference control to continue and making it impossible to discharge the powdered or granular material loaded in the tank to the outside.

[0010] Furthermore, a method for transporting powdered or granular material according to aspect 4 of the present invention is a method for transporting powdered or granular material in which powdered or granular material is loaded from a first silo by a powdered or granular material transport vehicle, transported, and unloaded into a second silo, characterized in that the first silo is provided with an information recording medium that stores type information of the powdered or granular material stored in the first silo, the information storage medium is read by a reading device, and the type of the powdered or granular material is displayed on a display means of a control device provided in the powdered or granular material transport vehicle based on the type information read by the reading device. By virtue of this configuration, the method of transporting powdered or granular materials according to the present invention does not require the need to carry out extensive work such as opening the lid of a first silo arranged on the loading side to check the inside, and the type of powdered or granular materials stored in the first silo can be immediately confirmed by simply visually checking the image displayed on the display means. Therefore, when loading powdered or granular material from the first silo into the tank, it is easy to prevent a type of powdered or granular material different from the planned type from being mistakenly loaded, and it is possible to prevent a type of powdered or granular material different from the predetermined type from being mistakenly unloaded (misdelivered) in a second silo located on the unloading side, for example. Effect of the Invention

[0011] The present invention has the following advantages. In other words, the powdered material transport vehicle and powdered material transport method of the present invention can prevent the occurrence of so-called misdelivery, in which one type of powdered material loaded from a first silo is mistakenly unloaded into a second silo in which a different type of powdered material is stored. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a powder material transport vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the meter panel. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device that controls a meter panel. [Figure 4] These are diagrams showing the state of the powdered material transport vehicle when performing each operation, where (a) is a side view showing the state of the powdered material transport vehicle when performing loading operation, and (b) is a side view showing the state of the powdered material transport vehicle when performing unloading operation. [Diagram 5] 1 is a diagram for explaining the contents of tag information stored in a loading side RF tag and an unloading side RF tag, respectively. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart showing a chronological order of steps when loading powder or granular material using a powder or granular material transport vehicle. [Figure 7] 11 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of a control device after reading tag information from an RF tag on the loading side during the loading operation of powder or granular material in a chronological order. [Figure 8] 1 is a flowchart showing a chronological order of steps when unloading powder or granular material using a powder or granular material transport vehicle. [Figure 9] 11 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of a control device after reading tag information from an RF tag on the unloading side during the unloading operation of powdered or granular material in a chronological order. [Figure 10] 11 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of a control device in a chronological order when discharging powdery or granular material during an unloading operation of the powdery or granular material. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the display contents of the LCD screen in the meter panel, where (a) is a diagram showing the display contents of the LCD screen when tag information of the loading side RF tag is stored, (b) is a diagram showing the display contents of the LCD screen when the type of type information does not match between the loading side RF tag and the unloading side RF tag, (c) is a diagram showing the display contents of the LCD screen when the type of type information matches between the loading side RF tag and the unloading side RF tag, and (d) is a diagram showing the display contents of the LCD screen when the unloading side RF tag is read after the main switch is turned ON. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged side view showing the configuration of a powder material transport vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 13 is a flowchart showing a chronological order of steps for loading powder or granular material using a powder or granular material transport vehicle according to another embodiment. [Figure 14] 13 is a flowchart showing a chronological order of steps for unloading powdered or granular material using a powdered or granular material transport vehicle according to another embodiment. [Figure 15] 13 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of a control device after reading a loading side tag band during unloading of powder and granular material by a powder and granular material transport vehicle according to another embodiment. [Figure 16] 13 is a flowchart showing the control procedure of a control device after reading a tag band on the unloading side during unloading of powdered material by a powdered material transport vehicle according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the front-rear direction and the up-down direction of the powder material transport vehicle 1 will be defined by the directions of the arrows shown in Figs.

[0014] [Overall configuration of powder transport vehicle 1] First, the overall configuration of a powder transport vehicle 1 embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIGS.

[0015] The powdered material transport vehicle 1 in this embodiment is a work vehicle that loads and transports powdered material from a loading side silo S1 (see Figure 4(a)) and unloads the powdered material into an unloading side silo S2 (see Figure 4(b)). The above-mentioned "loading side silo S1" is an example of the "first silo" according to the present invention, and the above-mentioned "unloading side silo S2" is an example of the "second silo" according to the present invention.

[0016] The powder or granular material transported by the powder or granular material transport vehicle 1 may be, for example, mineral products such as bulk cement, calcium carbonate, and lime, resin pellets such as polyvinyl chloride and polypropylene, or food ingredients such as sugar and flour, etc., in the form of a powder or fine granules. The powder / granular material transport vehicle 1 in this embodiment transports powder / granular material, which is a mineral product of which there are multiple types, such as bulk cement.

[0017] In Figure 1, the powdered material transport vehicle 1 mainly comprises a body 2 extending in the direction of travel (in this embodiment, the front-to-rear direction), an engine 3 (see Figure 3) which is the driving source for traveling, a tank 4 mounted on the upper surface of the body 2 and capable of loading (storing) powdered material, a compressor 5 which supplies air (more specifically, compressed air having a predetermined set pressure) into the tank 4 and can discharge the powdered material loaded in the tank 4 to the outside, and a PTO 6 (see Figure 3) which can transmit and interrupt the driving force of the engine 3 to the compressor 5. The powdered material transport vehicle 1 also includes a reading device 90 that reads information from the RF tags T (see Figures 4(a) and (b)) installed in each of the silos S1 and S2, and a control device 76 (see Figure 3) that processes the information read by the reading device 90.

[0018] The air supplied from the compressor 5 to the tank 4 is not limited to compressed air as in this embodiment, but may be, for example, air under atmospheric pressure without being pressurized.

[0019] In the powdered or granular material transport vehicle 1 of this embodiment, as will be described in detail later, various processes are performed by the control device 76 based on the information of the RF tag T read by the reading device 90, so that the occurrence of so-called misdelivery, in which a type of powdered or granular material different from a predetermined type is mistakenly unloaded into the unloading silo S2, can be prevented as much as possible.

[0020] The tank 4 and the compressor 5 are mounted on the powder transport vehicle 1, and are operated when the compressor 5 is driven by the driving force of the engine 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the PTO 6 is provided between a drive connection mechanism (not shown) that connects the engine 3 and the compressor 5, and is configured to be switchable between a transmission state in which the driving force of the engine 3 is transmitted to the compressor 5 and a cut-off state in which the transmission of the driving force of the engine 3 to the compressor 5 is cut off.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the powdered or granular material transport vehicle 1 is provided with a meter panel 7 capable of displaying the state of the above-mentioned mounted items (in this embodiment, the internal pressure of the tank body 41 and the discharge pipe 45 described below, and the rotation speed of the compressor 5, etc.) and the type of powdered or granular material stored in each silo (silo S1 or silo S2), and is disposed on the side of the top surface of the vehicle body 2. The configuration of the meter panel 7 will be described in detail later.

[0022] The tank 4 comprises a tank body 41 having an approximately hollow cylindrical shape extending in the fore-and-aft direction, a plurality of manhole forming tubes 42, 42, 42 fixedly mounted at the upper part of the tank body 41 at a distance in the fore-and-aft direction, and a circular outlet forming body 43 provided at the lower rear end of the tank body 41. In addition, an exhaust port (not shown) that connects the inside and outside of the tank body 41 is provided on the inner side of the exhaust port forming body 43, and the tank 4 is equipped with a roughly conically tapered hatch 44 that can open and close the exhaust port, and an exhaust pipe 45 that is connected to the protruding end of the hatch 44 and extends rearward. The discharge port and the discharge pipe 45 are in communication with each other through the internal space of the hatch 44 .

[0023] Each manhole forming tube 42 forms a manhole through its inner periphery for introducing powdered materials into the tank main body 41 and for performing maintenance of the tank main body 41, and is configured to be opened and closed as appropriate using a manhole cover 46.

[0024] The discharge pipe 45, together with the hatch 44, is formed from a highly rigid steel material. An opening / closing valve 47, such as a butterfly valve, is provided at one end of the discharge pipe 45 (the end on the hatch 44 side), and the opening / closing valve 47 can be opened and closed appropriately outside the tank body 41 using an attached operating lever 47a.

[0025] During normal times, for example when the powder material transport vehicle 1 is in a traveling state, the discharge pipe 45 is closed by operating the on-off valve 47 to a closed state. When the powdery material is discharged from the tank body 41, the discharge pipe 45 is opened by operating the on-off valve 47 to an open state.

[0026] During the above-mentioned discharge, one end of a discharge hose 8, for example a delivery hose, is detachably connected to the other end of the discharge pipe 45 (the end opposite the hatch 44), and the other end of the discharge hose 8 is connected to the silo S2 on the unloading side.

[0027] A tank pivot shaft 21 having an axial direction that is horizontal (in this embodiment, left-right direction) is provided at the rear end of the vehicle body 2, and the tank body 41 is swingably connected to the vehicle body 2 at the rear end, forward and below the hatch 44, so as to tilt diagonally upward and rearward about the tank pivot shaft 21, i.e., dump.

[0028] In addition, at the front end of the vehicle body 2, a tilting actuator 10, for example a telescopic (registered trademark) pick-type lift cylinder, is interposed between the upper surface of the vehicle body 2 and the front end of the tank main body 41, and the tank main body 41 is configured to tilt (dump) diagonally upward and rearward when the tilting actuator 10 is extended. A hydraulic supply system (not shown) including a hydraulic pump capable of supplying hydraulic pressure to the tilt actuator 10 as appropriate is mounted at an appropriate position on the vehicle body 2.

[0029] Furthermore, a compressor 5 that supplies compressed air to the inside of the tank body 41 and the inside of the discharge pipe 45 is mounted at an appropriate position on the vehicle body 2 (in this embodiment, at a midway and lower part in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 2). In addition, the compressor 5 is connected to the tank body 41 and the discharge pipe 45 by a compressor piping 51 extending rearward from the compressor 5, and an ejector piping 52 and an air piping 53 provided downstream of the compressor piping 51 (i.e., downstream in the flow direction of compressed air), and the compressor piping 51 is supported by the vehicle body 2 via a support member or the like not shown.

[0030] Specifically, the compressor piping 51 branches into two at its downstream end, with one branch (hereinafter referred to as the "first branch 51a") connected to the upstream end of the ejector piping 52 (i.e., the upstream end in the flow direction of the compressed air), and the other branch (hereinafter referred to as the "second branch 51b") connected to the upstream end of the air piping 53.

[0031] The downstream end of the ejector pipe 52 is connected to the discharge pipe 45 , and the downstream end of the air pipe 53 is connected to the tank body 41 . As a result, the compressor 5, the tank body 41, and the discharge pipe 45 are communicated with each other via the compressor pipe 51, the ejector pipe 52, and the air pipe 53 so as to be able to supply compressed air.

[0032] In addition, a first check valve 54 that allows only the flow of compressed air from the compressor pipe 51 to the downstream side of the ejector pipe 52 is provided on the upstream side of the ejector pipe 52. Further, on the upstream side of the air pipe 53, a second check valve 55 that allows only the flow of compressed air from the compressor pipe 51 toward the downstream side of the air pipe 53 is provided.

[0033] A hatch pivot shaft 48 having an axial direction that is horizontal (in this embodiment, left-right direction) is provided at the upper end of the outlet forming body 43, and the hatch 44 is swingably connected to the outlet forming body 43 via the hatch pivot shaft 48, and is configured to be able to open an outlet (not shown) provided on the inner side of the outlet forming body 43 by swinging diagonally upward and rearward around the hatch pivot shaft 48.

[0034] In addition, a plurality of clamping means (not shown) are arranged at equal intervals around the peripheral portion of the discharge port forming body 43, and the hatch 44 is held to the discharge port forming body 43 by these clamping means, thereby enabling the discharge port to be securely closed. As the clamping means, for example, a conventional one-touch type clamping means generally used for holding the hatch of a powder transport vehicle can be used.

[0035] The hatch pivot shaft 48 may be provided at the side end (right end or left end) or the lower end, etc., of the exhaust port forming body 43, and the hatch 44 may be configured to be able to open the exhaust port by swinging sideways (right or left) or diagonally downward and rearward around the hatch pivot shaft 48. In addition, the hatch 44 may be configured to be detachably fixed to the discharge port forming body 43 via fastening members consisting of, for example, a plurality of bolts, without having the above-mentioned clamping means or hatch pivot shaft 48.

[0036] The ejector pipe 52 assists and promotes the discharge of powder and granular material from the discharge pipe 45 by flowing compressed air downstream and injecting the compressed air into the discharge pipe 45. The downstream end of the ejector pipe 52 is inclined toward the discharge pipe 45 and is inserted into the peripheral wall of the discharge pipe 45 to form a communication hole (not shown) that communicates with the inside of the discharge pipe 45.

[0037] Although not shown, the ejector piping 52 is composed of an intermediate piping section made of a flexible hose member, an upstream piping section connected to the upstream end of the intermediate piping section, and a downstream piping section connected to the downstream end of the intermediate piping section, and is connected to the first branch section 51a of the compressor piping 51 via the upstream piping section, and is connected to the discharge pipe 45 via the downstream piping section. In addition, the upstream piping and downstream piping are formed from highly rigid steel material, and are detachably connected to the intermediate member by a joint member (not shown) consisting of a conventionally known coupling that can be locked and unlocked with a one-touch operation, for example.

[0038] On the other hand, the downstream end of the air piping 53 is inclined toward the lower side of the rear end of the tank body 41 and is inserted into the peripheral wall of the tank body 41 to form a communication hole (not shown) that communicates with the inside of the tank body 41 and is fixed (e.g., welded) to the tank body 41.

[0039] Here, inside the tank body 41, a first air passage 41a is defined in the lower part of the inner wall as a flat space extending long in the front-to-rear direction for guiding the compressed air flowing in from the air piping 53 to the front side of the tank body 41. Further, a breathable, plate-like canvas 41b is installed in a substantially horizontal position on the bottom of the tank body 41 so as to be supported by the side wall 41a1 of the first air passage 41a.

[0040] Between the canvas 41b and the bottom surface of the tank body 41, a second air passage 41c is defined as a flat space extending long in the front-to-rear direction, and the first air passage 41a and the second air passage 41c are connected to each other via a plurality of through holes 41a2·41a2··· provided in the front part of the side wall 41a1.

[0041] In the tank body 41 having such an internal configuration, when compressed air is supplied to the rear end of the tank body 41 from the compressor 5 via the compressor piping 51 and the air piping 53, the supplied compressed air flows through the first air passage 41a and is guided to the front side of the tank body 41, flows into the second air passage 41c via the multiple through holes 41a2·41a2···, and then flows again through the second air passage 41c and is guided to the rear side of the tank body 41, and is sprayed upward within the tank body 41 through approximately the entire surface of the canvas 41b. As a result, the inside of the tank body 41 is pressurized by the compressed air that is blown up and ejected through the canvas 41b, and when the powder and granular material stored in the tank body 41 is discharged toward the discharge pipe 45, the sliding flow of the powder and granular material present on the canvas 41b toward the rear side of the tank body 41 is assisted and promoted, so that the powder and granular material can be efficiently discharged toward the discharge pipe 45.

[0042] Like the ejector piping 52 described above, the air piping 53 is composed of an intermediate piping section made of a flexible hose member (not shown), an upstream piping section connected to the upstream end of the intermediate piping section, and a downstream piping section connected to the downstream end of the intermediate piping section, and is connected to the second branch section 51b of the compressor piping 51 via the upstream piping section, and is connected to the lower side of the rear end of the tank body 41 via the downstream piping section. In addition, the upstream piping and downstream piping are formed from highly rigid steel material, and are detachably connected to the intermediate member by a joint member (not shown) consisting of a conventionally known coupling that can be locked and unlocked with a one-touch operation, for example.

[0043] The reading device 90 is a portable terminal device, and in this embodiment, is configured by, for example, a smartphone. The configuration of the reading device 90 is not limited to this embodiment, and may be configured by other general-purpose portable terminal devices, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a notebook computer.

[0044] A specific application program has been downloaded and installed in advance in the reader 90, and based on the program, the reader 90 reads the information stored in the RF tag T and executes various processes described below.

[0045] Here, the RF tag T is an example of an information recording medium according to the present invention, and stores information about the type of powder or granular material (hereinafter, referred to as "type information"). In addition, the information storage medium for storing the type information can be composed of, in addition to the RF tag T, a code medium represented by, for example, a one-dimensional code such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), or an IC chip or an AR marker.

[0046] For example, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the RF tag T is arranged in advance in the vicinity of an outlet pipe S1a communicating with the bottom of the silo S1 in the loading silo S1. Also, as shown in FIG. 4(b), for example, the RF tag T is arranged in advance in the vicinity of a receiving pipe S2a in the silo S2 on the unloading side, the receiving pipe S2a communicating with the ceiling of the silo S2.

[0047] An RF tag T (hereinafter, appropriately referred to as "loading side RF tag T1") arranged near the loading side silo S1 stores type information of the powder or granular material stored in the silo S1. Further, an RF tag T (hereinafter referred to as "unloading side RF tag T2" as appropriate) placed near the unloading side silo S2 stores type information of powder or granular material that may be stored in the silo S2.

[0048] Here, the type information is composed of a pair of each consecutive management code and the type (classification) of powder or granular material corresponding to the management code, and the management codes are set within a range that is pre-allocated between the loading side and the unloading side.

[0049] For example, as shown in FIG. 5, at the loading side, management codes of 1 to 100 are assigned, and the loading side RF tag T1 stores type information consisting of a management code of 1 to 100 and a type corresponding to the management code. At the unloading side, management codes of 101 to 200 are assigned, and the unloading side RF tag T2 stores type information consisting of one of the management codes 101 to 200 and a type corresponding to the management code.

[0050] Then, the reader 90 distinguishes between the loading side and the unloading side by the management code based on the type information read from each RF tag T, and identifies the type of powder or granular material.

[0051] The control device 76 is provided in the meter panel 7, which will be described later, and functions as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls the operation of the meter panel 7. In addition, the control device 76 executes various processes based on the type information of the RF tag T read by the reader 90 to prevent the occurrence of so-called erroneous deliveries. The control device 76 will be described in detail below together with the meter panel 7.

[0052] [Meter Panel 7 Configuration] Next, the configuration of the meter panel 7 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0053] The meter panel 7 is used when loading and unloading powder and granular material in the powder and granular material transport vehicle 1 (see Figure 1), and displays the status of the equipment consisting of the tank 4 and compressor 5 (such as the pressure inside the tank body 41 and the discharge pipe 45, and the rotation speed of the compressor 5), as well as information regarding the type of powder and granular material (see Figure 12). The meter panel 7 is used to set at least one of the upper limit and the lower limit of the rotation speed of the compressor 5.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the meter panel 7 includes an LCD screen 71 which is a display screen, a main switch 72, an RPM adjustment switch 73, a screen changeover switch 74, and a confirmation switch 75 which are arranged in this order from top to bottom on the side of the LCD screen 71, and a control device 76 (see FIG. 3) which controls the operation of the meter panel 7.

[0055] The LCD screen 71 is an example of a display means according to the present invention, and displays the type of powder or granular material based on the type information of the loading side RF tag T1, and also displays, based on the type information of the unloading side RF tag T2, whether or not the type of powder or granular material based on the type information matches the type of powder or granular material based on the type information of the loading side RF tag T1. In addition, the LCD screen 71 can be switched to a meter screen by the screen change switch 74 to display the status of the mounted equipment, i.e., the measurement value of the pressure gauge in the tank body 41, the measurement value of the pressure gauge in the discharge pipe 45, and the rotation speed of the compressor 5 driven by the driving force of the engine 3 (see Figure 3). Furthermore, the LCD screen 71 can be switched to a maintenance screen by the screen changeover switch 74, whereby the total operating time of the compressor 5, the operating time of the compressor 5 today, the temperature of the compressor 5, and error indications, error history, and the like are displayed.

[0056] The display means according to the present invention is not limited to the liquid crystal screen 71 of the present embodiment, and may be configured, for example, by a display screen of a smartphone which is the reading device 90.

[0057] The main switch 72 is configured as an alternate action toggle switch that is switched to an ON state or an OFF state by tilting the operating lever upward or downward, and maintains that state.

[0058] In this embodiment, when the operating lever of the main switch 72 is tilted upward, the rotation speed adjustment switch 73 is used to switch to a state (ON state) in which the rotation speed of the compressor 5 can be adjusted, and this state is maintained until the next operation (tilting the operating lever downward) is performed. In addition, when the operating lever of the main switch 72 is tilted downward, the rotation speed adjustment switch 73 is used to switch to a state in which the rotation speed of the compressor 5 cannot be adjusted (OFF state), and this state is maintained until the next operation (tilting the operating lever upward) is performed.

[0059] When the rotation speed adjustment switch 73 is not operated, the operating lever always returns to a biased state (OFF state) in a neutral position in a horizontal posture, and when operated, it is configured as a momentary-operating toggle switch that switches to the ON state that adjusts the rotation speed of the compressor 5 only while the operating lever is tilted upward or downward.

[0060] In this embodiment, when the operating lever of the rotation speed adjustment switch 73 is tilted upward, the rotation speed of the compressor 5 increases. Moreover, when the operating lever of the rotation speed adjustment switch 73 is tilted downward, the rotation speed of the compressor 5 decreases. When the rotation speed of the compressor 5 is to be changed (increased or decreased) continuously and significantly, this can be done by keeping the operating lever tilted upward or downward.

[0061] When the screen changeover switch 74 is not being operated, the operating lever always returns to a biased state (OFF state) in a neutral position in a horizontal posture, and when it is being operated, tilting the operating lever upwards switches it to the ON state, which switches the display content of the LCD screen 71, and the switch is configured as a momentary-operation toggle switch.

[0062] In this embodiment, each time the operating lever of the screen change switch 74 is tilted upward, the display screen alternates between a meter screen that displays the status of the mounted equipment (such as the pressure inside the tank body 41 and the discharge pipe 45, and the rotation speed of the compressor 5) and a maintenance screen that is displayed when adjusting the rotation speed of the compressor 5.

[0063] When the confirmation switch 75 is not in operation, the operating lever always returns to a biased neutral position (OFF state) in which the switch is tilted downward. When the confirmation switch 75 is in operation, the operating lever is tilted upward to turn the switch on, thereby turning on the LCD screen 71. The confirmation switch 75 is configured as a momentary-operation toggle switch.

[0064] In this embodiment, when the engine 3 is stopped, for example, during loading work to dump powdered or granular material into the tank 4 or during maintenance work on the powdered or granular material transport vehicle 1, the LCD screen 71 is turned on by tilting the operating lever of the confirmation switch 75 upward, and then the LCD screen 71 is turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed. Moreover, if the operation lever, which has been temporarily returned to the neutral position, is tilted upward again without waiting for the lapse of the above-mentioned predetermined time, the liquid crystal screen 71 is forcibly turned off.

[0065] On the other hand, when the engine 3 is running and the PTO switch 12 (see FIG. 3), which will be described later, is turned on, for example during cargo receiving work in which powdered material is discharged from the tank 4, the LCD screen 71 will continue to be lit even after the operating lever of the confirmation switch 75 has returned to the neutral position, regardless of the passage of the above-mentioned specified time. In addition, when the engine 3 is running and the PTO switch 12 is turned off, such as when the powder / granular transport vehicle 1 is traveling, the LCD screen 71 is kept lit only while the operating lever of the confirmation switch 75 is tilted upward.

[0066] Although the confirmation switch 75 in this embodiment is configured as a momentary action type toggle switch, the present invention is not limited to this and may be configured as, for example, an alternate action type toggle switch.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 76 is electrically connected to the liquid crystal screen 71, the main switch 72, the rotation speed adjustment switch 73, the screen changeover switch 74, and the confirmation switch 75 described above. The control device 76 is also electrically connected to the key switch 11, the PTO switch 12, and a power supply (not shown) that are arranged outside the meter panel 7 via a wire harness 77 (see FIG. 2) or the like. Furthermore, the control device 76 is configured to be capable of wirelessly connecting to the reader 90 via near field communication (NFC).

[0068] For communication between the control device 76 and the reader 90, various communication standards can be adopted, such as Low Power Wide Area (LPWA), Bluetooth (registered trademark), and Long Term Evolution (LTE).

[0069] Here, the key switch 11 is a switch for switching between an ON state in which the engine 3 is in a driving state and an OFF state in which the engine 3 is in a stopped state. The key switch 11 can generally be switched between three modes: a stop mode in which the engine 3 is stopped and the electrical equipment in the driver's seat is not energized; an accessory mode in which the engine 3 is stopped and the electrical equipment in the driver's seat is energized; and a drive mode in which the engine 3 is running and the electrical equipment in the driver's seat is energized.

[0070] In this embodiment, "engine 3 is switched to the ON state" means "engine 3 is switched to the operating mode", and "engine 3 is switched to the OFF state" means "engine 3 is switched to the stop mode or accessory mode".

[0071] In addition, the PTO switch 12 is a switch that, when turned on, switches the state of the PTO 6 to a transmission state in which the driving force of the engine 3 is transmitted to the compressor 5, and, when turned off, switches the state to a cut-off state in which the transmission of the driving force to the compressor 5 is cut off.

[0072] Furthermore, the power supply (not shown) is a battery mounted on the powder / granular transport vehicle 1, and is electrically connected to the control device 76 via a confirmation switch 75, etc., and supplies power to the LCD screen 71 via the control device 76.

[0073] The control device 76 includes a memory unit 76a in which predetermined programs for controlling the operation of the meter panel 7 and predetermined programs for executing various processes based on the type information of the RF tag T read by the reading device 90 are pre-stored, and a calculation unit 76b that executes various arithmetic processes based on the programs, and causes the meter panel 7 to execute predetermined operations based on instruction signals (electrical signals) input by operating the key switch 11, the PTO switch 12, and the various switches 72-75, and the type information transmitted from the reading device 90.

[0074] In this embodiment, the control device 76 is configured to execute various processes to prevent the occurrence of incorrect deliveries based on the type information of the RF tag T read by the reading device 90, but this is not limited to this, and for example, the various processes may be executed by the reading device 90. In this case, the CPU built into the reading device 90 functions as the control device according to the present invention.

[0075] [Loading work procedure] Next, the procedure for loading powder into the tank 4 in the powder transport vehicle 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 4(a), 6, 7 and 11(a).

[0076] In Figures 4(a) and 6, first, when the powdered material transport vehicle 1 arrives at the loading silo S1, which is the destination (step S101), the operator operates the key switch 11 to switch the engine 3 to the OFF state to stop it, and stops the powdered material transport vehicle 1 at a designated position (step S102).

[0077] When the powder material transport vehicle 1 is stopped, the operator turns on the confirmation switch 75. As a result, the meter panel 7, which is in a stopped state, is temporarily started up, and the liquid crystal screen 71 is turned on (step S103). If the meter panel 7 is left alone thereafter, it will wait for a predetermined time before going into the stopped state again and the liquid crystal screen 71 will go out.

[0078] When the meter panel 7 is started up, the worker establishes a wireless connection between the meter panel 7 (more specifically, the control device 76) and the reading device 90 (step S104).

[0079] When the wireless connection between the meter panel 7 and the reader 90 is completed, the worker uses the reader 90 to read the loading side RF tag T1 (step S105) and obtains the type information. Then, based on the acquired type information, the reader 90 transmits the type information to the control device 76, and the control device 76, having received the type information, executes a predetermined process and starts interference control, which will be described later. The control procedure of the control device 76 in step S105 will be described later.

[0080] After reading the loading side RF tag T1, the worker opens each manhole cover 46 with the hatch 44 closed, inserts the outlet pipe S1a connected to the discharge outlet of the loading side silo S1 into the manhole formed by the manhole forming cylinder 42, and pours the desired volume of powdered material into the tank body 41 (step S106).

[0081] When the desired volume of powdered material has been poured into the tank body 41, the worker removes the discharge pipe S1a from the manhole, closes the manhole cover 46, operates the key switch 11 to switch the engine 3 to the ON state to start it, and starts the powdered material transport vehicle 1 (step S107). This completes a series of work procedures when carrying out loading work.

[0082] The timing of performing step S106 is not limited to this embodiment, and may be performed at any timing, for example, after completion of step S102, after completion of step S103, or after completion of step S104. Also, it is possible to carry out the loading operation without carrying out the above steps S104 and S105.

[0083] <Control procedure of the control device 76 in step S105> Here, the control procedure of the control device 76 in the above-mentioned step S105 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0084] When the loader RF tag T1 is read by the reader 90, the reader 90 judges whether the acquired type information is the loader type information (step S151). This determination is made based on the management code included in the type information.

[0085] As a result, when it is determined that the acquired type information is not loading side type information (i.e., unloading side type information) (NO verdict), the reading device 90 prohibits transmission of the type information to the control device 76 (step S152).

[0086] On the other hand, when it is determined that the acquired type information is type information of the loading side (YES verdict), the reading device 90 determines whether or not type information of another loading side has already been acquired (step S153).

[0087] As a result, when it is determined that type information of another loading side has already been acquired (YES verdict), the reading device 90 prohibits transmission of type information to the control device 76 (step S152).

[0088] On the other hand, if it is determined that the type information of another loading side has not already been acquired (NO verdict), the reading device 90 transmits the type information to the control device 76 (step S154).

[0089] The control device 76, which has received the type information from the reading device 90, temporarily stores the type information in the storage unit 76a (step S155). In this manner, the control device 76 can receive powder type information input by the reading device 90 and temporarily store the input type information in the storage unit 76a.

[0090] Then, the control device 76 displays the type (classification) of the powder or granular material on the liquid crystal screen 71 based on the stored type information (step S156). For example, as shown in FIG. 11(a), when the type of powder or granular material included in the type information is high-early-strength Portland cement, the liquid crystal screen 71 of the meter panel 7 displays "high-early-strength H."

[0091] As shown in FIG. 7, the control device 76 starts interference control at the same time as displaying the type on the liquid crystal screen 71 (step S157). Here, the above-mentioned "interference control" refers to control that prevents powder and granular material from being discharged from tank 4 by air (in this embodiment, compressed air having a predetermined set pressure) supplied from compressor 5 to tank 4. In other words, while the interference control is being executed, even if the rotation speed adjustment switch 73 is operated, the control device 76 prohibits the rotation speed of the compressor 5 from increasing or decreasing. As a result, the pressure of the compressed air supplied to the tank 4 by the compressor 5 is prevented from reaching a predetermined set pressure, and the rotation speed of the compressor 5 is maintained approximately equal to the idling rotation speed of the engine 3.

[0092] The method of interference control is not limited to this embodiment. For example, an electrically operable on-off valve may be provided in the discharge pipe 45, and the discharge of powdered material from the tank 4 to the unloading side silo S2 may be mechanically disabled by closing the on-off valve.

[0093] When the above steps S156 and S157 are completed, the series of control procedures of the reading device 90 and the control device 176 in the above step S105 is completed.

[0094] [Unloading procedure] Next, the work procedure when performing unloading work to discharge the powder and granular material from the tank 4 in the powder and granular material transport vehicle 1 in this embodiment will be explained using Figure 4(b), Figures 8 to 10, and Figures 11(b), (c), and (d).

[0095] In Figures 4(b) and 8, first, when the powdered material transport vehicle 1 arrives at the destination, the silo S2 on the unloading side (step S201), an operator stops the powdered material transport vehicle 1 at a predetermined position while keeping the engine 3 running (step S202).

[0096] When the powder material transport vehicle 1 is stopped, the operator turns on the PTO switch 12. As a result, the PTO 6 (see FIG. 3) is switched to a transmission state (a state in which the driving force of the engine 3 can be transmitted to the compressor 5), and the compressor 5 is operated. Furthermore, the meter panel 7, which has been in a stopped state due to the lapse of a predetermined time, is electrically connected to a power supply (not shown) via the control device 76 and started up again (step S203).

[0097] When the meter panel 7 is started, the worker connects the discharge hose 8 to the downstream end of the discharge pipe 45, and connects the tank body 41 to the receiving pipe S2a of the silo S2 on the unloading side via the discharge hose 8 (step S204).

[0098] After that, the worker establishes a wireless connection between the meter panel 7 (more specifically, the control device 76) and the reading device 90 (step S205).

[0099] When the wireless connection between the meter panel 7 and the reader 90 is completed, the worker uses the reader 90 to read the unloading side RF tag T2 (step S206) and obtains the type information. Then, based on the acquired type information, the reader 90 transmits the type information to the control device 76. Furthermore, upon receiving the type information, the control device 76 executes a predetermined calculation process, and based on the result of the calculation, releases or continues the interference control described above. The control procedure of the control device 76 in step S206 will be described later.

[0100] In step S206, when the interference control is released, the operator tilts the main switch 72 upward (turns it ON) to make the rotation speed of the compressor 5 adjustable (ON state), and tilts the rotation speed adjustment switch 73 upward or downward as appropriate to increase the rotation speed of the compressor 5 and supply compressed air of a predetermined set pressure into the tank body 41. As a result, the powdered material loaded into the tank body 41 is discharged into the silo S2 on the unloading side (step S207). The control procedure of the control device 76 in step S207 will be described later.

[0101] In step S207, when a preset amount of powder or granular material is discharged from inside the tank body 41 to the silo S2 on the unloading side, the operator turns off the PTO switch 12. As a result, the PTO 6 is switched to a disconnected state (a state in which the driving force of the engine 3 cannot be transmitted to the compressor 5), and the compressor 5 stops. In addition, when the PTO switch 12 is turned off, the control device 76 resets the loading side type information that was temporarily stored in the storage unit 76a. Furthermore, the meter panel 7 is disconnected from the power supply and goes into a stopped state again (step S208).

[0102] Thereafter, the worker removes the discharge hose 8 from the discharge pipe 45 and the receiving pipe S2a of the silo S2 on the unloading side, returns the discharge hose 8 to a designated place, and then starts the powder / granular material transport vehicle 1 (step S209). This completes a series of work procedures when performing unloading work.

[0103] The timing of performing step S204 is not limited to that of this embodiment, and may be, for example, performed after step S202 and before step S203.

[0104] <Control procedure of the control device 76 in step S206> Here, the control procedure of the control device 76 in the above-mentioned step S206 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0105] When the unloading side RF tag T2 is read by the reader 90, the reader 90 judges whether the obtained type information is the unloading side type information (step S261). This determination is made based on the management code included in the type information.

[0106] As a result, if it is determined that the acquired type information is not type information for the unloading side (i.e., type information for the loading side) (NO judgment), the reading device 90 executes steps from step S153 onwards in the loading work described above (see Figure 7).

[0107] On the other hand, if it is determined that the acquired type information is type information for the unloading side (YES verdict), the reading device 90 transmits the type information to the control device 76 (step S262).

[0108] The control device 76, which receives the type information from the reading device 90, determines whether the type (type) of the powder or granular material in the type information (hereinafter referred to as "unloading side type information" as appropriate) matches the type (type) of the powder or granular material in the type information stored in the memory unit 76a (hereinafter referred to as "loading side type information" as appropriate) (step S263).

[0109] As a result, when it is determined that the type according to the unloading side type information does not match the type according to the loading side type information (NO verdict), the control device 76 continues the interference control described above (step S264). Further, the control device 76 displays on the liquid crystal screen 71, as shown in FIG. 11(b), for example, that the type according to the unloading side type information does not match the type according to the loading side type information (step S265).

[0110] On the other hand, if it is determined that the type according to the unloading side type information matches the type according to the loading side type information (YES verdict), the control device 76 releases the interference control and permits an increase in the rotation speed of the compressor 5 (step S266). Further, the control device 76 displays on the liquid crystal screen 71, as shown in FIG. 11(c), that the type based on the unloading side type information matches the type based on the loading side type information (step S267).

[0111] Needless to say, the jamming control continues as long as the reader 90 does not read the unloading side RF tag T2.

[0112] In this way, the control device 76 executes interference control to prevent the powdered or granular material from being discharged from the tank 4 by the air (compressed air) supplied from the compressor 5 to the tank 4 until the type of powdered or granular material based on the input type information (unloading side type information) matches the type of powdered or granular material based on the previously input type information (loading side type information).

[0113] When step S265 or step S267 is completed, the series of control procedures of the reading device 90 and the control device 76 in step S206 described above is completed.

[0114] <Control procedure of the control device 76 in step S207> Next, the control procedure of the control device 76 in the above-mentioned step S207 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0115] When the main switch 72 is tilted upward (turned ON) (step S271), the control device 76 determines whether or not the unloading side type information has already been received from the reading device 90 (step S272).

[0116] As a result, if it is determined that the unloading side type information has already been received (YES judgment), and the interference control has been released based on the unloading side type information, the control device 76 allows the speed adjustment switch 73 to increase or decrease the speed of the compressor 5 (step S273).

[0117] On the other hand, if it is determined that the unloading side type information has not yet been received (NO judgment) and interference control is continuing, when the unloading side RF tag T2 is subsequently read by the reading device 90 (step S274), the control device 76 displays an error message on the LCD screen 71, for example, as shown in Figure 11 (d), without releasing the interference control (step S275). That is, in this embodiment, after the main switch 72, which makes the rotation speed of the compressor 5 adjustable, is turned ON, when the unloading side RF tag T2 is read by the reading device 90, the interference control continues without being released, and an error message is displayed on the LCD screen 71.

[0118] Here, for example, if the meter panel 7 is controlled so that turning on the main switch 72 causes the rotation speed of the compressor 5 to increase in one go from the idling rotation speed of the engine 3 to a specified minimum rotation speed (e.g., 700 rpm), if the main switch 72 is turned on first, the rotation speed of the compressor 5 will increase to the minimum rotation speed the moment the interference control is released based on the unloading side type information that has been read, which may cause unexpected problems.

[0119] In this embodiment, in order to avoid such problems, after the main switch 72 is turned ON, when the unloading side RF tag T2 is read by the reading device 90 (step S274), the control device 76 displays an error message on the LCD screen 71 (step S275) and temporarily makes it impossible to read the unloading side RF tag T2.

[0120] When step S273 or step S275 is completed, the series of control procedures of the control device 76 in step S207 described above is completed.

[0121] In this embodiment, even if the interference control is continued due to a NO judgment in the above step S272 (i.e., the unloading side RF tag T2 has not yet been read and operation of the rotation speed adjustment switch 73 is not permitted), or even if the interference control is continued due to a NO judgment in the above step S263 (the type according to the unloading side type information does not match the type according to the loading side type information and operation of the rotation speed adjustment switch 73 is not permitted), the interference control can be forcibly released by an emergency operation other than the input operation of the powder type information by the reading device 90, such as simultaneously pressing specific push buttons. That is, the control device 76 is configured to execute interference release control, which forcibly releases interference control during execution of interference control, in response to a specific operation other than the input operation of powder / granular material type information.

[0122] By having such a configuration, the powdered or granular material transport vehicle 1 in this embodiment can prevent a situation in which, for example, due to an unexpected malfunction or the like, the powdered or granular material type information cannot be properly read and input into the control device 76, and the type of powdered or granular material based on the type information read and input at the unloading side silo S2 (more specifically, the unloading side type information) does not match the type of powdered or granular material based on the type information previously input at the loading side silo S1 (more specifically, the loading side type information), causing interference control to continue, making it impossible to discharge the powdered or granular material loaded in the tank 4 to the outside.

[0123] [Configuration of powder transport vehicle 101 (another embodiment)] Next, the configuration of a powder material transport vehicle 101 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0124] A powdered material transport vehicle 101 in another embodiment has a configuration substantially equivalent to the powdered material transport vehicle 1 in the present embodiment described above, but differs from the powdered material transport vehicle 1 in that the medium for storing information on the type of powdered material consists of a tagged band B. Therefore, in the following description, differences from the powder material transport vehicle 1 of this embodiment will be mainly described, and a description of configurations equivalent to those of the powder material transport vehicle 1 will be omitted.

[0125] The powdered material transport vehicle 101 mainly comprises a vehicle body 102, an engine (not shown), a tank 104, a compressor (not shown), and a PTO (not shown), a reading device 190 that reads information from the tagged band B, and a control device 176 that processes the information read by the reading device 190.

[0126] Here, the configurations of the vehicle body 102, engine, tank 104, compressor, PTO, and reading device 190 are the same as the configurations of the vehicle body 2, engine 3, tank 4, compressor 5, PTO 6, and reading device 90 in the above-described embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the above-mentioned control device 176 is provided in the meter panel 107, and the configurations of these control devices 176 and meter panel 107 are the same as the configurations of the control device 76 and meter panel 7 in the present embodiment described above, so that explanation will be omitted.

[0127] In this embodiment, the reading device 190 may not be provided, and the type information of the powder or granular material may be directly inputted into the control device 176 by manual input.

[0128] The tagged band B is an example of an information recording medium according to the present invention, and stores type information about the type of powder or granular material. The tagged band B has a band part Ba that is detachably attached to an object, and a storage medium Bb that stores the above-mentioned type information.

[0129] In this embodiment, the storage medium Bb is made of an RF tag, but is not limited to this and can also be made of, for example, a code medium represented by a one-dimensional code such as a barcode or a two-dimensional code such as a QR code (registered trademark), or an IC chip or an AR marker.

[0130] The tagged band B is detachably attached to, for example, the tip of a discharge hose 108 connected to a discharge pipe 145 of the tank 104 . Furthermore, the tagged band B is attached in advance to the tip of the receiving pipe S2a that communicates with the ceiling of the silo S2 on the unloading side.

[0131] The tagged band B (hereinafter referred to as "loading side tagged band B1" as appropriate) attached to the tip of the discharge hose 108 stores information on the type of powder and granular material loaded into the tank 104, i.e., the powder and granular material stored in the silo S1 (see Figure 4(a)). In addition, in the unloading side silo S2, a tagged band B attached to the tip of the receiving pipe S2a (hereinafter referred to as ``unloading side tagged band B2'' as appropriate) stores information on the type of powder and granular material that can be stored in the silo S2.

[0132] The configuration of the type information stored in the storage medium Bb of each tagged band B is the same as the configuration of the type information stored in each RF tag T in the present embodiment described above (see Figure 5), so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0133] [Loading procedure (another embodiment)] Next, a procedure for loading powder into the tank 104 in the powder transport vehicle 101 according to another embodiment will be described with reference to Figs.

[0134] First, when the powdered material transport vehicle 101 arrives at the destination, the loading silo S1 (see Figure 4(a)) (step S301), an operator operates a key switch (not shown) to switch the engine to the OFF state to stop the engine, and stops the powdered material transport vehicle 101 at a designated position (step S302).

[0135] When the powder / granular material transport vehicle 101 is stopped, the worker attaches a loading tag-attached band B1, which stores information on the type of powder / granular material to be loaded into the tank 104, to the discharge hose 108 (step S303).

[0136] Thereafter, with the hatch 144 closed, the worker opens each manhole cover (not shown), inserts the discharge pipe S1a (see FIG. 4(a)) connected to the discharge outlet of the silo S1 on the loading side into the manhole formed by the manhole forming tube (not shown), and pours the desired volume of powdered material into the tank body 141 (step S304).

[0137] When the desired volume of powdered material has been poured into the tank body 141, the worker removes the discharge pipe S1a from the manhole, closes the manhole cover, operates the key switch to turn the engine ON and start the powdered material transport vehicle 101 (step S305). This completes a series of work procedures when carrying out loading work.

[0138] The timing of performing step S303 is not limited to that in this embodiment, and may be, for example, after step S304 is completed.

[0139] Thus, the loading work procedure in this other embodiment is substantially the same as the loading work procedure in the present embodiment described above, but instead of the wireless connection work between the meter panel 7 and the reading device 90 (see step S104 described above) and the reading work of the loading side RF tag T1 by the reading device 90 (see step S105 described above), only the attachment work of the loading side tag band B1 to the discharge hose 108 (see step S303 above) is performed. Therefore, the loading work procedures can be simplified for the worker.

[0140] [Unloading procedure (alternative embodiment)] Next, the procedure for unloading the powder in the tank 104 in the powder transport vehicle 101 of another embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 11(a), 11(b), 11(c), 12, and 14 to 16.

[0141] In Figures 12 and 14, first, when the powdered material transport vehicle 101 arrives at the destination, the silo S2 on the unloading side (step S401), an operator stops the powdered material transport vehicle 101 at a predetermined position while keeping the engine running (step S402).

[0142] When the powder transport vehicle 101 is stopped, the operator turns on the PTO switch. This switches the PTO into a transmission state and the compressor operates. Moreover, the meter panel 107 is electrically connected to the power supply via the control device 176 and starts up (step S403).

[0143] After activating the meter panel 107, the worker connects the discharge hose 108 to the downstream end of the discharge pipe 145, and connects the tank body 141 to the receiving pipe S2a of the silo S2 on the unloading side via the discharge hose 108 (step S404).

[0144] After that, the worker establishes a wireless connection between the meter panel 107 (more specifically, the control device 176) and the reading device 190 (step S405).

[0145] When the wireless connection between the meter panel 107 and the reader 190 is completed, the worker uses the reader 190 to read the band B1 with the loading tag (step S406) and obtains the type information. The reader 190 then transmits the read type information to the control device 176, and the control device 176 that receives the type information executes a predetermined process and temporarily stores the type information. The control procedure of the control device 176 in step S406 will be described later.

[0146] After reading the loading side tag band B1, the worker subsequently uses the reader 190 to read the unloading side tag band B2 (step S407) and obtains type information. Then, the reader 190 transmits the read type information to the control device 176. Furthermore, the control device 176, which has received the type information, executes a predetermined calculation process, and releases or continues the interference control described above based on the result of the calculation. The control procedure of the control device 176 in step S407 will be described later.

[0147] In step S407 above, when the interference control is released, the operator tilts the main switch 172 upward (turns it ON) to make the compressor speed adjustable (ON state), and tilts the speed adjustment switch 173 upward or downward as appropriate to increase the compressor speed and supply compressed air of a predetermined set pressure into the tank body 141. As a result, the powdered material loaded into the tank body 141 is discharged into the silo S2 on the unloading side (step S408). The control procedure of the control device 176 in step S408 is the same as the control procedure of the control device 76 when executing step S207 in the present embodiment described above (see FIG. 10), so a description thereof will be omitted.

[0148] In step S408, when a preset amount of powder or granular material is discharged from inside the tank body 141 to the silo S2 on the unloading side, the operator turns off the PTO switch. As a result, the PTO is switched to a disconnected state, and the compressor stops (step S409).

[0149] When the PTO switch is turned off, the meter panel 107 is disconnected from the power supply and is again in a stopped state. At this time, the control device 176 resets the type information temporarily stored in step S406, and starts the interference control described above (step S410).

[0150] As described above, the interference control started in step S410 can be released only by the calculation result in step S407. That is, in this embodiment, the interference control is almost always executed.

[0151] After the meter panel 107 has stopped, the worker removes the discharge hose 108 from the discharge pipe 145 and the receiving pipe S2a of the silo S2 on the unloading side, returns the discharge hose 8 to a designated location, and then starts the powder / granular material transport vehicle 101 (step S411). This completes a series of work procedures when performing unloading work.

[0152] The procedure for performing step S406 and step S407 is not limited to that of this embodiment, and step S406 may be performed after step S407. In this other embodiment, as shown in steps S461 to S463 described below, step S406 is performed first and the loading side tagged band B1 is read by the reading device 190, so that type information of the loading side tagged band B1 is stored in the memory unit of the control device 176. However, if step S407 is performed first and the unloading side tagged band B2 is read by the reading device 190, then type information of the unloading side tagged band B2 is stored in the memory unit of the control device 176.

[0153] <Control procedure of the control device 176 in step S406> Here, the control procedure of the control device 176 in the above-mentioned step S406 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0154] When the loading side tagged band B1 is read using the reading device 190, the reading device 190 transmits the type information acquired from the loading side tagged band B1 (hereinafter referred to as "loading side type information" as appropriate) to the control device 176 (step S461).

[0155] The control device 176 receives the type information from the reading device 190 and temporarily stores the type information in the storage unit (step S462). In this manner, the control device 176 can receive powder type information (loading side type information) input by the reading device 190 and temporarily store the input type information in the storage unit.

[0156] Then, the control device 176 displays the type (classification) of the powder or granular material on the liquid crystal screen 171 based on the stored type information (step S463). For example, as shown in FIG. 11(a), when the type of powder or granular material included in the type information is high-early-strength Portland cement, the liquid crystal screen 171 of the meter panel 107 displays "high-early-strength H." In this embodiment, step S463 need not be executed, and the type (classification) of powder or granular material need not be displayed on the liquid crystal screen 171.

[0157] When step S463 is completed, the series of control procedures for the reading device 190 and the control device 176 in step S406 described above is completed.

[0158] <Control procedure of the control device 176 in step S407> Next, the control procedure of the control device 176 in the above-mentioned step S407 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0159] When the unloading side tagged band B2 is read using the reading device 190, the reading device 190 transmits the type information (hereinafter referred to as "unloading side type information" as appropriate) obtained from the unloading side tagged band B2 to the control device 176 (step S471).

[0160] The control device 176, which receives the type information from the reading device 190, determines whether the type (type) of powder or granular material in the type information (unloading side type information) matches the type (type) of powder or granular material in the type information (loading side type information) stored in the memory unit (step S472).

[0161] As a result, when it is determined that the type according to the unloading side type information does not match the type according to the loading side type information (NO verdict), the control device 176 continues the interference control (step S473). Furthermore, the control device 176 displays on the liquid crystal screen 171, as shown in FIG. 11(b), for example, that the type according to the unloading side type information does not match the type according to the loading side type information (step S474).

[0162] On the other hand, if it is determined that the type according to the unloading side type information matches the type according to the loading side type information (YES verdict), the control device 176 releases the interference control and permits an increase in the compressor speed (step S475). Further, the control device 176 displays on the liquid crystal screen 171, as shown in FIG. 11(c), that the type based on the unloading side type information matches the type based on the loading side type information (step S476).

[0163] Needless to say, the jamming control continues as long as the reader 190 does not read the unloading side tag band B2.

[0164] In this way, the control device 176 executes interference control to prevent the powdered or granular material from being discharged from the tank 104 by the air (compressed air) supplied from the compressor to the tank 104 until the type of powdered or granular material based on the input type information (unloading side type information) matches the type of powdered or granular material based on the previously input type information (loading side type information).

[0165] When step S474 or step S476 is completed, the series of control procedures of the reading device 190 and the control device 176 in step S407 described above is completed.

[0166] Incidentally, in the work procedure for unloading work in this other embodiment, similarly to the work procedure for unloading work in the present embodiment described above, even after interference control has been started by step S464 or if interference control has been continued due to a NO judgment in step S472 (when the type according to the unloading side type information does not match the type according to the loading side type information and operation of the rotation speed adjustment switch 173 is not permitted), the interference control can be forcibly released as an emergency operation by an operation other than the input operation of the powder type information by the reading device 190, such as by simultaneously pressing specific push buttons.

[0167] As described above, the powdered material transport vehicle 1 in this embodiment is a powdered material transport vehicle that loads and transports powdered material from a loading side silo (first silo) S1, and discharges and unloads the powdered material into a unloading side silo (second silo) S2.

[0168] The powdered or granular transport vehicle 1 comprises a vehicle body 2, a tank 4 mounted on the vehicle body 2 and capable of loading powdered or granular material, a compressor that supplies air (in this embodiment, compressed air having a predetermined set pressure) into the tank 4 and discharges the powdered or granular material loaded in the tank to the outside, a compressor 5 that supplies compressed air having a predetermined set pressure into the tank 4 and discharges the powdered or granular material loaded in the tank 4 to the outside, a reading device 90 that is provided in the loading side silo S1 and reads a loading side RF tag (information recording medium) T1 that stores type information (loading side type information) of the powdered or granular material stored in the loading side silo S1, and a control device 76 that displays the type of the powdered or granular material on an LCD screen (display means) 71 based on the type information (loading side type information) read by the reading device 90.

[0169] In addition, the method for transporting powdered or granular material in this embodiment is a method for transporting powdered or granular material in which the powdered or granular material is loaded and transported from a loading side silo (first silo) S1 by a powdered or granular material transport vehicle 1, and the powdered or granular material is discharged and unloaded into a unloading side silo (second silo) S2.

[0170] The loading side silo S1 is provided with a loading side RF tag (information recording medium) T1 that stores type information (loading side type information) of the powdered or granular material stored in the loading side silo S1, and the loading side RF tag T1 is read by a reading device 90, and the type of the powdered or granular material is displayed on the liquid crystal screen (display means) 71 of a control device 76 provided on the powdered or granular material transport vehicle 1 based on the type information (loading side type information) read by the reading device 90.

[0171] In addition, in the powdered or granular material transport method of this embodiment, the reading device 90, as described above, is not limited to a portable terminal device (smartphone) provided as a dedicated device on the powdered or granular material transport vehicle 1, but may be, for example, a portable terminal device (smartphone) individually owned by the person using the powdered or granular material transport vehicle 1 (an operator, a company, etc.).

[0172] By virtue of this configuration, the powdered material transport vehicle 1 and powdered material transport method of this embodiment do not require, for example, extensive work such as opening the lid of the silo S1 on the loading side to check the inside. The type of powdered material stored in the silo S1 on the loading side can be immediately confirmed by simply visually checking the image displayed on the LCD screen 71.

[0173] Therefore, when powdered or granular material is loaded into the tank 4 from the loading side silo S1, it is easy to prevent a type of powdered or granular material different from the planned type from being erroneously loaded, and for example, in the unloading side silo S2, it is possible to prevent a type of powdered or granular material different from the predetermined type from being erroneously unloaded (misdelivered).

[0174] In addition, the powdered material transport vehicle 1 in this embodiment, and the powdered material transport vehicle 101 in another embodiment, are powdered material transport vehicles that load and transport powdered material from a loading side silo (first silo) S1, and discharge and unload the powdered material into an unloading side silo (second silo) S2.

[0175] The powdered or granular material transport vehicle 1 (101) is equipped with a vehicle body 2 (102), a tank 4 (104) mounted on the vehicle body 2 (102) and capable of loading powdered or granular material, a compressor 5 that supplies air (compressed air) into the tank 4 (104) and discharges the powdered or granular material loaded in the tank 4 (104) to the outside, and a control device 76 (176) to which information on the type of powdered or granular material is input and which can temporarily store the inputted type information. In addition, the control device 76 (176) is configured to execute interference control to prevent the powder from being discharged from the tank 4 (104) by the air (compressed air) until the type of powder based on the input type information (e.g., unloading side type information) matches the type of powder based on the previously input type information (e.g., loading side type information).

[0176] By having such a configuration, the powdered material transport vehicle 1 in this embodiment and the powdered material transport vehicle 101 in another embodiment continue to execute the above-mentioned interference control until, for example, the type of powdered material based on the type information (unloading side type information) input at the unloading side silo S2 matches the type of powdered material based on the type information previously input at the loading side silo S1 (loading side type information), thereby preventing a type of powdered material different from a predetermined type from being erroneously unloaded (misdelivered) at the unloading side silo S2.

[0177] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, which is merely illustrative, and it is of course possible to embody the present invention in various other forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the description of the claims, and further includes the equivalent meanings described in the claims, and all modifications within the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0178] 1, 101 Powder transport vehicle 2, 102 body 4. 104 Tank 5. Compressor 71 LCD screen (display means) 76, 176 Control device 90 Reading device S1 Loading silo (first silo) S2 Unloading silo (second silo) T1 Loading side RF tag (information recording medium)

Claims

1. A powdered material transport vehicle that loads and transports powdered material from a first silo and unloads the powdered material into a second silo, The car body and A tank mounted on the vehicle body and capable of loading powder and granular material; a compressor that supplies air into the tank and is capable of discharging the powder and granular material loaded in the tank to the outside; a reading device provided in the first silo for reading information on a recording medium storing type information of the powder or granular material stored in the first silo; and a control device that displays the type of the powder or granular material on a display means based on the type information read by the reading device. A powder and granular material transport vehicle.

2. A powdered material transport vehicle that loads and transports powdered material from a first silo and unloads the powdered material into a second silo, The car body and A tank mounted on the vehicle body and capable of loading powder and granular material; a compressor that supplies air into the tank and is capable of discharging the powder and granular material loaded in the tank to the outside; a control device to which type information of the powder or granular material is input and which is capable of temporarily storing the input type information, The control device includes: executing an interference control to prevent the powder or granular material from being discharged from the tank by the air until the type of the powder or granular material based on the input type information coincides with the type of the powder or granular material based on the previously input type information; A powder and granular material transport vehicle.

3. The control device includes: During execution of the interference control, Executing a disturbance release control for forcibly releasing the disturbance control by a specific operation other than the input operation of the type information of the powder or granular material.

3. A powder transport vehicle according to claim 2.

4. A method for transporting powdered or granular material, comprising the steps of: loading and transporting powdered or granular material from a first silo by a powdered or granular material transport vehicle; and unloading and discharging the powdered or granular material into a second silo, The first silo is provided with an information recording medium that stores type information of the powder or granular material stored in the first silo, reading the information storage medium with a reading device; Based on the type information read by the reading device, the type of the powder or granular material is displayed on a display means of a control device provided in the powder or granular material transport vehicle. A method for transporting powder or granular material.

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