Sorting device

Abstract

To provide a sorting device capable of sorting items into groups of a predetermined number. [Solution] A sorting device that sorts items 11 into groups of a predetermined number. The sorting device includes a conveying surface 29, which is a loading surface on which the items 11 are placed, a jig 15 having a sorting opening 41 that opens in the vertical direction and accommodates a predetermined number of the items 11, and an elevating mechanism 16 that supports the jig 15 so that it can be raised and lowered above the conveying surface 29. The elevating mechanism 16 supports the jig 15 so that it can be raised and lowered between a lowered position where it lowers the jig 15 to form a storage recess 46 that stores the predetermined number of items 11 on the conveying surface 29 within the sorting opening 41, and an elevated position where it raises the jig 15 to release the predetermined number of items 11 stored in the storage recess 46 from the sorting opening 41 onto the conveying surface 29. When the jig 15 is in the elevated position, the items 11 released onto the conveying surface 29 can be transported from the area below the jig 15.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sorting device that sorts objects into groups of a predetermined number. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a sorting device that sorts items is known, as described in Patent Document 1, for example. In this sorting device, the items are dispensed one by one from a storage unit that stores a plurality of items onto a space between bars of a belt, and are transported to a downstream process. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-25863 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Although such a sorting device is capable of sorting items one by one, it may be necessary to sort the items into groups of two or more predetermined numbers for downstream processing.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a sorting device capable of sorting items into groups of a predetermined number. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The sorting device of the present invention is a sorting device that sorts items into groups of a predetermined number, and comprises a loading surface on which the items are placed, a jig having a sorting opening that opens in the vertical direction and can accommodate a predetermined number of the items, and a lifting mechanism that supports the jig so that it can be raised and lowered on the loading surface.The lifting mechanism supports the jig so that it can be raised and lowered between a lowered position in which it lowers the jig to form a storage recess on the loading surface within the sorting opening that stores the predetermined number of the items, and an raised position in which it raises the jig to release the predetermined number of the items stored in the storage recess from the sorting opening onto the loading surface, and when the jig is in the raised position, the items released onto the loading surface can be transported from the area below the jig. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a sorting device capable of sorting items into groups of a predetermined number can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of a sorting apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] 1A is a perspective view showing the upper surface of the jig, FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the lower surface of the jig, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of a part of the jig. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the jig and lifting mechanism of the sorting device. [Figure 5] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the sorting device in which the jig is lowered to a lowered position by the lifting mechanism. FIG. [Figure 6] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the sorting device in which the jig is raised to a raised position by the lifting mechanism. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sorting device in which the jig is opened upward from above the conveying surface. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] 1 and 2 show a sorting device 10. The sorting device 10 sorts the items 11 into groups of two or more predetermined numbers and transports them to a downstream process. The items 11 are, for example, cylindrical containers, but may be any type, such as rod-shaped or box-shaped objects. In this embodiment, the unit of the sort number, which is the predetermined number of items to be sorted, is five, but may be any number equal to or greater than two. In the downstream process, for example, a packing device packs the predetermined number of items 11 together.

[0011] The sorting device 10 includes a conveying mechanism 14 that conveys the items 11 that have been sorted into groups of a predetermined number, a jig 15 used to sort the items 11 into groups of the predetermined number, and a lifting mechanism 16 that supports the jig 15 so that it can be raised and lowered on the conveying mechanism 14. In the sorting device 10, an operator sorts the items 11 using the jig 15, and a work space 17 where the operator works is provided on one side of the conveying mechanism 14.

[0012] The transport mechanism 14 is composed of a belt conveyor and includes a frame 20 that is long along the transport direction A, rollers 21 and 22 that are rotatably disposed on both ends of the frame 20 in the longitudinal direction, and an endless belt 23 that is looped around and rotates between the rollers 21 and 22 on both ends.

[0013] The frame 20 is mounted on the floor by leg members 24. An upper circulation area of ​​the belt 23 is movable above the frame 20, and a lower circulation area of ​​the belt 23 is movable below the frame 20, with the upper surface of the frame 20 supporting the upper circulation area of ​​the belt 23. Side guides 25 are provided on both sides of the frame 20 in a left-right direction B that intersects with the conveying direction A to prevent the left and right sides of the belt 23 and the sorted items 11 on the belt 23 from falling off. A cover 26 that can be opened and closed is provided downstream of the area of ​​the jig 15 and the lifting mechanism 16, which are provided upstream of the frame 20 in the conveying direction A, to cover the area above the conveying area of ​​the belt 23. A receiving section 27 is provided at the downstream end of the frame 20 in the conveying direction A, to receive the sorted items 11 conveyed by the belt 23 and send them to a downstream process.

[0014] Of the rollers 21 and 22, the roller 22 located downstream in the conveying direction A is rotationally driven by a conveying motor 28, and the belt 23 is rotated so that the upper rotation region of the belt 23 moves in the conveying direction A.

[0015] The belt 23 is an endless flat belt, and its outer peripheral surface is a loading surface on which the items 11 to be sorted are placed in the upper running area, and is configured as a conveying surface 29 for conveying the items 11. A plurality of partitions 30, which are bars that protrude across the entire width of the belt and are spaced apart at predetermined intervals in the belt running direction, are provided on the surface of the belt 23. Between adjacent partitions 30 in the conveying direction A, sorting sections 31 are formed on the conveying surface 29, which are areas for accommodating the items 11 to be sorted into predetermined numbers.

[0016] 1 to 7 show the jig 15. The jig 15 is made of, for example, synthetic resin and is formed as a single unit. The jig 15 has a jig body 40 and a predetermined number of sorting openings 41 inside the jig body 40, each of which can accommodate one of the items 11 to be sorted.

[0017] The jig body 40 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate, and hereinafter, its longitudinal direction is referred to as the first direction x, its short direction is referred to as the second direction y, one end in the first direction x (on the working space 17 side) is referred to as the first end 15a, and the other end in the first direction x (opposite the working space 17) is referred to as the second end 15b.

[0018] The sorting openings 41 are open in the vertical direction and are formed with dimensions and shapes that allow the horizontally oriented items 11 to enter from the top and exit from the bottom one by one. The sorting openings 41 are formed in a rectangular shape when viewed in a plan view from above the jig body 40, corresponding to the shape of the items 11 in the horizontal position. The longitudinal direction of the sorting openings 41 is arranged along a second direction y, which is the short direction of the jig body 40, and a predetermined number of sorting openings 41 are arranged at predetermined intervals in a first direction x, which is the longitudinal direction of the jig body 40. The jig 15 is attached to the lifting mechanism 16 with the second direction y (the longitudinal direction of the sorting openings 41) as the conveying direction A and the first direction x (the direction in which the number of sorting openings 41 to be sorted are lined up) as the left-right direction B, and is supported so as to be able to move up and down on the conveying surface 29.

[0019] A guide portion 42 is provided on the upper surface of the jig body 40 between adjacent sorting openings 41, and guides the items 11 to fall into the sorting openings 41. The guide portion 42 is provided in a protruding shape, such as a substantially arc-like or substantially triangular shape, with the highest vertex located at the midpoint between adjacent sorting openings 41, and guides the items 11 placed on the upper surface between adjacent sorting openings 41 to fall toward either the left or right sorting opening 41. In addition, a restricting wall portion 43 is provided that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the jig body 40 along the edge of the sorting opening 41 located closest to the second end 15b.

[0020] On the underside of the jig body 40, storage wall portions 44 protrude downward from between adjacent sorting openings 41, and storage wall portions 45 protrude along the outer edges of the sorting openings 41 on the first end 15a side and the sorting openings 41 on the second end 15b side. On the underside of the jig body 40, openings are formed in the second direction y that intersect with the wall surfaces between the opposing storage wall portions 44, 44 and between the storage wall portions 44, 45.

[0021] When the jig 15, which is supported by the lifting mechanism 16 so that it can be raised and lowered on the conveying surface 29 of the belt 23, is lowered to a predetermined lowered position (see Figure 5), a storage recess (storage chamber) 46 is formed within each sorting opening 41 to store each of the sorted items 11 in a horizontal position on the conveying surface 29 of the belt 23.

[0022] Mounting holes 47 are provided in the four corners of the jig body 40, penetrating in the vertical direction, for positioning and mounting on the lifting mechanism 16. A number of types of jigs 15 can be prepared depending on the number of items 11 to be sorted and the dimensions and shapes of the items 11, and the jigs 15 can be made detachable from the lifting mechanism 16. In this case, the external shape of the jig 15 and the positions of the mounting holes 47 are the same regardless of the type, but the number, dimensions and shape of the sorting openings 41 differ depending on the type.

[0023] 1 and 2, the lifting mechanism 16 is attached to one side of the frame 20 in the left-right direction B (opposite the work space 17) on the upstream side of the conveying direction A of the conveying mechanism 14, and supports the jig 15 so that it can be raised and lowered on the conveying surface 29 of the belt 23. Note that the lifting mechanism 16 also indicates a first direction x and a second direction y corresponding to the direction of the attached jig 15, and the first direction x of the lifting mechanism 16 corresponds to the left-right direction B of the conveying mechanism 14, and the second direction y corresponds to the conveying direction A of the conveying mechanism 14.

[0024] 5 to 7, the frame 20 has side frame portions 20a on both sides in the left-right direction B, and an upper frame portion 20b that supports the upper running region of the belt 23 between the side frame portions 20a so that the conveying surface 29 of the belt 23 maintains a constant height. The lifting mechanism 16 is attached to one side frame portion 20a.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the lifting mechanism 16 has a lifting unit 50 that moves up and down, and a lifting drive unit 51 that supports the lifting unit 50 on the frame 20 and moves it up and down.

[0026] The lifting unit 50 has a lifting section 52 supported by a lifting drive unit 51 so as to be able to move up and down, and an opening / closing section 54 connected to the lifting section 52 via a hinge 53 so as to be able to open and close upward.

[0027] The lifting section 52 is disposed on the outside of one side of the frame 20 in the left-right direction B so as to be movable up and down by a lifting drive unit 51. The lifting section 52 has a support member 55 supported by the lifting drive unit 51, and an upper surface member 56 attached to the upper side of the support member 55. The opening / closing section 54 is connected to the upper surface member 56 by a pair of hinges 53. A support section 57 is provided at the edge of the upper surface member 56 facing the opening / closing section 54, which is bent downward and supports the opening / closing section 54 in the closed position where it is closed downward.

[0028] The opening / closing section 54 includes a jig mounting member 58 for mounting the jig 15, and side members 59 disposed on the upper surface of the jig mounting member 58 on both sides in the second direction y.

[0029] The jig mounting member 58 has a plate portion 60 and sensor placement portions 61 bent into a generally U-shape so as to face each other from both sides of the plate portion 60 in the second direction y. A rectangular mounting opening 62 into which the jig 15 is mounted is provided in a central region of the plate portion 60. The mounting opening 62 is larger than the central region in which the sorting opening 41 and storage wall portions 44, 45 of the jig 15 are provided, allowing the storage wall portions 44, 45 protruding from the underside of the jig 15 to be inserted downward, and is smaller than the outline of the peripheral portion of the jig 15, allowing the peripheral portion of the jig 15 to be placed on the upper surface of the plate portion 60. Mounting pins 63 protrude from the upper surface of the plate portion 60 at positions near the four corners of the mounting opening 62. The mounting pins 63 are fitted into the mounting holes 47 at the four corners of the jig 15, thereby positioning and mounting the jig 15 on the jig mounting member 58. The jig 15 is attached to the jig mounting member 58 with the second end 15b facing the lifting / lowering unit 52. A work table 64 is disposed on the upper surface of the plate portion 60, on the side of the first end 15a of the jig 15, at approximately the same height as the upper surface of the jig 15 attached to the jig mounting member 58. In addition, a contact portion 65 bent downward is provided on the edge of the plate portion 60 facing the lifting / lowering unit 52. The contact portion 65 contacts the support portion 57 on the lifting / lowering unit 52 side when the opening / closing unit 54 is in the closed position where it is closed downward, thereby maintaining the closed position.

[0030] The side members 59 on both sides are arranged on the jig mounting member 58 along the first direction x, and protrude above the upper surface of the jig 15 mounted on the jig mounting member 58, preventing the sorted items 11 from coming off the jig 15 in the second direction y.

[0031] The lifting drive unit 51 of the lifting mechanism 16 has a drive section 66 such as an electric actuator or a fluid actuator that uses a working fluid such as air, and a slide support section 67 that supports the lifting section 52 of the lifting unit 50 so that it can slide up and down relative to the drive section 66. The drive section 66 is attached to a side frame section 20a on one side of the frame 20.

[0032] The drive unit 66 raises and lowers the lifting unit 50, including the jig 15, between a lowered position and a raised position. Figure 5 shows the lowered position of the jig 15 and the lifting unit 50. The lowered position of the jig 15 is a position where a storage recess 46 is formed within the sorting opening 41 of the jig 15 on the conveying surface 29 of the belt 23, and where the storage recess 46 stores the items 11 one by one. The distance between the storage wall portions 44, 45 of the jig 15 and the conveying surface 29 of the belt 23 is smaller than the diameter corresponding to the height of the items 11, so that only one item 11 can be stored in the storage recess 46. In the lowered position of the jig 15, the entire items 11 may be stored within the sorting opening 41, or the upper side of the items 11 may be stored with the items 11 protruding beyond the sorting opening 41. 6 shows the raised positions of the jig 15 and the lifting unit 50. The raised position of the jig 15 is a position higher than the items 11 stored in the storage recesses 46 on the conveying surface 29 and the partition sections 30 of the belt 23, leaving the items 11 stored in the storage recesses 46 on the conveying surface 29. In other words, in the lowered position, the items 11 are restricted within the storage recesses 46 by the jig 15 and the belt 23, and in the raised position, the items 11 are released from the restriction of the sorting openings 41 and placed on the conveying surface 29 of the belt 23.

[0033] The sorting device 10 also includes a storage detection unit 70 that detects when a predetermined number of items 11 to be sorted have been stored in the storage recesses 46 when the jig 15 is in the lowered position. The storage detection unit 70 uses multiple storage detection sensors 71 that individually detect when an item 11 has been stored in each storage recess 46. The storage detection sensor 71 has a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver that emit and receive sensor light, and the light emitter and the light receiver are installed facing sensor placement units 61 provided on both sides of a plate portion 60 of the jig mounting member 58 so that the sensor light passes through each storage recess 46 in the second direction y along the longitudinal direction of the sorting opening 41. The storage detection unit 70 may also be configured to photograph the jig 15 from above with a camera and detect when an item 11 has been stored in a storage recess 46 based on image processing of the photographed image.

[0034] The sorting device 10 also has an unstored item detection unit 72 that detects unstored items 11 present on the jig 15 without being stored in the storage recesses 46 when the jig 15 is in the lowered position. The unstored items 11 present on the jig 15 include items 11 that are piled up on top of items 11 stored in the storage recesses 46 and protrude from the sorting opening 41 onto the jig 15, and items 11 that are placed on the top surface of the jig 15 at the side of the sorting opening 41. Similar to the storage detection sensor 71, the unstored item detection unit 72 has a pair of light emitter and light receiver that emit and receive sensor light, and the light emitter and light receiver are installed facing the sight members 59 on both sides so that the sensor light passes near the upper side of each storage recess 46 in the second direction y along the longitudinal direction of the sorting opening 41. The side member 59 is provided with a sensor hole 73 through which the sensor light of the unstored sorted-item detector 72 passes.

[0035] The unstored sorted-item detection unit 72 may detect unstored sorted items 11 by arranging a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver above the jig 15 so as to emit and receive sensor light diagonally across the jig 15 or along the first direction x, and may also detect unstored sorted items 11. As described above, when the storage detection unit 70 photographs the jig 15 from above with a camera and detects that an item 11 has been stored in the storage recess 46 based on image processing of the photographed image, the unstored sorted item 11 present on the jig 15 may be detected based on the image from the camera.

[0036] 1 and 2, a confirmation button 75 is disposed on the frame 20 of the conveying mechanism 14. The confirmation button 75 is installed on a cover 76 that is attached to the frame 20 and covers the upstream end of the conveying mechanism 14 in the conveying direction A. When the storage detector 70 detects that a predetermined number of items 11 have been stored in the storage recess 46 and the unstored-item detector 72 does not detect any unstored items 11 on the jig 15, the confirmation button 75 lights up to indicate that the lifting mechanism 16 can lift the jig 15. When the lit confirmation button 75 is pressed down, the lifting mechanism 16 lifts the jig 15 to the elevated position, the conveying motor 28 is driven to rotate the belt 23 a predetermined distance, and then the lifting mechanism 16 lowers the jig 15 and returns it to the lowered position. In this manner, a series of sorting operations are performed in which the predetermined number of items 11 are sequentially sent downstream in the conveying direction A.

[0037] A partition detection sensor 78 is disposed inside the cover 76 to detect the passage of the partition 30 of the belt 23. The partition detection sensor 78 uses a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver that emit and receive sensor light, and the light emitter and the light receiver are installed on the inner surface of the cover 76 in the left-right direction B so that the sensor light passes along the left-right direction B of the belt 23 in the height region where the partition 30 of the belt 23 passes. Then, in response to the operation of pressing the confirmation button 75 that is lit as described above, the jig 15 rises to the raised position, and the conveyance motor 28 drives the belt 23 to start rotating. Then, the partition detection sensor 78 detects the passage of the partition 30, thereby stopping the rotation of the belt 23. At this stop position of the rotation of the belt 23, the jig 15 can descend into the sorting space 31 between the partitions 30 adjacent in the conveyance direction A.

[0038] Next, the sorting operation of the sorting device 10 for sorting the items 11 will be described.

[0039] 5, in a standby state before the sorting operation of the sorting device 10 starts, the jig 15 attached to the lifting unit 50 by the lifting mechanism 16 is in a lowered position, and storage recesses 46 capable of storing the items 11 to be sorted one by one are formed on the conveying surface 29 of the belt 23 within each sorting opening 41 of the jig 15. The conveying mechanism 14 is stopped, and the jig 15 is lowered into the sorting compartment 31 between adjacent partitions 30 in the conveying direction A of the belt 23.

[0040] Then, the worker drops the items 11 to be sorted one by one into each sorting opening 41 of the jig 15, and stores them in storage recesses 46 formed on the conveying surface 29 within the sorting opening 41 of the jig 15. At this time, the items 11 may be dropped into each sorting opening 41 one by one in sequence, or multiple items 11 may be placed on the work table 64 and rolled from the work table 64 toward the area of ​​the sorting opening 41 of the jig 15, thereby dropping them one by one into each sorting opening 41. The items 11 dropped into the sorting openings 41 rest on the conveying surface 29 and are stored one by one in the storage recesses 46.

[0041] The jig 15 has a restricting wall portion 43 protruding from the edge of the sorting opening 41 farthest from the worker in the work space 17, which prevents the sorted item 11 from failing to be placed into the sorting opening 41 and rolling outward from the second end 15b side of the jig 15, or from rolling outward from the second end 15b side when the sorted item 11 is being moved by rolling it from the work table portion 64 onto the jig 15.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3(c), the jig 15 has a guide portion 42 on the upper surface between adjacent sorting openings 41, which guides the items 11 to be sorted that are placed between adjacent sorting openings 41 so that they fall into the sorting openings 41, preventing the items 11 from getting stuck on the upper surface between adjacent sorting openings 41 and causing storage problems.

[0043] The sensor light of the storage detection sensor 71 is blocked by the sorted item 11 stored in the storage recess 46, thereby detecting that the sorted item 11 has been stored in the storage recess 46. When it is detected that the sorted items 11 have been stored in all of the storage recesses 46, and the unstored sorted item detection unit 72 does not detect any unstored sorted items 11 on the jig 15, the lifting mechanism 16 is able to raise the jig 15, and the confirmation button 75 lights up.

[0044] When the unstored item detection unit 72 detects an unstored item 11 that is not stored in the storage recess 46 and is present on the jig 15, such as an item 11 that is piled up on top of an item 11 already stored in the storage recess 46 and protrudes from the sorting opening 41 onto the jig 15, or an item 11 that is resting on the top surface of the jig 15 at the side of the sorting opening 41, the lifting mechanism 16 is allowed to lift the jig 15, and the confirmation button 75 remains off. When the unstored item 11 is removed and the unstored item detection unit 72 no longer detects the unstored item 11, the lifting mechanism 16 is allowed to lift the jig 15, and the confirmation button 75 lights up.

[0045] When the worker confirms that the confirmation button 75 is lit, he or she presses down the confirmation button 75, which causes the lifting mechanism 16 to raise the jig 15 to the raised position, and the conveying motor 28 is driven to rotate the belt 23 a certain amount, thereby transporting the items 11 outside the area below the jig 15.Then, the lifting mechanism 16 lowers the jig 15 to the lower position and returns it to a standby state, thereby starting a series of sorting operations in which the items 11, sorted into predetermined numbers, are sequentially sent downstream in the conveying direction A.

[0046] 6, when the jig 15 is raised to the raised position together with the lifting unit 50 by the lifting mechanism 16, a predetermined number of items 11 stored in the storage recess 46 remain on the conveying surface 29. The items 11 remaining on the conveying surface 29 are arranged in the sorting space 31 between adjacent partitions 30 in the conveying direction A of the belt 23, and are separated from the items 11 of other sorting groups that are sorted into predetermined numbers in the preceding and succeeding sorting operations. The items 11 are also arranged between the side guides 25 on both sides of the frame 20, preventing the items 11 from falling off the conveying surface 29 in the left-right direction B. The lifting unit 50 and jig 15 raised to the raised position are positioned above the items 11 on the conveying surface 29 and the partitions 30 of the belt 23.

[0047] After the jig 15 has risen to the raised position, the conveying motor 28 of the conveying mechanism 14 is driven to start the rotation of the belt 23, and a predetermined number of items 11 to be sorted on the conveying surface 29 are moved from the area below the jig 15 to the downstream side of the jig 15 in the conveying direction A. At this time, the longitudinal direction of the items 11 on the conveying surface 29 faces the conveying direction A and the peripheral surface faces the left-right direction B, so that even if the belt 23 is repeatedly rotated and stopped, the position of the items 11 on the conveying surface 29 can be reduced from being disturbed.

[0048] After the belt 23 starts to move, the partition detection sensor 78 detects a partition 30 one partition upstream in the conveying direction A from the partition 30 that forms the sorting section 31 in which the items 11 are placed, thereby stopping the movement of the belt 23. At this stopping position of the belt 23, the sorting space 31 between the partitions 30 adjacent in the conveying direction A, where the items 11 will be placed in the next sorting operation, is located below the jig 15.

[0049] After the rotation of the belt 23 is stopped, the jig 15 is lowered to the lowered position by the lifting mechanism 16, and returns to a standby state for the next sorting operation.

[0050] In this way, the objects 11 sorted into a predetermined number of pieces using the jig 15 are sequentially sent downstream in the conveying direction A by the operation of the sorting device 10.

[0051] Furthermore, if a foreign object falls into the sorting opening 41 of the jig 15, or if an item 11 that has fallen into the sorting opening 41 of the jig 15 needs to be removed, as shown in FIG. 7 , the jig 15 is rotated upward together with the opening / closing unit 54 around the hinge 53 as a fulcrum to open the conveying surface 29. In this open state, the foreign object on the conveying surface 29 can be removed or the item 11 can be removed. After the work is completed, the jig 15 is rotated downward together with the opening / closing unit 54 around the hinge 53 as a fulcrum to return to the closed position where it is closed on the conveying surface 29. In other words, the conveying surface 29 below the jig 15 can be exposed by rotating the jig 15 without using the lifting mechanism 16, which shortens the lifting stroke of the lifting mechanism 16 and makes the sorting device 10 more compact.

[0052] In addition, it is possible to replace the jig 15 with a corresponding type depending on the number, dimensions, and shape of the items 11 to be sorted. The jig 15 can be easily replaced with another type of jig 15 on the lifting unit 50 because the outer shape of the jig 15 and the position of the mounting hole 47 are the same regardless of the type.

[0053] In this way, in the sorting device 10 of this embodiment, when the jig 15 is in the lowered position, a storage recess 46 is formed on the conveying surface 29 within the sorting opening 41 of the jig 15 to store a predetermined number of items 11 to be sorted, thereby enabling the items 11 to be reliably sorted into predetermined numbers.Furthermore, by raising the jig 15 to the raised position while leaving the predetermined number of items 11 stored in the storage recess 46 on the conveying surface 29, the predetermined number of items 11 sorted using the jig 15 can be sent out.

[0054] The jig 15 can be lifted by the lifting mechanism 16 based on the fact that the storage detection section 70 detects that a predetermined number of sorted items 11 have been stored in the storage recess 46 and the unstored sorted item detection section 72 does not detect any unstored sorted items 11 on the jig 15, so the sorted items 11 can be reliably sorted into predetermined numbers without the number of sorted items 11 being too small or too large.

[0055] The jig 15 has a predetermined number of sorting openings 41 each for receiving the articles 11 one by one, and forms a predetermined number of storage recesses 46, so that the articles 11 can be reliably sorted into predetermined numbers, and the number of articles 11 to be sorted using the jig 15 can be easily confirmed, improving the efficiency of sorting work.

[0056] The jig 15 is provided with a guide part 42 on the upper surface between the adjacent sorting openings 41, so that the sorted article 11 placed between the adjacent sorting openings 41 is guided to drop into the sorting opening 41, and the sorted article 11 can be prevented from stopping on the upper surface between the adjacent sorting openings 41.

[0057] Storage walls 44, 45 protrude from both sides of the sorting opening 41 on the underside of the jig 15, so that a storage recess 46 can be formed within the sorting opening 41 on the conveying surface 29 to accommodate the items 11 to be sorted one by one.

[0058] In addition, the longitudinal direction of the sorting opening 41 of the jig 15 may be arranged to face the first direction x, and the longitudinal direction of the items 11 to be sorted by this sorting opening 41 may be arranged to face the left-right direction B on the conveying path 29 of the conveying mechanism 14.

[0059] The jig 15 may also have a plurality of sorting openings 41 arranged in a row in the second direction y (corresponding to the conveying direction A of the conveying mechanism 14) as well as in the first direction x, each of which receives one of the sorted items 11.

[0060] Furthermore, the jig 15 is not limited to a configuration in which one sorting opening 41 receives one sorting item 11 and the items are stored in the storage recesses 46 on the conveying surface 29. Multiple sorting items 11 may enter one sorting opening 41 and be stored in the storage recesses 46 side by side on the conveying surface 29. For example, one sorting opening 41 may be sized and shaped to accommodate two sorting items 11, so that the two items 11 enter through one sorting opening 41 and are stored in the storage recesses 46 side by side on the conveying surface 29. Alternatively, one sorting opening 41 may be sized and shaped to accommodate a predetermined number of items 11 together, so that the predetermined number of items 11 enter through one sorting opening 41 and are stored in the storage recesses 46 side by side on the conveying surface 29. In these cases, the storage detection unit 70 can detect the storage of a predetermined number of items 11 by using the camera described above.

[0061] Although the embodiment of the present invention and its modified examples have been described above, various combinations of configurations, partial omissions, substitutions and modifications are also possible. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 10 Sorting device 11 Sorting 14 Transport mechanism 15 Jig 16 Lifting mechanism 23 Belt 29 Conveying surface that is the loading surface 30 Partition 41 Sorting opening 42 Guidance part 46 Storage recess 70 Storage detection unit 72 Unstored sorted item detection unit

Claims

1. A sorting device that sorts items into groups of a predetermined number, a placement surface on which the sorted items are placed; a jig having a sorting opening that opens in the vertical direction and that can accommodate a predetermined number of the sorted items; a lifting mechanism that supports the jig so that it can be raised and lowered on the placement surface; Equipped with The lifting mechanism supports the jig so that it can be raised and lowered between a lowered position where the jig is lowered to form a storage recess on the placement surface within the sorting opening for storing a predetermined number of the sorted items, and an raised position where the jig is raised to release the predetermined number of the sorted items stored in the storage recess from the sorting opening onto the placement surface, With the jig in the raised position, the sorted objects released onto the placement surface can be transported from a region below the jig. A sorting device characterized by:

2. a storage detection unit that detects that a predetermined number of the sorted items have been stored in the storage recess, When the storage detection unit detects that a predetermined number of the sorted items have been stored in the storage recess, the lifting mechanism can lift the jig.

2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1.

3. an unstored sorted item detection unit that detects the unstored sorted items that are not stored in the storage recess and are present on the jig; The storage detection unit detects that a predetermined number of the sorted items have been stored in the storage recess, and the unstored sorted item detection unit does not detect any unstored sorted items, thereby allowing the lifting mechanism to lift the jig.

3. The sorting apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The jig has a predetermined number of sorting openings, each of which can accommodate a predetermined number of the sorted items, and when lowered to the lower position, forms a plurality of the storage recesses on the placement surface within the predetermined number of sorting openings.

2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The jig has a guide portion on an upper surface between the sorting openings that guides the sorted items to the sorting openings.

5. The sorting apparatus according to claim 4.

6. a conveying mechanism for conveying the sorted items, the transport mechanism is a belt conveyor including a belt having a transport surface as the placing surface, and partitions protruding from the surface of the belt at predetermined intervals in the belt running direction to separate the sorted objects into groups of a predetermined number, The jig descends between the partitions to form the storage recess on the conveying surface.

2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1.

7. The jig is detachable from the lifting mechanism.

2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1.

8. The jig can be manually opened and closed upward from above the placement surface relative to the lifting mechanism.

2. The sorting apparatus according to claim 1.

Images