Sorting system

Abstract

To provide a sorting system capable of precisely performing sorting without reducing sorting efficiency, even when sorted merchandises in which at least either single merchandise or composite merchandises are included are sorted.SOLUTION: A sorting system 100 comprises: an identification information reading part 60 for reading identification information attached to sorted merchandises W, that is arranged on a downstream side of a feed station 30; a merchandise characteristic acquisition part 70 for acquiring at least one merchandise characteristic of dimension, shape, weight and volume concerning the sorted merchandises W, that is arranged on the downstream side of the feed station 30; and a controller 80 for determining whether the sorted merchandises W read by the identification information reading part 60 each to which the identification information is attached are single merchandises W1 or composite merchandises W2, based on merchandise characteristics acquired by the merchandise characteristic acquisition part 70 and a reference merchandise characteristic of the sorted merchandises W stored in association with the identification information read by the identification information reading part 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a sorting system. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a sorting system that sorts each of a plurality of products input from a plurality of input ports to a designated one of a plurality of output ports. For example, in the sorting system disclosed in the following Patent Document 1, an operator picks products based on an order at the input port, reads a barcode (identification information) attached to the picked product, and inputs the product from the input port. The products input from the input port are transported to a designated output port, where they are packed in cardboard boxes or the like, and then shipped to the order destination.

[0003] In such a sorting system, the products inserted from the input port may include single products (so-called loose items or pieces) and boxes containing multiple products (so-called cartons, inner cartons, inner boxes), even if they are the same product. However, whether the product is a single product or a box, the same identification information is usually attached to the same product if it is the same product. For this reason, workers cannot distinguish whether it is a single product or a box just by reading the identification information attached to the product to be inserted, and cannot sort accurately based on the order. For this reason, workers are required to input discrimination information at the input port to distinguish whether the product whose identification information has been read is a single product or a box. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-71458 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, there are cases where the classification information is inaccurate due to an operator's misjudgment or input error. In such cases, mistakes are made in sorting the products. In addition, inputting the classification information is time-consuming, and it may take time to insert the products into the input slot. In such cases, the sorting efficiency of the sorting system is reduced.

[0006] Therefore, an object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a sorting system that can perform accurate sorting without reducing sorting efficiency, even when sorting products that include at least one of individual products and composite products. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) A sorting system according to one aspect of the present invention is a sorting system that transports at least one of the following as sorted goods: a single product having an identification information attached thereto; and a product complex in which multiple products are grouped together and have an identification information attached thereto. The sorting system comprises a transport conveyor that transports the sorted goods in one direction; an input station that inputs the sorted goods onto the transport conveyor; an identification information reading unit that is arranged at the input station or downstream of the input station and reads the identification information attached to the sorted goods; a product characteristic acquisition unit that is arranged at the input station or downstream of the input station and acquires at least one product characteristic of the dimensions, shape, weight, and volume of the sorted goods; and a controller that reads from a memory unit standard product characteristics of the product that are stored in association with the identification information read by the identification information reading unit, and determines whether the sorted product having the identification information read by the identification information reading unit is a single product or a product complex based on the standard product characteristics read from the memory unit and the product characteristics acquired by the product characteristic acquisition unit.

[0008] Here, downstream and upstream refer to upstream and downstream in the unidirectional conveying direction of the conveyor. In the sorting system of this configuration, the controller determines whether the sorted product is a single product or a complex product, so sorting errors caused by worker judgment or input errors can be reduced. In addition, in this configuration, the worker does not need to input whether the product is a single product or a complex product when feeding the product onto the conveyor, so the efficiency of feeding the product onto the conveyor can be improved. As a result, even when sorting products that include at least one of a single product and a complex product, accurate sorting can be performed without reducing sorting efficiency. In addition, in the sorting system of this configuration, even if the same barcode is attached to both the single product and the complex product, it is possible to determine whether the product is a single product or a complex product using an inexpensive, rough (relatively low accuracy) product characteristic acquisition unit.

[0009] (2) In the sorting system described above in (1), the product characteristic acquisition unit may be an imaging device that acquires images, and the imaging device may be disposed downstream of the input station. In this configuration, the product characteristics of the sorted products can be acquired using a relatively inexpensive device.

[0010] (3) In the sorting system described in (1) above, the transport conveyor is configured to transport in one direction the placement units on which the sorted products are placed for each sorting destination, the product characteristic acquisition unit is an imaging device that acquires images for each placement unit, and when the controller determines that multiple sorted products are included in the image captured by the imaging device, it may determine for each of the multiple sorted products whether it is a single product or a complex product. In this configuration, even when multiple sorted products are input into one placement unit, it is possible to accurately determine for each of the multiple sorted products whether it is a single product or a complex product.

[0011] (4) In the sorting system described in (2) or (3) above, the imaging device may be disposed above the sorted product transported by the transport conveyor and at a position offset from the center position in the width direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the transport conveyor. In this configuration, for example, when the sorted product is a box, information on at least three sides (three faces) can be obtained. Furthermore, by obtaining information on the three sides (three faces) as product characteristics, for example, even if the sorted products are stacked in a vertical row, it is possible to distinguish them from individual products, thereby improving the accuracy of judgment.

[0012] (5) In the sorting system described in (2) or (3) above, the imaging device may be disposed above the sorted products transported by the transport conveyor, and the controller may calculate the floor area of ​​the sorted products from the image and determine whether the sorted products are single products or complex products based on the calculated floor area and a reference floor area as a reference product characteristic stored in the memory unit. This configuration makes it possible to accurately determine whether the sorted products input are single products or complex products in a simple manner.

[0013] (6) In the sorting system described in any one of (1) to (5) above, the controller may notify the fact that there is an abnormality in the sorted products when it is determined that the product characteristics acquired by the product characteristic acquisition unit differ by a predetermined value or more from the reference product characteristics of the product complex and also differ by a predetermined value or more from the reference product characteristics of the individual products. In a sorting system configured in this manner, it is possible to determine that the identification information reading unit has erroneously read the identification information (that is, erroneously read the identification information of a product different from the order as the identification information of the same product as the order) or that a quantity of products different from the order has been conveyed. In addition, in a sorting system configured in this manner, it is possible to determine that the product characteristics cannot be acquired correctly by the product characteristic acquisition unit or that there is an abnormality in the product characteristic acquisition unit. Effect of the Invention

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, even when sorting products that include at least one of single products and composite products, accurate sorting can be performed without reducing sorting efficiency. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a sorting system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of the input station from diagonally above. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the sorting system of FIG. [Figure 4] Fig. 4(A) is a perspective view of the product complex as viewed from an oblique angle, and Fig. 4(B) is a perspective view of a plurality of sorted products included in the product complex as viewed from obliquely above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, a sorting system 100 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are given the same symbols, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted. The terms "downstream" and "upstream" used in this specification refer to the upstream and downstream with respect to the unidirectional conveying direction D1 of the cross belt conveyor 51.

[0017] The sorting system 100 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is installed in, for example, a distribution center, and is a facility that picks out products from among a wide variety of products stored on the shelves 11 of the automated warehouse 10 according to order status and sorts the picked products by shipping destination. Examples of products (hereinafter referred to as "sorted products W") sorted by the sorting system 1 include medicines, food, books, and supply products. In this embodiment, a single product W1 (see FIG. 4(B)) with a barcode (identification information) BC and a product complex W2 (see FIG. 4(A) and FIG. 4(B)) with a barcode BC attached to a plurality of products grouped together are sorted as the sorted products W. Hereinafter, when simply referring to the sorted products W, the single product W1 and the product complex W2 are included. The barcode BC may be printed directly on the sorted products W, or the barcode BC printed on a sticker or the like may be affixed to the sorted products W.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sorting system 100 includes an automated warehouse 10, a sorting device 50, a barcode reader (identification information reading unit) 60, an imaging device (product characteristic acquisition unit) 70, and a controller 80.

[0019] The automated warehouse 10 stores a plurality of sorted products W. The sorted products W may be stored while placed on a tray (not shown) or the like. The automated warehouse 10 has an article shelf 11 and a conveying device 13. The automated warehouse 10 has a pair of article shelves 11, 11 arranged in one direction so as to face each other across an aisle 10A of the conveying device 13. The article shelves 11 are erected on the floor surface. The article shelves 11 are provided with a plurality of placement sections 11A on which the sorted products W are stored. In the following description, the arrangement of shelves in the width direction (front-to-back direction) of the article shelves 11 will be referred to as a "series", and the arrangement of the article shelves 11 in the up-down direction will be referred to as a "tier".

[0020] The transport device 13 is a stacker crane having a traveling rail 13A extending along the aisle 10A, a traveling section (not shown) that travels along the traveling rail 13A, a mast erected on the traveling section, a lifting section that rises and falls along the mast, and a transfer section that is provided on the lifting section and transfers the sorted products W. The frontage of the article shelf 11 faces the aisle 10A.

[0021] In the pair of goods shelves 11, 11, an outgoing station 15 is provided on one side P1 in the extension direction of the goods shelf 11, and an incoming station (not shown) is provided on the other side in the extension direction of the goods shelf 11. The conveying device 13 is disposed so as to be able to convey the sorted goods W between the goods shelf 11 and the incoming station and the outgoing station 15. The conveying device 13 moves between a predetermined row and line and the outgoing station 15 to outgo the sorted goods W, and moves between the incoming station and the predetermined row and line to incoming the sorted goods W.

[0022] The out-going station 15 is disposed between the article shelf 11 and the sorting device 50, and transports the sorted products W from the article shelf 11 to the sorting device 50. The out-going station 15 is, for example, a belt conveyor.

[0023] The input station (input opening) 30 is an area where an operator inputs the sorted products W transported by the output station 15 onto a cross belt conveyor (transport conveyor) 51 of the sorting device 50. The input station 30 is provided at the end of the output station 15 on the sorting device 50 side. A work table 31 is installed in the input station 30. A terminal device 33 on which order information is displayed is placed on the work table 31.

[0024] The worker refers to the order information displayed on the terminal device 33, and places (feeds) the ordered items W and the number of items onto the conveyor unit (feeding unit) 53 of the sorting device 50. Furthermore, in the sorting system 1 of this embodiment, the worker is operated so that the worker feeds one single item W1 or one complex item W2 onto the conveyor unit 53. The worker places the item W onto one of the conveyor units 53 moving in one direction that does not have any items W placed on it.

[0025] The sorting device 50 is a facility that automatically sorts the products W inserted into the insertion station 30 according to their destinations. The sorting device 50 includes a cross belt conveyor 51 and a destination chute 57.

[0026] The cross belt conveyor 51 includes a portion that passes through a plurality of input stations 30, and constitutes a circular conveying path. The cross belt conveyor 51 has a conveyor unit 53 and a moving mechanism 55. The conveyor units 53 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the circular conveying path. The conveyor unit 53 has a driving roller, a driven roller, and a loading belt 53A that is wound around the driving roller and the driven roller. The loading belt 53A is provided rotatably in a width direction D2 that is perpendicular to the conveying direction D1 of the conveyor unit 53.

[0027] The movement mechanism 55 moves each of the conveyor units 53 in one direction along the conveying direction. In other words, the movement mechanism 55 is a mechanism that rotates the conveyor units 53 in one direction. This cross belt conveyor 51 conveys the sorted products W in a direction D1 along the circular conveying path, and moves the sorted products W in a width direction D2 to selectively discharge them to one of a plurality of destination chutes 57 described below. The cross belt conveyor 51 configured in this way can also be said to be configured to convey the conveyor units 53 on which the sorted products W are placed for each sorting destination in one direction.

[0028] The destination chutes 57 are arranged along the conveying path of the cross belt conveyor 51, and are provided for each destination. The destination chutes 57 extend in both directions in the width direction D2 perpendicular to the conveying direction D1 of the cross belt conveyor 51, sandwiching the cross belt conveyor 51 between them. The destination chute 57 may be a slope that descends in the direction away from the cross belt conveyor 51, or may be a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, or the like. At the tip of the destination chute 57 (the end opposite to the cross belt conveyor 51 side), a packing station is configured as an area where workers perform packing work, etc.

[0029] The barcode reader 60 is disposed downstream of the input station 30 and reads the barcode BC attached to the sorted products W. Information related to the barcode BC read by the barcode reader 60 is converted, for example, into a character string indicating identification information of the sorted products W, and acquired by the controller 80. The controller 80 can identify the type of the sorted products W from this identification information. The barcode BC is, for example, a JAN code (Japanese Article Number).

[0030] The imaging device 70 is disposed downstream of the input station 30, and captures images of the sorted products W transported by the cross belt conveyor 51. The imaging device 70 is disposed above the sorted products W transported by the cross belt conveyor 51, and at a position shifted from the center position of the width direction D2 perpendicular to the transport direction D1 of the cross belt conveyor 51. The imaging device 70 disposed in this manner can capture images of the sorted products W such that three sides (three faces) of the sorted products W are included in the image.

[0031] The imaging device 70 of this embodiment captures images for each conveyor unit 53. The images captured by the imaging device 70 are acquired by the controller 80. The controller 80 acquires the dimensions or shape (product characteristics) of the sorted products W based on the images acquired from the imaging device 70. The controller 80 of this embodiment acquires the dimensions of three sides of the outer shape of the sorted products W. The imaging device 70 and the controller 80 can be said to constitute a product characteristic acquisition unit that acquires the dimensions or shape of the sorted products W.

[0032] The controller 80 controls each part of the sorting system 100. The controller 80 monitors, for example, which conveyor unit 53 of the cross belt conveyor 51 has placed which order of sorted products W. The controller 80 has an input / output interface I / O for inputting and outputting signals with the outside, a read only memory (ROM) in which programs and information for processing are stored, a random access memory (RAM) for temporarily storing data, a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a central processing unit (CPU), and a communication circuit. The controller 80 stores input data in the RAM, loads the program stored in the ROM into the RAM, and executes the program loaded into the RAM based on a signal output by the CPU, thereby achieving each function. The controller 80 is connected to a characteristic information storage unit (storage unit) 85 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0033] The characteristic information storage unit 85 stores standard product characteristics for each sorted product W. In this embodiment, the characteristic information storage unit 85 stores the dimensions of the three sides of the outer shape of the sorted product W as the standard product characteristics for each sorted product W. The dimensions of the three sides here refer to the length, width, and height when the product is arranged according to a predetermined rule (for example, the surface with the JAN code attached is the top surface, and the business code of the JAN code is at the left end).

[0034] The controller 80 determines whether the sorted product W with the barcode BC read by the barcode reader 60 matches the order information. If the controller 80 determines that the sorted product W does not match the order information, the controller 80 notifies the controller 80 of this fact or ejects the product from the cross belt conveyor 51. Furthermore, the controller 80 in this embodiment determines whether the sorted product W with the barcode BC read by the barcode reader 60 is a single product W1 or a product complex W2. Specifically, the controller 80 reads out the reference product characteristics of the sorted product W that are stored in association with the identification information read by the barcode reader 60 from the characteristic information storage unit 85. In this embodiment, the dimensions of the three sides of the outer shape of the sorted product W identified by the identification information read by the barcode reader 60 are read out as the reference product characteristics.

[0035] Next, the controller 80 determines whether the sorted product W with the identification information read by the barcode reader 60 is a single product W1 or a product complex W2, based on the reference product characteristics read from the characteristic information storage unit 85 and the product characteristics acquired by the imaging device 70. The controller 80 of this embodiment determines whether the dimensions of three sides of the outer shape of the sorted product W acquired by the imaging device 70 match the dimensions of the three sides of the single product W1 read from the characteristic information storage unit 85 or the dimensions of the three sides of the product complex W2.

[0036] When the controller 80 determines that the dimensions of three sides of the outer shape of the sorted product W acquired by the imaging device 70 match the dimensions of three sides of a single product W1 read from the characteristic information memory unit 85, it determines that the sorted product W is a single product W1, and when the controller 80 determines that the dimensions match the dimensions of three sides of a product complex W2 read from the characteristic information memory unit 85, it determines that the sorted product W is a product complex W2.

[0037] Based on the result of this determination, the controller 80 can determine whether or not the sorted products W inserted from the insertion station 30 onto the cross belt conveyor 51 match the order information.

[0038] When the controller 80 determines that the product characteristics acquired together with the imaging device 70 differ by a predetermined value or more (e.g., a difference of ±20%) compared to the reference product characteristics of the product complex W2 and also differ by a predetermined value or more (e.g., a difference of ±20%) compared to the reference product characteristics of the single product W1, the controller 80 causes the alarm unit 87 to alarm that there is an abnormality in the sorted products W. Examples of the alarm unit 87 include a display monitor, a speaker, a warning lamp, etc.

[0039] This allows the controller 80 to notify the worker that the type of the sorted products W identified from the barcode BC read by the barcode reader 60 does not match the type of the sorted products W to which the barcode BC read by the barcode reader 60 is attached. The controller 80 can also determine that the imaging device 70 has erroneously read the identification information (erroneously read the identification information of a product different from the order as the identification information of the same product as the order) or that a different quantity of products than the order has been conveyed. The controller 80 can also determine that the imaging device 70 cannot correctly acquire product characteristics or that there is an abnormality in the imaging device 70.

[0040] The effects of the sorting system 100 of the above embodiment will be described. In the sorting system 100 of the above embodiment, the controller 80 determines whether the sorted product W is a single product W1 or a product complex W2, so sorting errors caused by worker errors in judgment or input can be reduced. In addition, in the sorting system 100 of the above embodiment, when the worker inputs the sorted product W onto the cross belt conveyor 51, the worker does not need to input whether the sorted product W is a single product W1 or a product complex W2, so the efficiency of inputting the product onto the cross belt conveyor 51 can be improved. As a result, even when sorting the sorted product W that includes the single product W1 and the product complex W2, accurate sorting can be performed without reducing sorting efficiency.

[0041] Furthermore, in the sorting system 100 of the above embodiment, even if the same barcode BC is attached to a single product W1 and a complex product W2, it is possible to distinguish whether it is a single product W1 or a complex product W2 using an inexpensive, rough (relatively low accuracy) imaging device 70.

[0042] In the sorting system 100 of the above embodiment, when the controller 80 determines that the product characteristics acquired by the imaging device 70 differ by a predetermined value or more from the reference product characteristics of the product complex W2 and also differ by a predetermined value or more from the reference product characteristics of the single product W1, the controller 80 notifies the user that there is an abnormality in the sorted product W. In this configuration, even if a different type of sorted product W from the target sorted product W is transported, it is possible to determine that a different sorted product W has been transported. This makes it possible to notify the worker that a different sorted product W has been transported.

[0043] In the sorting system 100 of the above embodiment, an imaging device 70 that captures images is provided as a product characteristic acquisition unit, and the imaging device 70 is disposed downstream of the input station 30. This makes it possible to acquire the product characteristics of the sorted products W using a relatively inexpensive device.

[0044] In the sorting system 100 of the above embodiment, the imaging device 70 is disposed above the sorted products W transported by the cross belt conveyor 51, at a position offset from the center position in the width direction D2 of the cross belt conveyor 51. This makes it possible to image at least three sides (three faces) when sorting the sorted products W, which are boxes. Furthermore, by acquiring information on the three sides (three faces) as product characteristics, it becomes possible to distinguish a product complex W2 in which the sorted products W are stacked in a row in the vertical direction from a single product W1, thereby improving the determination accuracy.

[0045] Although one embodiment has been described above, one aspect of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0046] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the sorted product W includes a single product W1 and a product complex W2. However, in a warehouse in which the single product W1 and the product complex W2 are handled as the sorted product W, the sorting system 100 may, for example, sort only the single product W1 as the sorted product W or sort only the product complex W2 as the sorted product W. In this case, the sorting system 100 configured as described above, which sorts only the single product W1 as the sorted product W, can detect that the product has been mistakenly put onto the cross belt conveyor 51 as a box, i.e., that the product complex W2 has been put onto the cross belt conveyor 51 as it is. Similarly, the sorting system 100 configured as described above, which sorts only the product complex W2 as the sorted product W, can detect that a product that has been mistakenly separated has been put onto the cross belt conveyor 51, i.e., that the single product W1 has been put onto the cross belt conveyor 51.

[0047] In the above embodiment and modified example, an example has been described in which the dimensions of three sides of the outer shape of the sorted products W are obtained from an image captured by the imaging device 70, and the obtained dimensions are compared with the dimensions of the three sides stored in the characteristic information storage unit 85. However, this is not limiting. For example, the controller 80 may obtain, as characteristic information from the image captured by the imaging device 70, the dimension of one side of the outer shape of the sorted products W, the shape of one or more faces, the area of ​​one or more faces, the volume of the sorted products W, etc. In this case, the reference product characteristics corresponding to the characteristic information obtained by the controller 80 may be stored in the characteristic information storage unit 85.

[0048] Alternatively, the imaging device 70 may be disposed above the sorted products W transported by the cross belt conveyor 51, and the controller 80 may calculate the planar area of ​​the sorted products W from the image captured by the imaging device 70. The planar area of ​​the sorted products W can be calculated by appropriate correction even if the image captured by the imaging device 70 is not an image from directly above. Even with control of such a modified example, it is possible to determine whether the sorted products W are single products W1 or product complexes W2 based on the calculated planar area and the reference planar area as the reference product characteristic stored in the characteristic information storage unit 85. With this configuration, it is possible to accurately determine whether the sorted products W fed onto the cross belt conveyor 51 are single products W1 or product complexes W2 through simple processing.

[0049] In the above embodiment and modified example, the imaging device 70 has been described as an example of a device for acquiring the product characteristics of the sorted products W, but, for example, a load meter for acquiring the weight of the sorted products W may also be provided. In this case, the weight of the single product W1 and the weight of the product complex W2 may be stored for each sorted product W as the characteristic information storage unit 85. Even in this case, as in the above embodiment, accurate sorting can be performed without reducing sorting efficiency, even when sorting products W that include single products W1 and product complexes W2.

[0050] In the above embodiment and the above modified example, an example has been described in which one sorted item W is placed on one conveyor unit 53, but multiple sorted items W may be placed on one conveyor unit 53. In this case, the controller 80 may determine whether or not multiple sorted items W are included in the image captured by the imaging device 70, and if it is determined that multiple sorted items W are included, may determine whether each of the multiple sorted items W is a single item W1 or a product complex W2. In this configuration, even when multiple sorted items W are placed on one conveyor unit 53, it is possible to accurately determine whether each of the multiple sorted items W is a single item W1 or a product complex W2.

[0051] Furthermore, in such a modified configuration, when the controller 80 determines that the product characteristics acquired together with the imaging device 70 differ from the reference product characteristics of the single product W1 by a predetermined value or more (for example, a difference of ±20%), the controller 80 may cause the notification unit 87 to notify that there is an error in the quantity of the single products W1, which are sorted products W. This allows the controller 80 to notify the worker that the quantity of the single products W1 identified from the barcode BC read by the barcode reader 60 does not match the quantity in the order information.

[0052] Similarly, when the controller 80 determines that the product characteristics acquired together with the imaging device 70 differ from the reference product characteristics of the product complex W2 by a predetermined value or more (e.g., a difference of ±20%), the controller 80 may cause the notification unit 87 to notify that there is an error in the quantity of the product complex W2, which is the sorted product W. This allows the controller 80 to notify the worker that the quantity of the product complex W2 identified from the barcode BC read by the barcode reader 60 does not match the quantity in the order information.

[0053] Although the cross belt conveyor 51 provided with a belt conveyor that moves the sorted products W in the width direction D2 has been described as an example of a transport conveyor having a placement unit on which the sorted products W are placed, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, other transport conveyors may be used, such as a tilt tray conveyor in which the placement surface on which the sorted products W are placed is tilted in the width direction D2 to slide the sorted products W in the width direction D2 to move the sorted products W in the width direction D2, or a slide shoe conveyor in which a shoe provided so as to be able to move the conveying surface of the sorted products W in the width direction D2 pushes the sorted products W in the width direction D2. Furthermore, even when a general belt conveyor is used and the sorted products W placed on a tray are transported, one aspect of the present invention described above can be applied.

[0054] In the above embodiment and modified example, a JAN code is used as an example of the barcode BC, but it may be a UPC (Universal Product Code) code, an ITF-14 (logistics ITF) code, etc. Also, in the above embodiment and modified example, a barcode (one-dimensional code) BC is used as an example of the identification information, but it may be a two-dimensional code, or may be a character string, a numeric string, etc.

[0055] In the above embodiment and the above modified example, an example has been described in which a worker inserts sorted goods W onto the cross belt conveyor 51 at the inserting station 30. However, for example, the sorted goods W may be inserted onto the cross belt conveyor 51 by an industrial robot, or the sorted goods W may be transported directly onto the cross belt conveyor 51 from the output station 15 of the automated warehouse 10.

[0056] In the above embodiment and modified example, the barcode reader 60 is disposed downstream of the input station 30, but the barcode reader 60 may be disposed in the input station 30. In this case, a worker or a robot may input the sorted products W onto the cross belt conveyor 51 after having the barcode reader 60 read the sorted products W. In this case, the inspection work can also be performed.

[0057] In the case of such a modified configuration, an imaging device 70 may be placed in the input station 30 to image the work of inserting the sorted products W onto the cross belt conveyor 51 after the sorted products W are read by the barcode reader 60, or to image the sorted products W immediately after they are inserted onto the cross belt conveyor 51.

[0058] In the above embodiment and the above modified example, an automated warehouse 10 in which a stacker crane (conveyor device 13) is arranged has been described as an example of a device that transports the sorted products W to the input station 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an automated warehouse including a lift device and a conveyor device configured to be able to move horizontally between each stage may be adopted, or an automatic guided vehicle (AVG) may be configured to transport the sorted products W to the input station 30. In addition, an operator may pick the sorted products W from a shelf installed near the input station 30 and input the sorted products W onto the cross belt conveyor 51. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1...sorting system, 10...automated warehouse, 11...goods shelf, 13...conveying device, 30...feeding station, 50...sorting device, 51...cross belt conveyor (transport conveyor), 53...conveyor unit (loading unit), 55...moving mechanism, 60...barcode reader (identification information reading unit), 70...imaging device (product characteristic acquisition unit), 80...controller, 85...characteristic information memory unit (memory unit), 100...sorting system, BC...barcode (identification information), D1...conveying direction, D2...width direction, W...sorted product, W1...single product, W2...complex product.

Claims

1. A sorting system that conveys at least one of a single product to which identification information is attached and a product complex to which the identification information is attached in a state in which a plurality of products are grouped together, as a sorted product, a transport conveyor that transports the sorted products in one direction; an input station for inputting the sorted products onto the transport conveyor; an identification information reading unit that is disposed at the input station or downstream of the input station and that reads the identification information attached to the sorted products; a product characteristic acquisition unit that is disposed at the input station or downstream of the input station and that acquires at least one product characteristic of the size, shape, weight, and volume of the sorted products; A sorting system comprising: a controller that reads from a memory unit standard product characteristics of the product stored in association with the identification information read by the identification information reading unit, and determines whether the sorted product to which the identification information read by the identification information reading unit is attached is a single product or a complex product based on the standard product characteristics read from the memory unit and the product characteristics acquired by the product characteristic acquisition unit.

2. the product characteristic acquisition unit is an imaging device for acquiring an image, The sorting system according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is disposed downstream of the input station.

3. The transport conveyor is configured to transport placement units on which the sorted products are placed for each sorting destination in one direction, the commodity characteristic acquisition unit is an imaging device that acquires an image for each of the placement units, The sorting system of claim 1, wherein when the controller determines that the image captured by the imaging device contains multiple items to be sorted, it determines for each of the multiple items to be sorted whether it is a single item or a composite item.

4. The sorting system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the imaging device is positioned above the sorted products transported by the transport conveyor and at a position offset from the center position in the width direction of the transport conveyor perpendicular to the transport direction.

5. the imaging device is disposed above the sorted products transported by the transport conveyor, The sorting system described in claim 2 or 3, wherein the controller calculates the floor area of ​​the sorted item from the image, and determines whether the sorted item is the single item or the composite item based on the calculated floor area and a reference floor area as the reference item characteristic stored in the memory unit.

6. A sorting system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the controller alerts the user that there is an abnormality in the sorted product when it determines that the product characteristics acquired by the product characteristic acquisition unit differ by a predetermined value or more compared to the standard product characteristics of the product complex and also differ by a predetermined value or more compared to the standard product characteristics of the individual products.

Images