Article direction turning device

Abstract

To provide an article direction turning device capable of reducing force for pushing an article.SOLUTION: An article direction turning device comprises a push-out member, a driven rotary body and a push-out drive mechanism. The push-out member can push out an article, mounted on a plurality of conveyor rotary bodies arranged mutually at intervals in a first direction crossing a perpendicular direction and conveyed in the first direction by the conveyor rotary bodies, from on the plurality of conveyor rotary bodies in a second direction crossing the perpendicular direction and the first direction. The driven rotary body is mounted with the article pushed by the push-out member, and rotates together as the article is moved in the second direction. The push-out drive mechanism drives the push-out member with the article mounted on the driven rotary body to push the article out from on the driven rotary body by the push-out member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention relates to an article redirection device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, an article direction changing device has been known that is installed in a conveying device and changes the movement direction (conveying direction) of articles by pushing articles conveyed by multiple conveying rotors out of the multiple conveying rotors using a push-out member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-327816 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-152025 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In this type of article diverter, it would be beneficial to reduce the pushing force on the articles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An article redirection device according to an embodiment includes a pusher member, a driven rotor, and a pusher drive mechanism. The pusher member is capable of pushing articles, which are placed on a plurality of conveying rotors arranged at intervals in a first direction intersecting a vertical direction and are conveyed in the first direction by the conveying rotors, from the plurality of conveying rotors in a second direction intersecting the vertical direction and the first direction. The driven rotor carries the articles to be pushed by the pusher member and rotates as the articles move in the second direction. The pusher drive mechanism drives the pusher member to push the articles off the driven rotors while the articles are placed on the driven rotor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an article sorting apparatus according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the article sorting device of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view showing the article sorting device of the first embodiment, showing a state in which the push-up section pushes up articles. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the article direction changing operation by the article direction changing device of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a front view showing the article redirecting device of the first embodiment in an exploded state. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view showing the article redirecting device of the first embodiment in an exploded state. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a front view showing a part of the article redirecting device of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view showing a push-out member and a conveying rotor of the article direction changing device of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the article sorting apparatus of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing executed by the control unit of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a movement mechanism according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the article sorting apparatus of the second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a conveying rotor according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description does not limit the technology of the present disclosure. In the following description, the same components are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0008] The drawings are schematic, and the dimensional relationships and ratios of elements may differ from reality. Furthermore, the drawings may include portions in which the dimensional relationships and ratios differ from one another.

[0009] First Embodiment Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an article sorting apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment, and Fig. 2 is a side view showing the article sorting apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the article sorting device 1 includes a conveying section 2, a plurality of (for example, two) article redirecting devices 3A, 3B, and a plurality of (for example, two) chutes 4A, 4B. The conveying section 2 conveys articles 100 (see Figure 3). The article redirecting devices 3A, 3B push the articles 100 conveyed by the conveying section 2 from the conveying section 2 to the chutes 4A, 4B. Hereinafter, the article redirecting devices 3A, 3B will be collectively referred to as article redirecting device 3, and the chutes 4A, 4B will be collectively referred to as chute 4. The articles 100 are, for example, deliveries such as mail. However, the articles 100 are not limited to the above. The articles 100 may also be parcels, merchandise, products, parts, components, etc.

[0011] As shown in the drawings, for convenience, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are defined in this specification. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are perpendicular to one another. The X-axis is set along the direction in which the article 100 is conveyed by the conveying section 2. The Y-axis is set along the width direction of the conveying section 2. The Z-axis is set along the height direction (vertical direction) of the conveying section 2.

[0012] Furthermore, in this specification, the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are defined. The X direction is a direction along the X axis, and includes the +X direction indicated by the X axis arrow and the -X direction opposite to the X axis arrow. The Y direction is a direction along the Y axis, and includes the +Y direction indicated by the Y axis arrow and the -Y direction opposite to the Y axis arrow. The Z direction is a direction along the Z axis, and includes the +Z direction indicated by the Z axis arrow and the -Z direction opposite to the Z axis arrow. The +X direction is an example of a first direction, and the +Y direction is an example of a second direction.

[0013] In the following description, the +Z direction is defined as the vertically upward direction, and the -Z direction is defined as the vertically downward direction.

[0014] The conveying unit 2 is, for example, a roller conveyor and has a plurality of conveying rotators 10. The plurality of conveying rotators 10 are arranged at intervals from one another in a +X direction (first direction) that intersects with the vertical direction (Z direction). The conveying rotators 10 are provided so as to be rotatable about a rotation center axis Ax1 along the Y direction. The conveying rotators 10 are, for example, cylindrical rollers centered on the rotation center axis Ax1. Note that the conveying rotators 10 are not limited to the above. The plurality of conveying rotators 10 rotate in the forward direction about the rotation center axis Ax1 to convey the articles 100 placed on the plurality of conveying rotators 10 in the +X direction. In other words, the +X direction is the direction in which the conveying rotators 10 convey the articles 100.

[0015] The chutes 4A and 4B are disposed on the +Y direction side of the conveying section 2. The chutes 4A and 4B are arranged at an interval from each other in the X direction. The chutes 4A and 4B receive the articles 100.

[0016] The article direction changing devices 3A and 3B are provided in areas adjacent to the chutes 4A and 4B in the conveying section 2. The article direction changing devices 3A and 3B are arranged at an interval from each other in the X direction and are aligned with the chutes 4A and 4B in the Y direction.

[0017] Fig. 3 is a side view showing the article sorting device 1 of the first embodiment, showing a state in which the push-up section 20 pushes up the article 100. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the direction change operation of the article 100 by the article direction change device 3 of the first embodiment.

[0018] 1 to 4, the article direction changing device 3 has a booster 20 and a pusher 21. The article direction changing device 3 pushes up the article 100 conveyed by the conveyor 2 in the vertical direction (+Z direction) using the booster 20 (FIG. 3), and pushes the pushed-up article 100 from the conveyor 2 to the chute 4 using the pusher 21 (FIG. 4).

[0019] Fig. 5 is a front view showing an exploded state of the article redirecting device 3 of the first embodiment. Fig. 6 is a side view showing an exploded state of the article redirecting device 3 of the first embodiment.

[0020] 1, 2, 5, and 6, the lift-up unit 20 has a plurality of ball casters 22 and a movement mechanism 40 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The ball casters 22 are also referred to as supports.

[0021] The plurality of ball casters 22 are provided between two adjacent conveying rotators 10 in the +X direction. As an example, the plurality of ball casters 22 are arranged in a row between each of the plurality of conveying rotators 10 adjacent to the chute 4 in the Y direction. In this embodiment, four rows extending in the Y direction and made up of a plurality of ball casters 22 are provided in one article direction changing device 3.

[0022] The ball caster 22 has a base 23 and a driven rotor 24. The driven rotor 24 is, for example, a sphere. The driven rotor 24 is supported by the base 23 with its upper portion protruding from the base 23 in the +Z direction, i.e., upward. The driven rotor 24 is supported by the base 23 so as to be rotatable in all directions around a rotation center C1 (FIG. 1), which is the center point of the driven rotor 24. Therefore, the driven rotor 24 can rotate around a rotation center axis Ax2 that passes through the rotation center C1 and runs along the X direction. In the above configuration, the driven rotor 24 is provided between two conveying rotors 10 adjacent to each other in the +X direction.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the movement mechanism 40 includes a movable member 41, a leg member 42, a rotating body 43, a guide member 44, a cam 45, a drive source 46, and a shaft 49.

[0024] The movable member 41 is, for example, a plate whose thickness direction is the vertical direction (Z direction). The movable member 41 supports a plurality of ball casters 22. Specifically, bases 23 of the plurality of ball casters 22 are fixed to the upper surface of the movable member 41. The leg members 42 extend downward from the movable member 41, i.e., in the -Z direction. The rotating body 43 is rotatably supported at the lower end of the leg members 42. The movable member 41, leg members 42, and rotating body 43 are supported by guide members 44 so as to be movable in the vertical direction, i.e., the Z direction. The movable member 41, leg members 42, and rotating body 43 move together in the vertical direction.

[0025] The cam 45 is located below the rotating body 43 and is in contact with the rotating body 43. The cam 45 is rotated by being driven by a driving source 46 via a shaft 49. The driving source 46 is, for example, a motor.

[0026] The movement mechanism 40 is supported by a base 30. The base 30 has a lower base 31 and an upper base 32. The lower base 31 is provided with support portions 47 and 48. The drive source 46 is fixed to the support portion 47. Furthermore, the shaft 49 is rotatably supported by the support portion 48. The upper base 32 is coupled to the upper base 32 on the upper side of the lower base 31. The upper base 32 rotatably supports the conveying rotor 10.

[0027] In the moving mechanism 40 configured as described above, the rotating body 43 moves vertically in response to the rotation of the cam 45 rotated by the driving source 46, and thus the movable member 41 moves vertically. At this time, the plurality of ball casters 22 move vertically together with the movable member 41. That is, the moving mechanism 40 moves the driven rotating body 24 vertically. The moving mechanism 40 can move the driven rotating body 24 between a first position P1 (FIG. 2) and a second position P2 (FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 2, the first position P1 is a position where the vertical position, i.e., Z direction, of the upper end 24a of the driven rotating body 24 is the same as the vertical position, i.e., Z direction, of the upper end 10a of the conveying rotating body 10, or a position lower than the vertical position of the upper end 10a of the conveying rotating body 10. 2 shows an example in which the first position P1 is a position in which the vertical direction (i.e., Z direction) of the upper end 24a of the driven rotor 24 is lower than the vertical direction (i.e., Z direction) of the upper end 10a of the conveying rotor 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the second position P2 is a position in which the vertical direction (i.e., Z direction) of the upper end 24a of the driven rotor 24 is higher than the vertical direction position of the upper end 10a of the conveying rotor 10. The first position P1 is also referred to as the lower position, and the second position P2 is also referred to as the upper position.

[0028] The driven rotor 24 carries the article 100 to be pushed by the push-out member 25. In detail, when the driven rotor 24 moves from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the article 100 is placed on the upper end 24a. When the driven rotor 24 is located at the second position P2, the article 100 is placed only on the driven rotor 24. The driven rotor 24 rotates (is rotated) in conjunction with at least the movement of the article 100 in the +Y direction.

[0029] Fig. 7 is a front view showing a part of the article direction changing device 3 of the first embodiment. Fig. 8 is a side view showing the push-out member 25 and the conveying rotor 10 of the article direction changing device 3 of the first embodiment.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the pushing unit 21 includes a pushing member 25 and a pushing drive mechanism 60.

[0031] The push-out member 25 is, for example, a plate whose thickness direction is in the Y direction. The push-out member 25 is located on the opposite side of the chute 4 with respect to the conveying section 2. The push-out member 25 is also located above the conveying rotor 10. The push-out member 25 is supported by a push-out drive mechanism 60 so as to be movable in the Y direction.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 8, the pusher member 25 has a base 25a and a plurality of protrusions 25b. The base 25a is formed, for example, in the shape of a rectangular plate. The protrusions 25b protrude downward from the lower end of the base 25a. The protrusions 25b are arranged at intervals in the X direction. The pusher member 25 also has a plurality of recesses 25c arranged at intervals in the X direction. Each recess 25c is provided between two adjacent protrusions 25b. That is, the protrusions 25b and the recesses 25c are alternately positioned in the X direction. The protrusions 25b and the recesses 25c form a comb-like structure. The recesses 25c penetrate the pusher member 25 in the Y direction and are open downward. As shown in FIG. 3, the driven rotor 24 located at the second position P2 is received in the recesses 25c.

[0033] The pushing member 25 is capable of pushing out the articles 100, which are placed on the plurality of conveying rotators 10 and conveyed by the conveying rotators 10 in the +X direction, from above the plurality of conveying rotators 10 in the +Y direction.

[0034] The extrusion drive mechanism 60 shown in FIG. 7 drives the extrusion member 25 in the Y direction. Specifically, the extrusion drive mechanism 60 has a drive source 61. The drive source 61 is, for example, an air cylinder. The drive source 61 has a main body 61a and a movable part 61b supported on the main body 61a so as to be movable in the Y direction. The extrusion member 25 is fixed to the tip of the movable part 61b. The drive source 61 moves the movable part 61b in the Y direction, thereby moving the extrusion member 25 in the Y direction. The drive source 61 is supported by a base 62.

[0035] The push-out drive mechanism 60 configured as described above drives the push-out member 25 to push the article 100 out from the driven rotor 24 when the article 100 is placed on the driven rotor 24. In particular, in this embodiment, when the driven rotor 24 is located at the second position P2 and the article 100 is placed only on the driven rotor 24, the push-out drive mechanism 60 drives the push-out member 25 to push the article 100 out from the driven rotor 24.

[0036] Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the article sorting apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 9, the article sorting apparatus 1 includes a control unit 70, a storage device 71, a sensor unit 72, and drive sources 46, 61, and 73. The control unit 70, the storage device 71, the sensor unit 72, and the drive sources 46, 61, and 73 are connected to each other so as to be able to exchange data or signals.

[0037] The storage device 71 stores various types of information and is a known storage medium.

[0038] The sensor unit 72 is capable of detecting information relating to the article 100. The information relating to the article 100 includes the shape, position, image, etc. of the article 100. The sensor unit 72 includes, for example, a position sensor and an image sensor.

[0039] The driving source 73 drives and rotates the conveying rotor 10. The driving source 73 is, for example, a motor.

[0040] The control unit 70 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). In other words, the control unit 70 is a computer. The CPU reads and executes programs stored in the ROM, etc. The CPU is also configured to be able to process various types of arithmetic processing in parallel. The RAM temporarily stores various types of data used when the CPU executes programs and performs various types of arithmetic processing. The control unit 70 controls the entire article sorting apparatus 1, including the article direction changing device 3. In other words, the control unit 70 controls the entire article sorting apparatus 1, including the article direction changing device 3. In other words, it is a control unit for the article sorting apparatus 1 as well as a control unit for the article direction changing device 3.

[0041] Next, a sorting process, which is an example of a process executed by the control unit 70, will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing a process executed by the control unit 70 of the first embodiment.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 70 determines whether the item 100 being conveyed by the conveying unit 2 has reached a predetermined target sorting area (S101). The target sorting area is a predetermined area of ​​the conveying unit 2 adjacent to the chute 4. The control unit 70 determines whether the item 100 being conveyed by the conveying unit 2 has reached the predetermined target sorting area based on the detection result of the sensor unit 72. If the item 100 being conveyed by the conveying unit 2 has not reached the predetermined target sorting area (S101: No), the control unit 70 repeats the processing of S101.

[0043] When the control unit 70 determines that the article 100 has reached the target sorting area (S101: Yes), it drives the drive source 46 to move the ball caster 22 from the first position P1 to the second position P2 using the movement mechanism 40 (S102). As a result, the article 100 is placed on the driven rotor 24 of the ball caster 22 and moves away from the conveying rotor 10 (FIGS. 3 and 4(a)).

[0044] Next, the control unit 70 drives the drive source 61 to move the push-out member 25 in the +Y direction, which is the sorting direction, using the push-out drive mechanism 60 (S103). As a result, the push-out member 25 pushes the article 100 placed on the driven rotor 24 out from the driven rotor 24 and moves it to the chute 4 (FIG. 4(b) and (c)). That is, with the article 100 placed on the driven rotor 24, the push-out drive mechanism 60 drives the push-out member 25 to push the article 100 out from the driven rotor 24. At this time, since the recess 25c is provided, the push-out member 25 and the ball caster 22 do not interfere with each other. At this time, the driven rotor 24 rotates together with the movement of the article 100 in the +Y direction. Furthermore, when an article 100 being pushed in the -Y direction moves in the +X direction due to the inertial force caused by conveyance in the +X direction while also moving in the +Y direction, i.e., when the article 100 moves in a diagonal direction toward both the +X and +Y directions, the driven rotor 24 rotates along with the movement. In this way, the article direction changing device 3 changes the moving direction of the article 100 from the +X direction to the +Y direction. Note that in S103, the conveying rotor 10 may be rotating or may be stationary.

[0045] Next, the control unit 70 returns the pushing member 25 and the ball caster 22 to their original positions (S104). That is, the control unit 70 moves the pushing member 25 in the −Y direction relative to the conveying unit 2, and moves the ball caster 22 to the first position P1.

[0046] As described above, the article direction changing device 3 of this embodiment includes a pusher member 25, a driven rotor 24, and a pusher drive mechanism 60. The pusher member 25 can push articles 100, which are placed on a plurality of conveying rotors 10 arranged at intervals in the +X direction (first direction) intersecting the vertical direction (Z direction) and are conveyed in the +X direction by the conveying rotors 10, from the conveying rotors 10 in the +Y direction (second direction) intersecting the vertical direction (Z direction) and the +X direction. The driven rotor 24 carries the article 100 to be pushed by the pusher member 25, and rotates as the article 100 moves in the +Y direction. The pusher drive mechanism 60 drives the pusher member 25 to push the article 100 out of the driven rotor 24 when the article 100 is placed on the driven rotor 24.

[0047] According to this configuration, when the pushing member 25 driven by the pusher drive mechanism 60 pushes out a plurality of articles 100 in the +Y direction from the conveying rotor 10, the driven rotor 24 rotates along with the movement of the articles 100 in the +Y direction while supporting the articles 100, thereby reducing the frictional force associated with the movement of the articles 100 compared to a configuration in which the driven rotor 24 is not provided. Therefore, the force with which the pushing member 25 pushes the articles 100 can be reduced. This leads to energy savings in the article direction changing device 3. Furthermore, according to the above configuration, even relatively heavy articles 100 can be easily pushed out by the pushing member 25. Therefore, articles 100 of various weights can be easily pushed out by the pushing member 25.

[0048] Furthermore, the push-out drive mechanism 60 drives the push-out member 25 to push the article 100 out from the driven rotor 24 while the article 100 is placed only on the driven rotor 24 .

[0049] With this configuration, the force with which the pusher member 25 pushes the article 100 can be further reduced.

[0050] The article direction changing device 3 also includes a moving mechanism 40. The moving mechanism 40 moves the driven rotor 24 in the vertical direction (Z direction). The driven rotor 24 is provided between two adjacent conveying rotors 10 in the +X direction (first direction). The moving mechanism 40 can move the driven rotor 24 between a first position P1 and a second position P2. At the first position P1, the vertical (Z direction) position of the upper end 24a of the driven rotor 24 is the same as or lower than the vertical (Z direction) position of the upper end 10a of the conveying rotor 10. At the second position P2, the vertical (Z direction) position of the upper end 24a of the driven rotor 24 is higher than the vertical (Z direction) position of the upper end 10a of the conveying rotor 10. The extrusion drive mechanism 60 drives the extrusion member 25 to cause the extrusion member 25 to extrude the article 100 from the driven rotor 24 while the driven rotor 24 has been moved to the second position P2 by the moving mechanism 40 and the article 100 is placed on the driven rotor 24.

[0051] According to this configuration, when the article 100 is placed on the driven rotor 24 that has been moved to the second position P2, the push-out drive mechanism 60 drives the push-out member 25 to cause the push-out member 25 to push the article 100 out from the driven rotor 24, so that the article 100 can be pushed out while being separated from the conveying rotor 10. This makes it possible to further reduce the frictional force associated with the movement of the article 100, and further reduce the force with which the push-out member 25 pushes the article 100.

[0052] Further, the pushing member 25 is provided with a recess 25c into which the driven rotor 24 positioned at the second position P2 is inserted.

[0053] With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the passive rotating body from colliding with the pushing member 25.

[0054] Next, a modified example will be described. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a moving mechanism 40 of a modified example of the first embodiment. The moving mechanism 40 of this modified example is provided with a jack 201 instead of the cam 45. A movable member 41 is coupled to the upper end of the jack 201. The jack 201 is, for example, a screw-type jack. The moving mechanism 40 rotates the screw of the jack 201 using a drive source 46. This changes the height of the jack 201, and the jack 201 moves the movable member 41 and therefore the ball caster 22 in the vertical direction.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the pushing member 25 pushes the article 100 while the ball caster 22 is moved to the second position P2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the pushing member 25 may push the article 100 while the vertical, i.e., Z-direction, position of the upper end 24a of the driven rotor 24 is the same as the vertical, i.e., Z-direction, position of the upper end 10a of the conveying rotor 10. Even in this case, the article 100 is supported by the driven rotor 302 and the conveying rotor 10. Therefore, compared to when the article 100 is supported only by the conveying rotor 10, the load on the conveying rotor 10 is reduced, and the frictional force generated between the conveying rotor 10 and the article 100 can be reduced. Therefore, the force with which the pushing member 25 pushes the article 100 can be reduced.

[0056] In addition, in this embodiment, the driven rotor 302 is shown as an example of a boost member that contacts the article 100 and pushes the article 100 up in the +Z direction, but this is not limiting. For example, the boost member may be a non-rotating member. For example, the boost member may be the base 23. In other words, the driven rotor 302 does not have to be provided.

[0057] <Second embodiment> Fig. 12 is a plan view showing an article sorting device 1 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a conveying rotor 10 according to the second embodiment.

[0058] The present embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 differs from the first embodiment mainly in the conveying rotator 10. Of the multiple conveying rotators 10, multiple conveying rotators 10A adjacent to the chute 4 are configured as omniwheels. Specifically, the conveying rotator 10A has a support 301 and multiple driven rotators 302. The support 301 is rotatable about a rotation center axis Ax1. The driven rotators 302 are rollers. The multiple driven rotators 302 are arranged in a staggered pattern about the rotation center axis Ax1. The driven rotators 302 are supported by the support 301 to be rotatable about a rotation center axis Ax3. The axial direction of the rotation center axis Ax3 is perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotation center axis Ax1. In this embodiment, the conveying rotator 10A is included in the article direction changing device 3.

[0059] In the conveying rotator 10A, the article 100 is placed on the driven rotator 302. That is, in the conveying rotator 10A, only the driven rotator 302 comes into contact with the article 100, and the support 301 does not come into contact with the article 100.

[0060] Furthermore, the protrusion 25b of the pushing member 25 in this embodiment protrudes between two conveying rotors 10A adjacent to each other in the +X direction (first direction).

[0061] In addition, in this embodiment, the moving mechanism 40 of the first embodiment is not provided.

[0062] In the above configuration, the rotating conveying body 10A rotates around the central axis of rotation Ax1, thereby conveying the article 100 on the driven rotating body 302 in the +X direction.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 70 moves the push-out member 25 in the +Y direction while stopping the rotation of the conveying rotor 10A around the central axis of rotation Ax1. This causes the article 100 on the driven rotor 302 to move in the +Y direction. At this time, the driven rotor 24 rotates in conjunction with the movement of the article 100 in the +Y direction.

[0064] As described above, according to this embodiment, the article direction changing device 3 includes the conveying rotator 10. The driven rotator 24 is provided on the conveying rotator 10.

[0065] According to this configuration, the configuration of the article direction changing device 3 can be easily simplified.

[0066] Further, the pushing member 25 has a protrusion 25b that protrudes between two of the conveying rotors 10 that are adjacent to each other in the +X direction (first direction).

[0067] With this configuration, even if the article 100 is relatively thin, the pushing member 25 can reliably push the article 100 .

[0068] In the above embodiments, the article direction changing device 3 pushes the articles 100 into the chute 4, but this is not limiting. For example, the article direction changing device 3 may push the articles 100 into a conveying section other than the conveying section 2.

[0069] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions and their equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 3, 3A, 3B...article direction changing device, 10, 10A...conveying rotor, 10a...upper end, 24...driven rotor, 24a...upper end, 25...extrusion member, 40...movement mechanism, 60...extrusion drive mechanism, 25c...recess, 25b...protrusion, 100...article, P1...first position, P2...second position.

Claims

1. a push-out member that can push out articles placed on a plurality of conveying rotators that are arranged at intervals in a first direction intersecting a vertical direction and that are conveyed in the first direction by the conveying rotators from the plurality of conveying rotators in a second direction intersecting the vertical direction and the first direction; a driven rotor on which the article to be pushed by the pushing member is placed and which rotates as the article moves in the second direction; a push-out drive mechanism that drives the push-out member to push the article off of the driven rotor while the article is placed on the driven rotor; An article redirection device comprising:

2. the push-out drive mechanism drives the push-out member to push the article out of the driven rotor while the article is placed only on the driven rotor; 2. The article redirection device of claim 1.

3. a movement mechanism that moves the driven rotor in the vertical direction, the driven rotor is provided between two of the conveying rotors adjacent to each other in the first direction, the moving mechanism is capable of moving the driven rotor between a first position where the vertical position of the upper end of the driven rotor is the same as the vertical position of the upper end of the conveying rotor or lower than the vertical position of the upper end of the conveying rotor, and a second position where the vertical position of the upper end of the driven rotor is higher than the vertical position of the upper end of the conveying rotor, the push-out drive mechanism drives the push-out member to push the article out of the driven rotor, which has been moved to the second position by the movement mechanism, while the article is placed on the driven rotor.

2. The article redirection device of claim 1.

4. the push-out member is provided with a recess into which the driven rotor positioned at the second position can be accommodated; 4. The article redirection device of claim 3.

5. The conveying rotor is provided, The driven rotor is provided on the conveying rotor, 2. The article redirection device of claim 1.

6. the pushing member has a protrusion protruding between the two conveying rotors adjacent to each other in the first direction; 6. The article redirection device of claim 5.

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