Automatic sorting apparatus

Abstract

To provide an automatic sorting device comprising a roller conveyor capable of conveying an object to be conveyed not only in a forward direction F and a direction opposite to the forward direction F but also in both width directions with respect to a traveling direction (forward direction F) of the roller conveyor.SOLUTION: This automatic sorting device has a roller conveyor 11 characterized by obliquely installing a unit roller unit 41 to a roller shaft 22 on a surface of a roller 21, and obliquely installing the unit roller unit 41 to the roller shaft 22 in line symmetry in a plan view with a boundary J with the adjacent roller 21 as a boundary in the adjacent roller 21.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic sorting device, particularly to an automatic sorting device using a conveyor, and more particularly to an automatic sorting device using a roller conveyor. [Background technology]

[0002] When conveying an object by a conveyor and changing the conveying direction laterally, an arc-shaped conveying track as described in Patent Document 1 is generally provided. The "fruit transfer and distribution device" described in Patent Document 2 "relates to a fruit transfer and distribution device that distributes and discharges a predetermined amount of fruit to one side during transport on a conveyor that carries and transfers the fruit." Therefore, it relates to a "fruit transfer and distribution device that is a conveyor that has a series of parallel rotating rolls that transfer fruit on the upper surfaces of the rolls and distributes the fruit to one outlet at appropriate intervals during transport, and the rolls facing each outlet are provided with a delivery roll surface that has a fruit transfer component toward the outlet side, and the rolls that are provided between the front and rear outlets are provided with a delivery roll surface at the rear side that has a fruit transfer component toward the outlet side."

[0003] Furthermore, "the delivery roll surface is configured so that the fruit transport force toward the exit side is longer as it approaches the conveyor's transport direction," and "the delivery roll surface forms a fruit transport force from the back side toward the exit side that is longer as it approaches the conveyor's transport direction." Furthermore, it states that "Each of the outlets (1), (2), (3), and (4) is opened in the machine frame (10) on one side of the conveyor (5), facing the valley between the front and rear rolls (6), (6), and is an opening large enough to allow the fruit to be transferred outward one fruit at a time, and each of these openings is connected to a processing device (11) such as a juicer by a passage (12)." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-62430 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 56-017815 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the conveyor described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it requires space for installation. The "fruit transport and distribution device" described in Patent Document 2 is not a device that sorts fruits using the roller conveyor itself. The present invention is based on these findings. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This invention is Rollers that impart a driving force to the transported object are arranged in a forward direction, which is the direction in which the transported object is transported, in a direction oblique to the rotation direction of the rotation shaft, and A roller conveyor in which adjacent rollers are sequentially installed symmetrically with respect to the boundary between adjacent rollers in the forward direction and the reverse direction relative to the forward direction, with the oblique conveying direction being the boundary, When conveying objects in the forward direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers rotate in the forward direction. When transporting objects in the reverse direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers are rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction. When a roller conveyor transports an object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers are rotated so that they rotate in opposite directions. An automatic sorting apparatus having a roller conveyor, wherein when conveying an object in the other width direction by the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers rotate in opposite directions to each other compared to when conveying an object in one width direction, The automatic sorting device is provided with a reading device that reads information about the transported objects transported by the roller conveyor at a sorting position for the transported objects, and when the reading device detects the transported object to be sorted at the sorting position, the roller conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the transported object in the width direction. is provided.

[0007] This invention is A unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit rotatable on a unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit assembly having a plurality of unit roller units attached thereto; a rotation axis of the unit roller unit assembly; and a roller having the rotation axis; A roller conveyor that sequentially arranges and places conveyed objects in a forward direction, which is a direction in which the objects are conveyed by rollers, and conveys the placed conveyed objects, the rotation shafts of the unit roller units are attached inclined at the same angle with respect to the rotation shafts of the unit roller unit assemblies, the inclination angles of the unit roller units attached to the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies are set by sequentially arranging the unit roller units symmetrically with respect to the boundary between the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies such that the oblique conveying directions are in the forward direction and in the reverse direction to the forward direction, When the roller conveyor is used to transport an object in the forward direction, the rotation shafts of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the forward direction. When the roller conveyor is used to transport the object in the reverse direction, the rotation axes of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction. When the roller conveyor conveys the object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, the rotation axes of the adjacent roller unit assemblies are rotated so as to rotate in opposite directions, An automatic sorting apparatus having a roller conveyor that rotates in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction, so that the rotation axes of adjacent roller unit assemblies rotate in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction, The automatic sorting device is provided with a reading device that reads information about the transported objects transported by the roller conveyor at a sorting position for the transported objects, and when the reading device detects the transported object to be sorted at the sorting position, the roller conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the transported object in the width direction. is provided.

[0008] This invention is Rollers that impart a driving force to the transported object are arranged in a forward direction, which is the direction in which the transported object is transported, in a direction oblique to the rotation direction of the rotation shaft, and A roller conveyor in which adjacent rollers are sequentially installed symmetrically with respect to the boundary between adjacent rollers in the forward direction and the reverse direction relative to the forward direction, with the oblique conveying direction being the boundary, When conveying objects in the forward direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers rotate in the forward direction. When transporting objects in the reverse direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers are rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction. When a roller conveyor transports an object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers are rotated so that they rotate in opposite directions. An automatic sorting device having a sorting conveyor consisting of a roller conveyor, in which when conveying an object in the other width direction by the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers rotate in opposite directions from when conveying the object in one width direction, The sorting conveyor is provided with a reading device at a sorting position for the transported objects that reads information about the transported objects being transported by the roller conveyor, and when the reading device detects the transported objects to be sorted at the sorting position, the sorting conveyor consisting of the roller conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the transported objects in the width direction, an automatic sorting device, characterized in that a conveyor is provided at a position where the sorting conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the conveyed objects in the width direction; is provided.

[0009] This invention is Rollers that impart a driving force to the transported object are arranged in a forward direction, which is the direction in which the transported object is transported, in a direction oblique to the rotation direction of the rotation shaft, and A roller conveyor in which adjacent rollers are sequentially installed symmetrically with respect to the boundary between adjacent rollers in the forward direction and the reverse direction relative to the forward direction, with the oblique conveying direction being the boundary, When conveying objects in the forward direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers rotate in the forward direction. When transporting objects in the reverse direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers are rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction. When a roller conveyor transports an object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers are rotated so that they rotate in opposite directions. An automatic sorting device having a sorting conveyor consisting of a roller conveyor, in which when conveying an object in the other width direction by the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers rotate in opposite directions from when conveying the object in one width direction, The sorting conveyor is provided with a reading device at a sorting position for the transported objects that reads information about the transported objects being transported by the roller conveyor, and when the reading device detects the transported objects to be sorted at the sorting position, the sorting conveyor consisting of the roller conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the transported objects in the width direction, At a position where the sorting conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the conveyed objects in the width direction, Rollers that impart a driving force to the transported object are arranged in a forward direction, which is the direction in which the transported object is transported, in a direction oblique to the rotation direction of the rotation shaft, and A roller conveyor in which adjacent rollers are sequentially installed symmetrically with respect to the boundary between adjacent rollers in the forward direction and the reverse direction relative to the forward direction, with the oblique conveying direction being the boundary, When conveying objects in the forward direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers rotate in the forward direction. When transporting objects in the reverse direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers are rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction. When a roller conveyor transports an object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers are rotated so that they rotate in opposite directions. an automatic sorting device provided with a sorting conveyor consisting of a roller conveyor, in which when the roller conveyor is used to transport the transported object in the other width direction, the adjacent rollers are rotated in opposite directions to each other when transporting the transported object in one width direction; is provided.

[0010] This invention is A unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit rotatable on a unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit assembly having a plurality of unit roller units attached thereto; a rotation axis of the unit roller unit assembly; and a roller having the rotation axis; A roller conveyor that sequentially arranges and places conveyed objects in a forward direction, which is a direction in which the objects are conveyed by rollers, and conveys the placed conveyed objects, the rotation shafts of the unit roller units are attached inclined at the same angle with respect to the rotation shafts of the unit roller unit assemblies, the inclination angles of the unit roller units attached to the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies are set by sequentially arranging the unit roller units symmetrically with respect to the boundary between the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies such that the oblique conveying directions are in the forward direction and in the reverse direction to the forward direction, When the roller conveyor is used to transport an object in the forward direction, the rotation shafts of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the forward direction. When the roller conveyor is used to transport the object in the reverse direction, the rotation axes of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction. When the roller conveyor conveys the object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, the rotation axes of the adjacent roller unit assemblies are rotated so as to rotate in opposite directions, An automatic sorting device having a sorting conveyor consisting of a roller conveyor that rotates in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction, so that when conveying an object in the other width direction by the roller conveyor, the rotation axes of adjacent roller unit assemblies rotate in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction, The sorting conveyor is provided with a reading device at a sorting position for the transported objects that reads information about the transported objects being transported by the roller conveyor, and when the reading device detects the transported objects to be sorted at the sorting position, the sorting conveyor consisting of the roller conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the transported objects in the width direction, an automatic sorting device, characterized in that a conveyor is provided at a position where the sorting conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the conveyed objects in the width direction; is provided.

[0011] This invention is A unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit rotatable on a unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit assembly having a plurality of unit roller units attached thereto; a rotation axis of the unit roller unit assembly; and a roller having the rotation axis; A roller conveyor that sequentially arranges and places conveyed objects in a forward direction, which is a direction in which the objects are conveyed by rollers, and conveys the placed conveyed objects, the rotation shafts of the unit roller units are attached inclined at the same angle with respect to the rotation shafts of the unit roller unit assemblies, the inclination angles of the unit roller units attached to the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies are set by sequentially arranging the unit roller units symmetrically with respect to the boundary between the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies such that the oblique conveying directions are in the forward direction and in the reverse direction to the forward direction, When the roller conveyor is used to transport an object in the forward direction, the rotation shafts of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the forward direction. When the roller conveyor is used to transport the object in the reverse direction, the rotation axes of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction. When the roller conveyor conveys the object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, the rotation axes of the adjacent roller unit assemblies are rotated so as to rotate in opposite directions, An automatic sorting device having a sorting conveyor consisting of a roller conveyor that rotates in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction, so that when conveying an object in the other width direction by the roller conveyor, the rotation axes of adjacent roller unit assemblies rotate in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction, The sorting conveyor is provided with a reading device at a sorting position for the transported objects that reads information about the transported objects being transported by the roller conveyor, and when the reading device detects the transported objects to be sorted at the sorting position, the sorting conveyor consisting of the roller conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the transported objects in the width direction, At a position where the sorting conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the conveyed objects in the width direction, A unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit rotatable on a unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit assembly having a plurality of unit roller units attached thereto; a rotation axis of the unit roller unit assembly; and a roller having the rotation axis; A roller conveyor that sequentially arranges and places conveyed objects in a forward direction, which is a direction in which the objects are conveyed by rollers, and conveys the placed conveyed objects, the rotation shafts of the unit roller units are attached inclined at the same angle with respect to the rotation shafts of the unit roller unit assemblies, the inclination angles of the unit roller units attached to the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies are set by sequentially arranging the unit roller units symmetrically with respect to the boundary between the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies such that the oblique conveying directions are in the forward direction and in the reverse direction to the forward direction, When the roller conveyor is used to transport an object in the forward direction, the rotation shafts of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the forward direction. When the roller conveyor is used to transport the object in the reverse direction, the rotation axes of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction. When the roller conveyor conveys the object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, the rotation axes of the adjacent roller unit assemblies are rotated so as to rotate in opposite directions, an automatic sorting device comprising a roller conveyor configured to rotate in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction, so that when the roller conveyor conveys an object in the other width direction, the rotation axes of adjacent roller unit assemblies rotate in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction; is provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] When a roller conveyor is used to transport an object in the forward direction, the object is transported in the forward direction when all the rollers are rotated in the forward direction. When a roller conveyor is used to transport an object in the reverse direction, the object is transported in the reverse direction by rotating all of the rollers in the opposite direction to the forward direction. When a roller conveyor transports an object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers are rotated so that they rotate in opposite directions. When the roller conveyor is used to transport the object in the other width direction, the adjacent rollers are rotated in opposite directions to those when transporting the object in one width direction.

[0013] The adjacent rollers are arranged in a roller conveyor in a mutually oblique conveying direction, symmetrically with respect to the boundary between the adjacent rollers in the forward direction and the reverse direction relative to the forward direction. Therefore, when adjacent rollers are rotated in the opposite direction, the transported object placed on the roller conveyor is transported to the common roller conveyor width side at the tip end of the inclined direction of the rollers attached to the adjacent rollers. The object to be conveyed is conveyed to the end of the roller conveyor at the end side where the inclined ends of the rollers attached to adjacent rollers are common. When the rotation direction of each of the adjacent rollers is reversed, the object placed on the roller conveyor is conveyed to the width side of the roller conveyor opposite to the previous one. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a roller conveyor used in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a roller conveyor used in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a side view of a roller conveyor used in an automatic sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 3 is an enlarged plan view of a roller C shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 used in the automatic sorting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a plan sectional view of a roller C shown in FIG. 4 used in the automatic sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 5 is an end view of the roller C shown in FIG. 4 used in the automatic sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a plan view of a roller unit assembly used in an automatic sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 is a front view of a roller unit assembly used in an automatic sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 is a perspective view of a roller unit assembly used in an automatic sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 9 is a central cross-sectional view of a unit roller unit assembly used in the automatic sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 8. FIG. [Figure 11] 8 is a perspective view of a unit roller unit assembly used in the automatic sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 12]1 is a plan view of an automatic sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 1 is a plan view of a parent machine of an automatic sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 14] 1 is a plan view of a slave unit of an automatic sorting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an AI server of the automatic sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a sorting management server of the automatic sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a sorting management server of the automatic sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] A roller conveyor used in an automatic sorting apparatus A according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 11 denotes a roller conveyor. Reference numeral 51 denotes legs of the roller conveyor 11, and 52 denotes casters. The roller conveyor 11 is folded and stored between the front and rear legs. The roller conveyor 11 will now be outlined. Reference numeral 21 denotes rollers that constitute the roller conveyor 11. The roller conveyor 11 has a plurality of rollers 21 arranged in sequence in a forward direction F, which is the direction in which an object to be conveyed (not shown) is conveyed. The roller conveyor 11 can rotate in a direction in which an object to be conveyed placed on the roller conveyor 11 is conveyed in the forward direction F, or in a direction opposite to the forward direction F. The roller conveyor 11 has roller shafts 22, which are the rotation axes of the unit roller unit assemblies 31, aligned in the conveying direction, and rotates the unit roller unit assemblies 31 as the roller conveyor 11 rotates, thereby conveying the placed object to be conveyed.

[0016] The rollers 21 transport an object placed on the transport surface M, which is an imaginary plane on the rollers 21 connecting the upper ends of the rollers 21 that contact the object. The surface obtained by connecting the contact points with the object, which are the upper end faces of the rollers 21, is the transport surface M. In plan view, this is the transport surface M. 1 to 3, G is the forward end and H is the reverse end. The conveying surface M of the roller conveyor 11 is set horizontally. The conveying surface M contacts the conveyed object at the upper end of the roller 21 and applies a driving force to the conveyed object.

[0017] The roller 21 has a plurality of roller units 41, each smaller than the roller 21, inclined on its surface. The rollers 21 obtain a conveying direction for the conveyed object that is oblique to the forward direction F depending on the set direction of the roller units 41 relative to the rollers 21. The roller 21 is made up of one roller 21(B) and the other roller 21(C) whose unit roller unit 41 is inclined in different directions. One of the rollers 21(B) faces a conveying direction oblique to the forward direction F at 45 degrees to the right on the conveying surface M in a plan view. The other roller 21(C) faces a conveying direction oblique to the forward direction F at 45 degrees to the left on the conveying surface M in a plan view. The rollers 21(B) and 21(C) are arranged alternately in the forward direction F. Adjacent rollers 21 are sequentially arranged in line symmetry with respect to a boundary J between adjacent rollers 21 in the oblique conveying direction, that is, the forward direction F and the direction opposite to the forward direction F.

[0018] The rollers 211, 213, 215, 217, 219, and 221 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are one of the rollers 21(B). The rollers 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, and 222 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are the other rollers 21(C). Adjacent roller shafts 22 are arranged parallel to each other.

[0019] Reference numeral 22 denotes a roller shaft. The roller shaft 22 is the rotation axis of the roller 21. All roller shafts 22 are installed perpendicular to the forward direction F. The motors 23 (231 to 241) have the same capacity and the driving force is the same. The motor 231 is attached to and drives the roller 211. The motor 232 is attached to and drives the roller 212. Subsequently, the motors 23 are attached to the roller shafts 21 in order. A motor 233 is attached to the roller 213 to drive it. A motor 234 is attached to the roller 214 to drive it.

[0020] Motor 235 is attached to roller 215 to drive it. Motor 236 is attached to roller 216 to drive it. Motor 237 is attached to roller 217 to drive it. Motor 238 is attached to roller 218 to drive it. A motor 239 is attached to and drives the roller 219. A motor 240 is attached to and drives the roller 220. A motor 241 is attached to and drives the roller 221. A motor 242 is attached to and drives the roller 222.

[0021] Motor 23 (231 to 241) is controlled by the control unit to rotate all rollers 211 to 222 in the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the loaded object in the forward direction F), rotate all of them in the direction opposite to the forward direction F, rotate every other roller in the forward direction F and the direction opposite to the forward direction F, or rotate every other roller in the forward direction F, the reverse direction and the forward direction F.

[0022] Reference numeral 31 denotes a unit roller unit assembly. Reference numeral 32 denotes a rotation shaft hole of unit roller unit assembly 31. The rotation shaft of unit roller unit assembly 31 is the rotation shaft of unit roller unit assembly 31, and is roller shaft 22. Unit roller unit assembly 31 rotates as roller 21, with roller shaft 22, which is the rotation shaft of unit roller unit assembly 31, passing through rotation shaft holes 32 of multiple unit roller unit assemblies 31 and serving as the axis.

[0023] Reference numeral 41 denotes a unit roller unit, and 42 denotes a unit roller unit rotation shaft. The unit roller unit rotation shaft 42 is the rotation shaft of the unit roller unit 41. The unit roller unit 41 rotates as a roller itself with the unit roller unit rotation shaft 42 as its axis. The roller 21 has a plurality of unit roller unit assemblies 31 attached to its surface, and is made up of a plurality of unit roller unit assemblies 31. The unit roller unit assemblies 31 are made up of a plurality of unit roller units 41.

[0024] The unit roller unit 41 will be further described. The roller unit units 41 are smaller than the roller 21, and a plurality of roller units 41 are attached to the surface of the roller 21 as shown in FIG. 8 and other figures in this embodiment, and can rotate on roller unit rotation shafts 42. All of the roller unit rotation shafts 42 transmit a conveying force to the conveyed object in contact with the roller unit 41 as the roller shafts 22 rotate by the motors 23 of the same capacity. The unit roller unit rotation shafts 42 are all attached at the same angle to the roller shaft 22, which is the rotation shaft of the unit roller unit assembly 31, for each roller 21. The unit roller unit rotation shafts 42 are attached at an angle of 45 degrees to the roller shaft 22, which is the rotation shaft of the unit roller unit assembly 31.

[0025] In this embodiment of the present invention, the oblique conveying direction is set at the same angle of 45 degrees for each roller 21 relative to the forward direction F. The angle at which the roller unit 41 is attached to the roller 21 determines the oblique conveying direction of the conveyed object. As shown in FIG. 2, in the unit roller unit 41 attached to one roller 21(B), the unit roller unit rotation shaft 42 is tilted 45 degrees left in the conveying direction oblique to the reverse direction to the forward direction F. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, in the unit roller unit 41 attached to one roller 21(B), the conveying direction oblique to the reverse direction to the forward direction F is tilted 45 degrees to the right.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, in the unit roller unit 41 attached to the other roller 21(C), the unit roller unit rotation shaft 42 is tilted 45 degrees to the right in the conveying direction oblique to the reverse direction to the forward direction F. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, in the unit roller unit 41 attached to the other roller 21(C), the conveying direction oblique to the reverse direction relative to the forward direction F is tilted 45 degrees to the left.

[0027] Because the unit roller units 41 are inclined relative to the rollers 21, the tips of the rotation shafts of the unit roller units 41 are directed in the same width direction, L1 or L2, of the roller conveyor 11. The tip direction and inclination direction of the unit roller unit rotation shafts 42, which are the rotation shafts of the multiple unit roller units 41 installed, are directed in the same width direction, either the width direction L1 or the other width direction L2. Therefore, the conveying directions of each are the same.

[0028] The tip of the rotation shaft of the unit roller unit 41 attached to the roller shaft 22, which is the rotation shaft of the adjacent unit roller unit assembly 31, faces in the same width direction of the roller conveyor 11, that is, one width direction L1 or the other width direction L2. Therefore, the conveying directions are the same. The inclination directions of the unit roller units 41 attached to the roller shafts 22 which are the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies 31 are opposite to each other, and the unit roller units 41 attached to the adjacent roller shafts 22 are either facing each other or facing away from each other.

[0029] The roller unit assembly 31 will now be described in further detail. As shown in the figure, the unit roller unit assembly 31 has a plurality of unit roller units 41 (nine in this embodiment) attached along its outer periphery so that the roller surfaces of the unit roller units 41 are exposed to the outside and form a conveying surface M along which the object to be conveyed is conveyed. As shown in Figures 4 to 11, the unit roller unit assembly 31 is cylindrical overall, and has a rotation shaft hole 32 for the unit roller unit assembly 31 at its center. The roller shaft 22, which is the rotation shaft of the unit roller unit assembly 31, passes through the rotation shaft hole 32 of the unit roller unit assembly 31, and a plurality of unit roller unit assemblies 31, six unit roller unit assemblies 31 in this embodiment, are passed through and fixed.

[0030] Reference numeral 32 denotes a rotation shaft hole of the roller unit assembly 31 . The rotation axis of the unit roller unit aggregate 31 is the rotation axis of the unit roller unit aggregate 31 . In this embodiment, the rotation shaft of the unit roller unit assembly 31 is made up of a roller shaft 22 which is the rotation shaft of the roller 21. The roller shaft 22 passes through a rotation shaft hole 32 of the unit roller unit assembly 31.

[0031] The roller unit assembly 31 is cylindrical as a whole, as shown in Figures 4 to 11. One of the two end faces of the cylindrical roller unit assembly 31 is one end face 33, and the other is the other end face . The roller unit rotation shaft 42 on which the roller unit 41 is mounted has one end attached near the outer periphery of one cylindrical end face 33 and the other end attached near the outer periphery of the other cylindrical end face 34 . Both mounting ends of the unit roller unit rotation shaft 42 are inclined (25 to 60 degrees) rather than parallel to the roller shaft 22 to which the unit roller unit aggregate 31 is mounted, and are mounted near both end faces of the unit roller unit aggregate 31. In this embodiment, the unit roller unit aggregate 31 is mounted at an inclination of 45 degrees rather than parallel to the roller shaft 22, which is the rotation shaft of the unit roller unit aggregate 31 to which the unit roller unit aggregate 31 is mounted. The angle may also be 30 degrees.

[0032] In this embodiment of the present invention, the roller unit 41 is attached at an angle of 45 degrees to the rotation direction of the roller shaft 22 (the rotation shaft of the roller unit aggregate 31), which is the rotation shaft of the roller 21. As shown in the figure, by tilting the roller unit 41 to the right by 45 degrees with respect to the roller shaft 22, the oblique conveying direction of the roller 21 and the roller unit 41 becomes 45 degrees to the right. The left tip of the unit roller unit 41 faces diagonally at 45 degrees to the left in the forward direction. By tilting the unit roller unit 41 to the left by 45 degrees with respect to the roller shaft 22, the diagonal conveying direction of the roller 21 and the unit roller unit 41 becomes 45 degrees to the left. The right end of the unit roller unit 41 faces diagonally at 45 degrees to the right in the forward direction.

[0033] Adjacent rollers 21 are arranged diagonally right and left with respect to the forward direction F, so that the conveying directions are opposite to each other. 2, the adjacent rollers 21 are sequentially installed symmetrically with respect to the boundary J between the adjacent rollers 21 in the forward direction F and the direction opposite to the forward direction F. The oblique transport directions in the forward direction F and the direction opposite to the forward direction F are installed symmetrically with respect to the boundary J between the adjacent rollers 21.

[0034] In other words, the inclination direction of the unit roller units 41 attached to the rotation axes of adjacent unit roller unit assemblies 31 is such that the roller axes 22 of adjacent unit roller unit assemblies 31 are arranged in a linearly symmetrical manner relative to the boundary J between the unit roller unit assemblies 31 that are adjacent rollers 21 in the forward direction F and the opposite direction to the forward direction F.

[0035] Adjacent rollers 21 are sequentially installed in line symmetry with respect to a boundary J between adjacent rollers 21 in the diagonal conveying direction in the forward direction F and the direction opposite to the forward direction F. Roller 21 (B) is oriented 45 degrees to the right in the diagonal conveying direction opposite to the forward direction F. Roller 21 (C) is oriented 45 degrees to the left in the diagonal conveying direction opposite to the forward direction F. Adjacent rollers 21 installed on the roller conveyor 11 are arranged symmetrically across a boundary J. One roller 21 (B) is inclined 45 degrees to the left with respect to the forward direction F, and the other roller 21 (C) is inclined 45 degrees to the left with respect to the forward direction F. The inclination direction may be reversed between one roller 21 (B) and the other roller 21 (C). One roller 21(B) may be tilted 30 degrees to the right with respect to the forward direction F, and the other roller 21(C) may be tilted 30 degrees to the left with respect to the forward direction F. The roller shaft 22, which is the rotation axis of the unit roller unit aggregate 31 of the adjacent rollers 21 installed on the roller conveyor 11, is installed in parallel with the roller shaft 22.

[0036] The roller unit rotation shafts 42 are attached so as to be inclined in opposite directions with respect to the roller shafts 22 which are the rotation shafts of the adjacent roller unit aggregates 31, respectively. Therefore, when the roller shaft 22, which is the rotation shaft of the adjacent unit roller unit aggregate 31, is rotated in the reverse direction by the motor 23, the transported object is transported to the common width side of the roller conveyor 11 at the tip end in the inclined direction of the unit roller unit rotation shaft 42, which is respectively attached to the roller shaft 22, which is the rotation shaft of the adjacent unit roller unit aggregate 31. The object is conveyed by the rollers 21 in the forward direction F, ie, in the width direction.

[0037] When the roller shafts 22, which are the rotation shafts of two adjacent roller unit assemblies 31, rotate in the forward direction F of the conveying direction of the roller conveyor 11, the conveyed object is conveyed in the forward direction F. Although the roller unit 41 rotates in an oblique direction, the component force in the lateral direction relative to the forward and reverse conveying direction of the roller conveyor 11 is cancelled out by the mutually opposite oblique rotation of the adjacent roller units 41. When the roller shafts 22, which are the rotation shafts of two adjacent roller unit assemblies 31, rotate in the opposite direction of the conveying direction of the roller conveyor 11, the articles are conveyed in the opposite direction. Although the roller unit 41 rotates in an oblique direction, the component force in the lateral direction relative to the forward and reverse conveying direction of the roller conveyor 11 is cancelled out by the mutually opposite oblique rotation of the adjacent roller units 41.

[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, the transported object can be transported not only in the forward direction F and the direction opposite to the forward direction F, but also in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock directions when the direction of travel of a conventional conveyor (forward direction F) is 12 o'clock. When the roller conveyor 11 is to transport an object in the forward direction F, the roller shafts 22, which are the rotation axes of all the unit roller unit assemblies 31, are rotated in the same direction, the forward direction F, by the motor 23, and the object is transported in the forward direction F. When the roller conveyor 11 conveys the object in the direction opposite to the forward direction F, all the rollers 21 are rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction F by the motor 23. When the roller shafts 22, which are the rotation shafts of all the roller unit assemblies 31, are rotated by the motors 23 in the direction opposite to the forward direction F, the transported object is transported in the reverse direction.

[0039] When the roller conveyor 11 is to transport an object in one width direction L1 of the roller conveyor 11, the roller shafts 22, which are the rotation shafts of adjacent rollers 21, i.e., unit roller unit assemblies 31, are rotated by motors 23 so as to rotate in opposite directions.

[0040] That is, roller 211 rotates in the opposite direction to the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the placed transported object in the opposite direction to the forward direction F), and roller 212 adjacent to roller 211 rotates in the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the placed transported object in the forward direction F). The roller 213 is rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction F, and the roller 214 adjacent to the roller 213 is rotated in the forward direction F. Roller 215 is rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction F, and roller 216 adjacent to roller 215 is rotated in the forward direction F. The roller 217 is rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction F, and the roller 218 adjacent to the roller 217 is rotated in the forward direction F. The roller 219 is rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction F, and the roller 220 adjacent to the roller 219 is rotated in the forward direction F. The roller 221 is rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction F, and the roller 222 adjacent to the roller 221 is rotated in the forward direction F.

[0041] Roller 211 rotates in the opposite direction to the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the placed transported object in the opposite direction to the forward direction F), and roller 212 adjacent to roller 211 rotates in the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the placed transported object in the forward direction F). The roller 211 and the roller 212 adjacent to the roller 211 are in a state of inward rotation, so to speak. The rotational forces of the roller conveyors 11 of the adjacent collective shaft in the forward and reverse conveying directions are canceled out, and the object is conveyed to the L1 side, which is combined by the inclination direction of the adjacent roller 211 and the unit roller unit 41 attached to the roller 211. The same applies to roller 213 and roller 214 adjacent to roller 213. The same is true for roller 215 and roller 216 adjacent to roller 215. The same applies to roller 217 and roller 218 adjacent to roller 217. The same is true for roller 219 and roller 220 adjacent to roller 219. The same applies to roller 221 and roller 222 adjacent to roller 221.

[0042] Roller 212 rotates in the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the placed transported object in the forward direction F), and roller 213 adjacent to roller 212 rotates in the opposite direction to the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the placed transported object in the opposite direction to the forward direction F). The roller 212 and the roller 213 adjacent to the roller 212 are in a state of abduction, so to speak. The rotational forces of the roller conveyors 11 of the adjacent collective shafts in the forward and reverse conveying directions are diffused. The same is true for roller 214 and roller 215 adjacent to roller 214. The same applies to roller 216 and roller 217 adjacent to roller 216. The same is true for roller 218 and roller 219 adjacent to roller 218. The same applies to roller 220 and roller 221 adjacent to roller 220.

[0043] When the roller conveyor 11 transports the object in the other width direction L2, the adjacent rollers 21, i.e., the roller shafts 22 which are the rotation shafts of the unit roller unit assemblies 31, are rotated in the opposite direction by the motor 23 from when the object is transported in one width direction L1 so that they rotate in the opposite direction. When the roller conveyor 11 conveys an object in one width direction L1 of the roller conveyor 11, the roller shafts 22, which are the rotation shafts of adjacent roller unit assemblies 31, are rotated by the motors 23 so as to rotate in opposite directions. When the roller conveyor 11 transports the object in the other width direction L2, the roller shafts 22, which are the rotation axes of adjacent roller unit assemblies 31, are rotated in the opposite direction by the motor 23 from when the object is transported in one width direction L1.

[0044] When the roller conveyor 11 conveys the object in one width direction L1 of the roller conveyor 11, the roller shafts 22, which are the rotation shafts of the adjacent roller unit assemblies 31, are rotated by the motors 23 so as to rotate in opposite directions. When the roller conveyor 11 is used to transport an object in the other width direction L2 of the roller conveyor 11, the adjacent rollers 21, i.e., the roller shafts 22 which are the rotation shafts of the unit roller unit assemblies 31, are rotated in the opposite direction by the motor 23 from when the object is being transported in one width direction L1 so that they rotate in the opposite direction.

[0045] That is, roller 211 rotates in the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the placed transported object in the forward direction F), and roller 212 adjacent to roller 211 rotates in the opposite direction to the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the placed transported object in the opposite direction to the forward direction F). The roller 213 is rotated in the forward direction F, and the roller 214 adjacent to the roller 213 is rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction F. Roller 215 rotates in a forward direction F, and roller 216 adjacent to roller 215 rotates in a direction opposite to the forward direction F. Roller 217 rotates in a forward direction F, and roller 218 adjacent to roller 217 rotates in a direction opposite to the forward direction F. The roller 219 is rotated in a forward direction F, and the roller 220 adjacent to the roller 219 is rotated in a direction opposite to the forward direction F. The roller 221 is rotated in the forward direction F, and the roller 222 adjacent to the roller 221 is rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction F.

[0046] That is, roller 211 rotates in the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the loaded object in the forward direction F), and roller 212 adjacent to roller 211 rotates in the opposite direction to the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the loaded object in the opposite direction to the forward direction F). The roller 211 and the roller 212 adjacent to the roller 211 are in a state of abduction, so to speak. The rotational forces of the roller conveyors 11 of the adjacent collective shafts in the forward and reverse conveying directions are diffused. The same applies to roller 213 and roller 214 adjacent to roller 213. The same is true for roller 215 and roller 216 adjacent to roller 215. The same applies to roller 217 and roller 218 adjacent to roller 217. The same is true for roller 219 and roller 220 adjacent to roller 219.

[0047] Roller 211 rotates in the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the placed transported object in the forward direction F), roller 212 adjacent to roller 211 rotates in the opposite direction to the forward direction F (rotating so as to transport the placed transported object in the opposite direction to the forward direction F), and roller 213 rotates in the forward direction F. The roller 211 and the roller 212 adjacent to the roller 211 are in a state of abduction, so to speak. The rotational forces of the roller conveyors 11 of the adjacent collective shaft in the forward and reverse conveying directions are canceled out, and the object is conveyed to the L1 side, which is combined by the inclination direction of the adjacent roller 211 and the unit roller unit 41 attached to the roller 211. The same applies to roller 213 and roller 214 adjacent to roller 213. The same is true for roller 215 and roller 216 adjacent to roller 215. The same applies to roller 217 and roller 218 adjacent to roller 217. The same is true for roller 219 and roller 220 adjacent to roller 219. The same applies to roller 221 and roller 222 adjacent to roller 221.

[0048] When the roller shaft 22, which is the rotation shaft of the adjacent unit roller unit aggregate 31, is rotated in the reverse direction by the motor 23, the transported object placed on the roller conveyor 11 is transported to the common width side of the roller conveyor 11 on the side of the inclined tip of the unit roller unit rotation shaft 42, which is respectively attached to the roller shaft 22, which is the rotation shaft of the adjacent unit roller unit aggregate 31.

[0049] When the roller conveyor 11 is to transport the object in the forward direction, the object is transported in the forward direction when all the rollers 21 are rotated in the forward direction. When the roller conveyor 11 is to convey the object in the reverse direction, all the rollers 21 are rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction, whereby the object is conveyed in the reverse direction. When the roller conveyor 11 is used to transport the object in one width direction of the roller conveyor 11, the adjacent rollers 21 are rotated so as to rotate in opposite directions. When the roller conveyor 11 is used to transport the object in the other width direction, the adjacent rollers 21 are rotated in the opposite direction to when the object is transported in one width direction.

[0050] Adjacent rollers 21 are roller conveyors 11 that are sequentially installed symmetrically with respect to a boundary J between adjacent rollers 21 in the forward and reverse directions relative to the forward direction. Therefore, when adjacent rollers 21 are rotated in the opposite direction, the transported object placed on the roller conveyor 11 is transported to the common width side of the roller conveyor 11 at the tip end side of the inclined direction of the rollers 21 attached to the adjacent rollers 21. The rollers 21 are attached to adjacent rollers 21, and the objects to be conveyed are conveyed to the end side of the roller conveyor 11 at the end side where the inclined ends of the rollers 21 are common. When the rotation direction of each of the adjacent rollers 21 is made opposite to the previous rotation direction, the transported object placed on the roller conveyor 11 is transported to the width side of the roller conveyor 11 opposite to the previous one.

[0051] Fig. 12 is a plan view of the entire automatic sorting apparatus A. T1, T2, T3, and T4 are parent machines. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the parent machines T1, T2, T3, and T4. The hardware components of the parent units T1, T2, T3, and T4 will be described. 12 and 13, S1 is a sorting conveyor. The sorting conveyor S1 is made up of a roller conveyor 11. Therefore, in this embodiment of the present invention, the sorting conveyor S1 can convey objects placed on the roller conveyor 11 in a forward direction F or in a direction opposite to the forward direction F. Furthermore, the sorting conveyor S1 can transport the objects not only in the forward direction F and the direction opposite to the forward direction F, but also in one width direction L1 or the other width direction L2 of the roller conveyor 11, which are the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock directions when the direction of travel of a conventional conveyor (forward direction F) is considered to be the 12 o'clock direction. Therefore, by transporting the objects by the sorting conveyor S1, the objects can be sorted in one width direction L1 of the roller conveyor 11 or the other width direction L2.

[0052] The reading devices 61, 62, 63, and 64 are cameras in this embodiment. The reading devices 61, 62, 63, and 64 read characters and barcodes on labels 83 that have been attached in advance to the products to be transported. A camera trigger sensor 71 is used. When the camera trigger sensor 71 detects something, it activates the cameras that are the readers 61, 62, 63, and 64, and photographs and reads the characters and barcodes on a label 83 that has been previously affixed to the product being transported. Sensors 72, 73, 74, and 75 are for the sorting conveyor S1. The sensors 72, 73, 74, and 75 for the sorting conveyor S1 are used to sort the objects to the slave sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5.

[0053] The parent units T1, T2, T3, and T4 are, (1) Camera-based reading devices 61, 62, 63, and 64 (2) Camera trigger sensor 71 (3) Sorting conveyor S1 (roller conveyor 11) (4) Sensors 72, 73, 74, and 75 for sorting conveyor S1 It is a unit consisting of: The sensors 72, 73, 74, and 75 for the sorting conveyor S1 are positioning sensors for determining the positions at which the conveyed objects are sorted.

[0054] The sensors are divided into a camera trigger sensor 71, which is a sensor for triggering the camera, and sensors 72, 73, 74, and 75 for the sorting conveyor S1, which are positioning sensors. The reason for dividing the sensors into two is that when artificial intelligence is used to recognize the characters on label 83 attached to the transported item, if there are a large number of characters or if it is required to inspect for faded or misprinted characters, the processing time will be long, and if sensors 72, 73, 74, and 75 for sorting conveyor S1, which are positioning sensors, and sensor 71 for the camera trigger are the same, it will be necessary to always stop the transported product, which will result in loss.

[0055] In terms of sequence, (1) Product A is detected by the camera trigger sensor 71. (2) Cameras 61, 62, 63, and 64, which are reading devices, photograph product A, which is a transported item. (3) Query AI server V to recognize the characters on label 83 attached to the product being transported by product A. (4) Query the sorting management server W, which is the data server, to confirm whether product A needs to be transported to the sub-machine (whether a flag indicating that product A is required is set on the sub-machine). T1, T2, T3, and T4 shown in Figure 12 are parent machines, and the locations where parent machines T1, T2, T3, and T4 are installed are sorting positions or sorting sections. In the sorting sections where parent machines T1, T2, T3, and T4 are installed, sorting work is performed on transported objects, and the transported objects are sorted onto the sorting conveyors S1, S2, S3, and S4 of child machines.

[0056] (5) If there is no need to transport product A to the sub-machines, the parent machines T1, T2, T3, and T4 will pass product A through (by rotating the rollers forward). (6) When product A needs to be transported to a sub-machine, parent machines T1, T2, T3, and T4 move the sorting conveyor S (by reversing the rollers) and change lanes so that product A can reach the sub-machine. This becomes:

[0057] There is one parent machine T1, T2, T3, T4 for each of the child machine sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, S5, so there is one to one correspondence. There is no rule that there is one parent machine and multiple child machine sorting conveyors; in other words, when there is one parent, the parent will change lanes for all child machines. The parent devices T1, T2, T3, and T4, as well as the child devices, each have one Raspberry Pi. It has parent units T1, T2, T3, and T4, child units, a shared AI server V, and a sorting management server W, which is a data server.

[0058] The slave units 1-R, 2-R, 3-R, 4-R, 5-R, 6-R, 7-R, 8-R, 1-L, 2-L, 3-L, 4-L, 5-L, 6-L, 7-L, and 8-L, which are hardware components, will be described. S2, S3, S4, and S5 are child sorting conveyors. The child sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5 are installed perpendicular to the parent conveyors T1, T2, T3, and T4. The sorting conveyor S1 can transport the objects not only in the forward direction F and the direction opposite to the forward direction F, but also, at the contact points with the sub-sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, S5, the roller conveyor 11 can transport the objects to the sub-sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, S5 in one width direction L1 or the other width direction L2 of the roller conveyor 11, which are the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock directions when the direction of travel of the conventional conveyor (forward direction F) is the 12 o'clock direction.

[0059] The sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5 of the slave units are made up of roller conveyors 11. Therefore, in this embodiment of the present invention, the sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5 of the slave units can transport objects placed on the roller conveyor 11 in a forward direction F or in a direction opposite to the forward direction F. Furthermore, the sub-unit sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5 can transport the objects not only in the forward direction F and the direction opposite to the forward direction F, but also in one width direction L1 or the other width direction L2 of the roller conveyor 11, which are the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock directions when the direction of travel of a conventional conveyor (forward direction F) is considered to be the 12 o'clock direction.

[0060] Therefore, by transporting the objects using the sub-unit sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5, the objects can be sorted using sub-units 1-R, 2-R, 3-R, 4-R, 5-R, 6-R, 7-R, and 8-R installed in one width direction of the roller conveyor 11, or sub-units 1-L, 2-L, 3-L, 4-L, 5-L, 6-L, 7-L, and 8-L installed in the other width direction. The child sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5 are also equipped with the parent sorting conveyor S1, with the same functions as the parent sorting conveyor S1, 1-R, 2-R, 3-R, 4-R, 5-R, 6-R, 7-R, 8-R, 1-L, 2-L, 3-L, 4-L, 5-L, 6-L, 7-L, and 8-L. The installation position of the slave unit is the sorting position or sorting section of the slave unit.

[0061] Handsets 1-R, 2-R, 3-R, 4-R, 5-R, 6-R, 7-R, 8-R, 1-L, 2-L, 3-L, 4-L, 5-L, 6-L, 7-L, and 8-L are respectively: (1) A reading device 61 consisting of a camera (2) Camera trigger sensor 71 (3) Shuttle conveyor XYZ (for aligning plate weights) U (4) Shuttle conveyor sensor 81 (5) 82 pallets It consists of:

[0062] The shuttle conveyor sensor 81 is attached to the lane. The shuttle conveyor U can also return to its origin and pick up the items. The shuttle conveyor U has X, Y, and Z axes. Whether it is the shuttle conveyor or the robot, detection is required to transfer the items onto the box weight 82. For this reason, as shown in Figure 14, the shuttle conveyor sensor 81 is attached to the lane of the shuttle conveyor U.

[0063] Handsets 1-R, 2-R, 3-R, 4-R, 5-R, 6-R, 7-R, 8-R, 1-L, 2-L, 3-L, 4-L, 5-L, 6-L, 7-L, and 8-L are units each configured as follows: (1) Camera reading devices 61, 62, 63, and 64 (2) Camera trigger sensor 71 (3) Shuttle conveyor XYZ (for aligning food containers (pallets)) U (4) Shuttle conveyor sensor 81 (5) 82 pallets In Figure 12, 1-R, 2-R, 3-R, 4-R, 5-R, 6-R, 7-R, 8-R, and 1-L, 2-L, 3-L, 4-L, 5-L, 6-L, 7-L, 8-L are installed on the left and right sides of the child sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5.

[0064] The shuttle conveyor sensor 81 is attached to the lane of the shuttle conveyor XYZ (for aligning food containers (pallets)) U of the child machine. When the shuttle conveyor U transfers product A from the lane of the slave machine to the container (pallet) 82, there is a choice of attaching the sensor to the lane of the slave machine or to the shuttle conveyor U, but in this embodiment, the sensor is attached to the lane of the slave machine. The containers are aligned. That is, the shuttle conveyor U is moved along the X, Y and Z axes so that the products can be transferred from the end of the container (pallet) 82 (so that the products can be packed as tightly as possible). The conveyor of the child machine is the shuttle conveyor XYZ (for aligning food containers (pallets) 82) U. The shuttle conveyor U can be replaced with a robot arm or the like.

[0065] The role of AI server V will be explained with reference to FIG. It evaluates the images sent from all parent units T1, T2, T3, T4 and child units 1-R, 2-R, 3-R, 4-R, 5-R, 6-R, 7-R, 8-R, 1-L, 2-L, 3-L, 4-L, 5-L, 6-L, 7-L, 8-L and returns the results to each unit. The captured image is converted to a bitmap and the results are returned in XML message format. The AI ​​server V identifies the product by reading the text or barcode on the product label 83 of the transported item. After identifying the product, it queries the sorting management server W, which is the data server, to see if the sub-machine in charge of it is requesting that product, and if so, it sends the product to the lane of the sub-machine.

[0066] The role of the sorting management server W will be described with reference to FIG. The sorting management server W distributes tickets to parents and children according to delivery destination requests. It is thought that the label 83 may include the store name or may not include the store name. For items with the store name on them, a designated person will be assigned to distribute the tickets. Tickets without the store name will be distributed to each child according to the rules for allocating tickets.

[0067] At this time, the tickets distributed to the parent are the sum of the tickets received by the children. Both the parent and the child recognize the label 83 and can operate the sorting conveyor and shuttle conveyor U only if they have the ticket assigned to that label 83. Each time, the sorting management server W is contacted to check whether the ticket in their possession is permitted to be received.

[0068] Both the parent and child devices recognize the label 83, and if the label 83 matches the ticket they possess, they sort it and then discard one ticket. Ticket data is treated as barcode number or item name as character string data. Both the parent and the child notify the sorting management server W that they have discarded the ticket. At that time, based on the parent's report of ticket cancellation, the sorting management server W updates the ticket numbers that are permitted to be received.

[0069] This is a very important element of this system, as it allows products that do not have a store name on label 83 to be sorted according to priority on the same lane. Each ticket is treated as a file, and is managed with a number at the end to avoid having the same file name. This is to prevent data confusion in the event of an unexpected power outage, etc. The number at the end also follows the rules for ticket issuance priority. If the label 83 cannot be read, the product will flow to the end of the lane, so a shuttle conveyor U is provided at the end of the lanes of the sorting conveyor S1 and the sub-unit sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5.

[0070] A sensor is installed at the end, and if the sensor detects a reading error, a PATLITE (registered trademark) is used to notify the surrounding area. The data read by the parent and child devices is returned to the sorting management server W, which can then create an instantaneous product map. However, since this data is not directly necessary for sorting, it is necessary to consider how much of it should be developed for normal operation.

[0071] Referring to FIG. The label 83 attached to the transported item has the description "Energetic vegetable salad." Sorting conveyor S1 transports labels 83 "Encouraging Vegetable Salad 1," "Encouraging Vegetable Salad 2," "Encouraging Vegetable Salad 3," and "Encouraging Vegetable Salad 9." It is distributed to sub-units 1-L, 2-L, 3-L, and 4-L connected to parent unit T1.

[0072] Possible rules for ticket issuance distribution are as follows: (1) Random (2) In order of smallest number of children required (3) In descending order of the number of children required (4) Order of store priority (a store far away may want to get the product quickly) (5) In order of furthest from the lane (stores without tickets can run the conveyor faster, which results in fairness. This is similar to the starting position on a track.) (6) Closest to the lane (priority is determined by lane layout at each store, making it easy for humans to understand)

[0073] A ticket is a product voucher issued by the sorting management server W. Therefore, in this embodiment of the present invention, the sorting conveyor S1 conveys the objects placed on the roller conveyor 11 in a forward direction F or in a direction opposite to the forward direction F. Furthermore, the sorting conveyor S1 can transport the objects not only in the forward direction F and the direction opposite to the forward direction F, but also in one width direction L1 or the other width direction L2 of the roller conveyor 11, which are the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock directions when the direction of travel of a conventional conveyor (forward direction F) is considered to be the 12 o'clock direction. Therefore, by transporting the objects by the sorting conveyor S, the objects can be sorted in one width direction L1 of the roller conveyor 11 or the other width direction L2. Therefore, the items are sorted onto the sub-machine sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5.

[0074] In this embodiment of the present invention, the sub-unit sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5 convey the objects placed on the roller conveyor 11 in a forward direction F or in a direction opposite to the forward direction F. Furthermore, the sub-unit sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5 can transport the objects not only in the forward direction F and the direction opposite to the forward direction F, but also in one width direction L1 or the other width direction L2 of the roller conveyor 11, which are the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock directions when the direction of travel of a conventional conveyor (forward direction F) is considered to be the 12 o'clock direction.

[0075] Therefore, by transporting the transported objects using the sub-unit sorting conveyors S2, S3, S4, and S5, the transported objects are sorted using sub-units 1-R, 2-R, 3-R, 4-R, 5-R, 6-R, 7-R, and 8-R, which are installed in one width direction of the roller conveyor 11, or sub-units 1-L, 2-L, 3-L, 4-L, 5-L, 6-L, 7-L, and 8-L, which are installed in the other width direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 11 Roller conveyor (sorting conveyor S1) 21 Roller 22 Roller shaft 41 unit roller unit 61 Reading device 62 Reading device 63 Reading device 64 Reading Device 71 Camera trigger sensor 81 Shuttle conveyor sensor 82 Pallet J boundary S1 Sorting conveyor (parent machine) S2 Sorting conveyor (sub-machine) S3 Sorting conveyor (sub-machine) S4 Sorting conveyor (sub-machine) S5 Sorting conveyor (sub-machine) T1 base unit T2 base unit T3 base unit T4 main unit 1-R handset 2-R handset 3-R handset 4-R handset 5-R handset 6-R handset 7-R handset 8-R handset 1-L handset 2-L handset 3-L handset 4-L handset 5-L handset 6-L handset 7-L handset 8-L handset U Shuttle Conveyor

Claims

1. Rollers that impart a driving force to the transported object are arranged in a forward direction, which is the direction in which the transported object is transported, in a direction oblique to the rotation direction of the rotation shaft, and A roller conveyor in which adjacent rollers are sequentially installed symmetrically with respect to the boundary between adjacent rollers in the forward direction and the reverse direction relative to the forward direction, with the oblique conveying direction being the boundary, When conveying objects in the forward direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers rotate in the forward direction. When transporting objects in the reverse direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers are rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction. When a roller conveyor transports an object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers are rotated so that they rotate in opposite directions. An automatic sorting apparatus having a roller conveyor, wherein when conveying an object in the other width direction by the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers rotate in opposite directions to each other compared to when conveying an object in one width direction, The automatic sorting device is characterized in that a reading device is provided at the sorting position of the transported objects to read information about the transported objects being transported by the roller conveyor, and when the reading device detects the transported object to be sorted at the sorting position, the roller conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the transported object in the width direction.

2. A unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit rotatable on a unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit assembly having a plurality of unit roller units attached thereto; a rotation axis of the unit roller unit assembly; and a roller having the rotation axis; A roller conveyor that sequentially arranges and places objects to be conveyed in a forward direction, which is a direction in which the objects are conveyed by rollers, and conveys the objects placed thereon, the rotation shafts of the unit roller units are attached inclined at the same angle with respect to the rotation shafts of the unit roller unit assemblies, the inclination angles of the unit roller units attached to the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies are set by sequentially arranging the unit roller units symmetrically with respect to the boundary between the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies such that the oblique conveying directions are in the forward direction and in the reverse direction to the forward direction, When the roller conveyor is used to transport an object in the forward direction, the rotation shafts of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the forward direction. When the roller conveyor is used to transport the object in the reverse direction, the rotation axes of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction. When the roller conveyor conveys the object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, the rotation axes of the adjacent roller unit assemblies are rotated so as to rotate in opposite directions, An automatic sorting apparatus having a roller conveyor that rotates in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction, so that the rotation axes of adjacent roller unit assemblies rotate in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction, The automatic sorting device is characterized in that a reading device is provided at the sorting position of the transported objects to read information about the transported objects being transported by the roller conveyor, and when the reading device detects the transported object to be sorted at the sorting position, the roller conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the transported object in the width direction.

3. Rollers that impart a driving force to the transported object are arranged in a forward direction, which is the direction in which the transported object is transported, in a direction oblique to the rotation direction of the rotation shaft, and A roller conveyor in which adjacent rollers are sequentially installed symmetrically with respect to the boundary between adjacent rollers in the forward direction and the reverse direction relative to the forward direction, with the oblique conveying direction being the boundary, When conveying objects in the forward direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers rotate in the forward direction. When transporting objects in the reverse direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers are rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction. When a roller conveyor transports an object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers are rotated so that they rotate in opposite directions. An automatic sorting device having a sorting conveyor consisting of a roller conveyor, in which when conveying an object in the other width direction by the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers rotate in opposite directions from when conveying the object in one width direction, The sorting conveyor is provided with a reading device at a sorting position for the transported objects that reads information about the transported objects being transported by the roller conveyor, and when the reading device detects the transported objects to be sorted at the sorting position, the sorting conveyor consisting of the roller conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the transported objects in the width direction, An automatic sorting apparatus characterized in that a conveyor is provided at a position where the sorting conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the objects to be conveyed in the width direction.

4. Rollers that impart a driving force to the transported object are arranged in a forward direction, which is the direction in which the transported object is transported, in a direction oblique to the rotation direction of the rotation shaft, and A roller conveyor in which adjacent rollers are sequentially installed symmetrically with respect to the boundary between adjacent rollers in the forward direction and the reverse direction relative to the forward direction, with the oblique conveying direction being the boundary, When conveying objects in the forward direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers rotate in the forward direction. When transporting objects in the reverse direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers are rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction. When a roller conveyor transports an object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers are rotated so that they rotate in opposite directions. An automatic sorting device having a sorting conveyor consisting of a roller conveyor, in which when conveying an object in the other width direction by the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers rotate in opposite directions from when conveying the object in one width direction, The sorting conveyor is provided with a reading device at a sorting position for the transported objects that reads information about the transported objects being transported by the roller conveyor, and when the reading device detects the transported objects to be sorted at the sorting position, the sorting conveyor consisting of the roller conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the transported objects in the width direction, At a position where the sorting conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the conveyed objects in the width direction, Rollers that impart a driving force to the transported object are arranged in a forward direction, which is the direction in which the transported object is transported, in a direction oblique to the rotation direction of the rotation shaft, and A roller conveyor in which adjacent rollers are sequentially installed symmetrically with respect to the boundary between adjacent rollers in the forward direction and the reverse direction relative to the forward direction, with the oblique conveying direction being the boundary, When conveying objects in the forward direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers rotate in the forward direction. When transporting objects in the reverse direction on a roller conveyor, all rollers are rotated in the opposite direction to the forward direction. When a roller conveyor transports an object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, adjacent rollers are rotated so that they rotate in opposite directions. This automatic sorting device is characterized by providing a sorting conveyor consisting of a roller conveyor, which rotates in the opposite direction when conveying an object in the other width direction by the roller conveyor, so that adjacent rollers rotate in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction.

5. A unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit rotatable on a unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit assembly having a plurality of unit roller units attached thereto; a rotation axis of the unit roller unit assembly; and a roller having the rotation axis; A roller conveyor that sequentially arranges and places objects to be conveyed in a forward direction, which is a direction in which the objects are conveyed by rollers, and conveys the objects placed thereon, the rotation shafts of the unit roller units are attached inclined at the same angle with respect to the rotation shafts of the unit roller unit assemblies, the inclination angles of the unit roller units attached to the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies are set by sequentially arranging the unit roller units symmetrically with respect to the boundary between the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies such that the oblique conveying directions are in the forward direction and in the reverse direction to the forward direction, When the roller conveyor is used to transport an object in the forward direction, the rotation shafts of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the forward direction. When the roller conveyor is used to transport the object in the reverse direction, the rotation axes of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction. When the roller conveyor conveys the object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, the rotation axes of the adjacent roller unit assemblies are rotated so as to rotate in opposite directions, An automatic sorting device having a sorting conveyor consisting of a roller conveyor that rotates in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction, so that when conveying an object in the other width direction by the roller conveyor, the rotation axes of adjacent roller unit assemblies rotate in the opposite direction from when conveying an object in one width direction, The sorting conveyor is provided with a reading device at a sorting position for the transported objects that reads information about the transported objects being transported by the roller conveyor, and when the reading device detects the transported objects to be sorted at the sorting position, the sorting conveyor consisting of the roller conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the transported objects in the width direction, An automatic sorting apparatus characterized in that a conveyor is provided at a position where the sorting conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the objects to be conveyed in the width direction.

6. A unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit rotatable on a unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit assembly having a plurality of unit roller units attached thereto; a rotation axis of the unit roller unit assembly; and a roller having the rotation axis; A roller conveyor that sequentially arranges and places objects to be conveyed in a forward direction, which is a direction in which the objects are conveyed by rollers, and conveys the objects placed thereon, the rotation shafts of the unit roller units are attached inclined at the same angle with respect to the rotation shafts of the unit roller unit assemblies, the inclination angles of the unit roller units attached to the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies are set by sequentially arranging the unit roller units symmetrically with respect to the boundary between the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies such that the oblique conveying directions are in the forward direction and in the reverse direction to the forward direction, When the roller conveyor is used to transport an object in the forward direction, the rotation shafts of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the forward direction. When the roller conveyor is used to transport the object in the reverse direction, the rotation axes of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction. When the roller conveyor conveys the object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, the rotation axes of the adjacent roller unit assemblies are rotated so as to rotate in opposite directions, An automatic sorting device having a sorting conveyor consisting of a roller conveyor that rotates in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction, so that when conveying an object in the other width direction by the roller conveyor, the rotation axes of adjacent roller unit assemblies rotate in the opposite direction from when conveying an object in one width direction, The sorting conveyor is provided with a reading device at a sorting position for the transported objects that reads information about the transported objects being transported by the roller conveyor, and when the reading device detects the transported objects to be sorted at the sorting position, the sorting conveyor consisting of the roller conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the transported objects in the width direction, At a position where the sorting conveyor is driven in the width direction to move the conveyed objects in the width direction, A unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit rotatable on a unit roller unit rotation shaft; a unit roller unit assembly having a plurality of unit roller units attached thereto; a rotation axis of the unit roller unit assembly; and a roller having the rotation axis; A roller conveyor that sequentially arranges and places objects to be conveyed in a forward direction, which is a direction in which the objects are conveyed by rollers, and conveys the objects placed thereon, the rotation shafts of the unit roller units are attached inclined at the same angle with respect to the rotation shafts of the unit roller unit assemblies, the inclination angles of the unit roller units attached to the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies are set by sequentially arranging the unit roller units symmetrically with respect to the boundary between the rotation shafts of the adjacent unit roller unit assemblies such that the oblique conveying directions are in the forward direction and in the reverse direction to the forward direction, When the roller conveyor is used to transport an object in the forward direction, the rotation shafts of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the forward direction. When the roller conveyor is used to transport the object in the reverse direction, the rotation axes of all the roller unit assemblies are rotated in the direction opposite to the forward direction. When the roller conveyor conveys the object in one width direction of the roller conveyor, the rotation axes of the adjacent roller unit assemblies are rotated so as to rotate in opposite directions, This automatic sorting device is characterized by providing a sorting conveyor consisting of a roller conveyor that rotates in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction, so that when the roller conveyor conveys an object in the other width direction, the rotation axes of adjacent roller unit assemblies rotate in the opposite direction to when conveying an object in one width direction.

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