Conveyor
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024543335
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-01-25
- Filing Date
- 2023-01-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-30
AI Technical Summary
When transporting individual items, existing conveying equipment has unoccupied locations, resulting in low utilization of equipment capacity and difficulty in efficiently identifying and allocating idle locations to improve conveying efficiency.
Using a loading unit and detection device with a platform, the idle position and the presence of items are identified through the first and second product detectors, and the controller and driving system are used to transfer the items from the loading unit to the idle position. The platform realizes efficient transportation of items through the tilt of the rotation axis and the action of gravity.
It realizes efficient allocation of items to idle locations, optimizes the capacity utilization rate of the conveying equipment, improves the conveying speed and overall efficiency of the equipment, and supports manual or robotic operation.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device comprising a frame and a conveyor for conveying individual articles to be sorted, said conveyor being drivable in a conveying direction relative to said frame. [Background technology]
[0002] Such conveying devices are known in the prior art. The conveyor of the known conveying device is suitable for transporting individual articles to be sorted. Under operating conditions, it will transport the individual articles at different positions along the conveyor. In practice, there may be several positions on the conveyor that are not occupied and thus suitable for receiving the articles to be sorted.
[0003] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT It is an object of the present invention to provide a large capacity transport device.
[0004] This object is achieved by a conveying apparatus according to the present invention comprising a loading unit for receiving an article, the loading unit being arranged at a position along the conveyor, an article transfer device for transferring an article from the loading unit to the conveyor, a first article detector for detecting an empty space on the conveyor for receiving an article, a second article detector for detecting an article at the loading unit, and a controller having an input for receiving signals from each of the first and second article detectors and an output for sending a control signal to the article transfer device, wherein the controller determines whether or not the first article detector detects an empty space on the conveyor and the second article detector detects an article at the loading unit. wherein the article transfer device is configured to transfer the articles from the loading unit to the vacant location as the vacant location passes the loading unit, wherein the loading unit comprises a platform for supporting articles, the platform being mounted to the frame above the conveyor and tiltable relative to the frame about an axis of rotation between a lying article receiving position and a downward article discharge position, the axis of rotation being at an angle to the conveying direction, and wherein the article transfer device comprises a drive system for tilting the platform from the article receiving position to the article discharge position, thus allowing articles to move downwards relative to the platform onto the conveyor in a direction having a component in the conveying direction.
[0005] An advantage of the conveying device according to the invention is that individual articles can be fed to free places on the conveyor so that the capacity of the conveying device can be optimized. The second article detector detects whether an article is present in the loading unit, so that it is sufficient to feed the article to be sorted to the loading unit. This can be done manually by an operator, it is also possible to apply a robot or the like. The second article detector is configured to detect a unique code of the article fed to the loading unit, so as to track the article during its movement through the conveying device. It is also possible to arrange more than one loading unit along the conveyor.
[0006] In the receiving position of the lying object, the platform may have an orientation in which the object on the platform will not be automatically moved from the platform by gravity. In the discharging position of the object, the platform may have an orientation in which the object will be automatically moved from the platform by gravity. The inclination of the platform in the discharging position of the object relative to the horizontal plane is greater than in the receiving position of the object. For example, the inclination in the discharging position of the object may be 45°, but different angles are possible.
[0007] Since the platform is inclined from the receiving position to the discharge position of the articles such that the articles on the platform can move downwards in a direction having a component in the conveying direction, the articles already have a velocity in the same direction as the conveying direction of the conveyor upon reaching the free position of the conveyor. This provides for the conveyor to be operated at a relatively high speed. In fact, the normal to the upper face or bearing surface of the platform at the discharge position of the articles has a component in the conveying direction.
[0008] Note that the axis of rotation is horizontal to create a downward article ejection position.
[0009] The conveyor may comprise a number of individual carriers located behind one another in the conveying direction, where the first article detector is adapted to detect an empty carrier at a vacant location on the conveyor. Many types of carriers are conceivable. For example, each carrier may comprise a tray that can be tilted to drop articles into a predetermined position along the conveyor, as in the case of so-called "Bomb-bay" or "split tray" sorters, or tilt tray or cross tray sorters, where a pusher moves the articles from the tray, i.e. push tray sorters, are also conceivable.
[0010] The conveyor need not itself function as a sorter: the conveyor may also feed articles to a sorter.
[0011] The platform may be transparent to provide an item identifier beneath the platform to identify an item placed on the platform, for example by reading a bar code.
[0012] In the article receiving position of the platform, an upper or support surface of the platform may extend substantially horizontally.
[0013] The platform may form a bridge above the conveyor, which may be located, for example, 50 cm above the conveyor, such that other passing articles on the conveyor are not blocked by the platform when they are in their receiving position.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the platform is attached to the frame via a support which is attached to the frame and can be tilted relative to the frame about the rotation axis by the drive system, while the platform is movable by the drive system relative to the support in a direction having a component in the conveying direction, in which case articles on the platform can be accelerated at the article release position both by gravity as well as by movement of the platform relative to the support.
[0015] The platform may be movable relative to the support in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
[0016] The controller may be configured to cause the drive system to tilt the support and move the platform synchronously relative to the support.
[0017] The controller may be configured to prevent the article transfer device from being activated if the second article detector identifies more than one article in the loading unit. Further, the controller may generate an alarm to allow an operator to remove one or more articles from the loading unit. It is also possible for the loading unit to include a mechanism for moving one or more articles from the loading unit to a location different from the conveyor.
[0018] The platform may have a flat upper surface to allow the articles to slide or roll downward by gravity when the platform is tilted from the article receiving position to the article discharging position, and the upper surface may be smooth to facilitate the sliding motion.
[0019] The second article detector may be configured to identify the position of the article on the platform in the conveying direction. Based on this position information, the timing of actuating the drive system and / or the speed of the drive system can be adapted so that the article can be transferred exactly to a vacant location. For example, the timing of tilting the platform can be advanced or retarded. In case the article is placed at the upstream end of the platform rather than in the center, the initiation of tilting the platform can be advanced. It is also conceivable to adjust the timing depending on the friction between the platform and the article.
[0020] The apparatus may include a third article detector for identifying a position where an article discharged from the platform reaches the conveyor, and a signal from the third article detector may be a feedback signal to the controller for adjusting the timing of actuation of the drive system or for adjusting the speed of the drive system.
[0021] The platform may be provided with one or more guides for guiding the article during its movement relative to the platform while tilting the platform from the article receiving position to the article discharging position, whereby the article may be forced to follow a predetermined path to the vacant location on the conveyor. The guide or guides may be arranged along the lateral edges of the platform. It is also possible for the guide or guides to form paths converging in the conveying direction, e.g. funnel-shaped.
[0022] The distance between the platform and the conveyor may be greater than 50% of the length of the platform when measured in the conveying direction when the platform is in its article receiving position.
[0023] The second article detector may be configured to identify the article on the platform, for example by scanning a code on the article, by measuring the dimensions of the article or by measuring the weight of the article. The article has time to perform the above-mentioned operations because it is temporarily in a stationary position on the platform before being transferred to its intended vacant location on the conveyor. In practice, the time interval may be relatively long because the actual vacant location, i.e. the vacant location where the individual article is transferred from the platform, passes the loading unit less frequently than the possible vacant location passes the loading unit because some of the possible vacant locations are occupied by articles. For example, if the conveyor comprises a number of individual carriers, in practice only some of the carriers passing the loading unit will be empty, and therefore the frequency with which the empty carrier passes the loading unit will be lower than the frequency with which all carriers, i.e. empty carriers and loaded carriers, pass the loading unit.
[0024] For the same reason, the device may be equipped with means for labelling the articles on the platform, for example by printing a code on the articles.
[0025] The invention will be explained below with reference to the highly schematic drawings showing one embodiment of the invention by way of example. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of one embodiment of a transport device according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing an enlarged portion thereof in a first state. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the part in a second state.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a part of one embodiment of a conveying device 1 according to the invention. The conveying device 1 comprises a frame 2 and a conveyor 3. The conveyor 3 is drivable in a conveying direction X relative to the frame 2. The conveyor 3 comprises a plurality of individual carriers 4 which are connected to each other and which follow a closed loop under operating conditions. The carriers 4 are intended to support and transport each individual article, such that each carrier 4 supports and transports one article. The conveyor 3 is of the type known as a "Bombay" or "split tray" sorter. Each carrier 4 is equipped with a tiltable tray which can be opened to drop articles destined for a given receptacle (not shown) below the conveyor 3.
[0028] The transport device 1 is further provided with a loading unit 5 for receiving the articles. The loading unit 5 is arranged at a position along the conveyor 3 and includes a platform 6 including a flat upper surface for supporting the articles. The platform 6 is arranged above the conveyor 3 and forms a bridge across the conveyor 3. The platform 6 is slidably mounted on a support 7 and is movable relative to the support 7 by a first pneumatic cylinder 8. The support 7 is tiltable relative to the frame 2 about an axis of rotation AR by a second pneumatic cylinder 9. The second pneumatic cylinder 9 is pivotally connected to an arm 10, which is fixed to a shaft, which is fixed to the support 7. The axis of rotation AR extends horizontally and perpendicular to the conveying direction X. The platform 6 is movable relative to the support 7 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation AR. The first pneumatic cylinder 8 and the second pneumatic cylinder 9 form part of an article transport device for transferring articles from the loading unit 5 to the conveyor 3.
[0029] The platform 6 is movable between a lying article receiving position, in which the upper surface of the platform 6 extends substantially horizontally (this state is shown in FIG. 2), and an article releasing position, directed downwards (this state is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3). In the article receiving position, the first pneumatic cylinder 8 and the second pneumatic cylinder 9 are retracted, and in the article releasing position, the first pneumatic cylinder 8 and the second pneumatic cylinder 9 are extended. In the latter state, the platform 6 is therefore tilted about the axis of rotation AR and moves downwards in translation relative to the support 7. When the first pneumatic cylinder 8 moves from the retracted position to the extended position, the platform 6 is moved in a direction having a component in the conveying direction X relative to the support 7. This means that the articles on the platform 6 will be accelerated in the conveying direction X by the translational movement in addition to the acceleration caused by gravity when the platform 6 is inclined relative to the horizontal plane. This allows for a faster article release and therefore a faster conveying speed of the conveyor 3.
[0030] Under normal operating conditions, some of the carriers 4 upstream of the loading unit 5 are already equipped with articles. These loaded carriers 4 pass through the loading unit 5 without tilting the platform 6. Some of the carriers 4 are empty and can be loaded with articles from the platform 6 as they pass through the loading unit 5. When the platform 6 is moved from its article receiving position to its article discharging position, the articles placed on the platform 6 slide or roll downwards relative to the platform 6 and land on the empty carriers 4 passing through the loading unit 5.
[0031] The transport device 1 is provided with a first article detector (not shown) for detecting empty carriers 4 upstream of a loading unit 5 to which articles from a platform 6 can be transferred. The loading unit 5 is provided with a second article detector 11 for detecting articles on the platform 6. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the second article detector 11 is formed by three sensors for identifying articles on the platform 6, but this may be different in alternative embodiments. It is further possible that the platform 6 is transparent and that the second article detector is arranged below the platform 6.
[0032] The transparent platform 6 provides the opportunity to place an item identifier underneath the platform 6 in order to identify an item placed on the platform 6, for example by reading a bar code.
[0033] The transport device 1 is also provided with a controller (not shown) for automatically transferring the articles from the loading unit 5 to the empty carrier 4. The controller has an input for receiving signals from the first and second article detectors 11 and an output for sending control signals to the first pneumatic cylinder 8 and the second pneumatic cylinder 9. The controller is configured such that when the first article detector detects an empty carrier 4 upstream of the loading unit 5 and the second article detector 11 identifies an article on the platform 6, the controller activates the first pneumatic cylinder 8 and the second pneumatic cylinder 9 such that the article is transferred to the empty carrier 4 as it passes the loading unit 5. The article may be placed on the platform 6 manually by an operator or automatically, for example by a robot.
[0034] The sensor of the second article detector 11 is arranged to enable the controller to identify the position of the article on the platform 6 and to adapt the timing and / or speed of actuation of the first pneumatic cylinder 8 and / or the second pneumatic cylinder 9 depending on the position of the article.
[0035] The controller may be configured to deactivate the first pneumatic cylinder 8 and the second pneumatic cylinder 9 when the second article detector 11 identifies more than one article in the loading unit 5. An alarm may then be generated to allow an operator to remove one or more articles from the platform 6. It is also possible for the robot to automatically remove one or more articles from the platform 6.
[0036] Since the platform 6 forms a bridge across the conveyor 3, the required distance between the conveyor 3 and the platform 6 at the receiving position of the articles depends on the maximum height of the articles to be transported by the conveyor 3. The distance may be, for example, 50 cm. In the discharge position of the articles of the platform 6, its upper surface may be inclined at 45° to the horizontal plane, but this may be different. In the latter position, the free end of the platform 6 may be close to the conveyor 3, for example a few cm above it.
[0037] It should be noted that when the platform 6 is in a receiving position for the article and an article is placed on the platform 6, it is easy to apply a label to the article because the article is in a temporary stationary position on the conveyor 3 before being transported to its intended vacant location.
[0038] The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein, but can be varied in different ways within the scope of the claims and their technical equivalents. For example, the conveyor may have a continuous top surface instead of individual carriers, while the first article detector detects empty parts of the top surface instead of empty carriers. It is also possible for the loading unit to have an additional device, for example a pushing device, for removing articles from the platform at the article discharge position.
Claims
1. A conveying apparatus (1) comprising a frame (2), a conveyor (3) for conveying individual articles to be sorted, said conveyor (3) being drivable in a conveying direction (X) relative to said frame (2), a loading unit (5) for receiving the articles, said loading unit (5) being arranged at a position along said conveyor (3), article transfer devices (8-10) for transferring articles from said loading unit (5) to said conveyor (3), and an article transfer device ... a first article detector for detecting an empty space on the conveyor (3), a second article detector (11) for detecting an article in the loading unit (5), and a controller having an input for receiving signals from the first article detector and the second article detector (11) respectively and an output for sending a control signal to the article transfer device (8-10), wherein the controller is configured to control when the first article detector detects an empty space on the conveyor (3) and when the second article detector detects an empty space on the conveyor (3) the article transfer device (8-10) is configured to transfer the article from the loading unit (5) to the vacant location when the article is detected at the loading unit (5) as the vacant location passes the loading unit (5), the loading unit (5) comprising a platform (6) for supporting the article, the platform (6) being attached to the frame (2) above the conveyor (3) and tiltable relative to the frame (2) about an axis of rotation (AR) between a lying article receiving position and a downward article discharge position, the axis of rotation (AR) being at an angle to the conveying direction (X), the article transfer device comprising a drive system (9, 10) for tilting the platform (6) from the article receiving position to the article discharge position, thereby allowing the article to move downward relative to the platform (6) to the conveyor (3) in a direction having a component in the conveying direction (X).
2. 2. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor (3) comprises a plurality of individual carriers (4) positioned behind one another in the conveying direction (X), and wherein the first article detector is adapted to detect an empty carrier (4) in an empty location on the conveyor (3).
3. 3. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the article receiving position, the upper surface of the platform (6) extends substantially horizontally.
4. 3. Conveying device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the axis of rotation (AR) is substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction (X).
5. 3. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the platform (6) is attached to the frame (2) via a support (7) which is attached to the frame (2) and tiltable relative to the frame (2) about the axis of rotation (AR) by means of the drive system (8-10), while the platform (6) is movable relative to the support (7) by means of the drive system (8-10) in a direction having a component in the conveying direction (X).
6. 6. The transport device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the platform (6) is movable relative to the support (7) in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation (AR).
7. 6. The transport device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the controller is configured such that the drive system (8-10) tilts the support (7) and moves the platform (6) synchronously relative to the support (7).
8. 3. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the controller is configured to prevent the article transfer device (8-10) from being activated if the second article detector (11) identifies more than one article in the loading unit (5).
9. 3. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the platform (6) has a flat upper surface so as to allow the articles to slide or roll downward by gravity when the platform (6) is tilted from the article receiving position to the article discharging position.
10. 3. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second article detector (11) is configured to identify the position of an article on the platform (6) in the conveying direction (X).
11. 3. A conveying device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device (1) is provided with a third article detector for identifying the position at which the article released from the platform (11) reaches the conveyor (3).
12. 3. A conveying device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the platform (11) and the conveyor (3) is greater than 50% of the length of the platform (6) when measured in the conveying direction when the platform (6) is in its article receiving position.
13. 3. The conveying device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second article detector (11) is configured to identify an article on the platform (11), for example by scanning a code on the article, by measuring the dimensions of the article or by measuring the weight of the article.
14. 3. A conveying device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device (1) is provided with means for labelling the articles on the platform (11), for example by printing a code on the articles.