Transport system inspection device (Doctor Logistics)

Abstract

To detect signs of failure in an article transport path system in advance. [Solution] The system comprises a sensor attached to a transport body that can be transported on a transport path for transporting items, which acquires information related to one or more of sound, vibration, image, light, ultrasound, pressure, and environment; an information recording device attached to the transport body that records the sensor information collected from the sensor; and an information analysis and processing unit that drives the sensor and the information recording device to transport the transport body on the transport path while causing the sensor information about the area on or near the transport path to be recorded continuously in the information recording device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveyor system inspection device that automatically inspects conveyor paths, such as belt conveyors or roller conveyors, and associated equipment thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, when an item transport system in a distribution center in the distribution industry breaks down and transport stops, it takes time to restore the system, which can result in missed delivery times to stores and other locations, resulting in significant losses. For this reason, regular maintenance is performed in distribution centers, and depending on the nature of the breakdown, the transport route must be stopped to perform repairs. These inspections and repairs must be performed quickly, but depending on the scale and nature of the breakdown, it can take time, resulting in extended downtime for the transport route or making it difficult to predict the time required for repairs. In such cases, it can cause great inconvenience to users of the transport system, so it is important to detect signs of a breakdown in advance to prevent such situations from occurring.

[0003] In general logistics centers such as mass retailers, items are transported in cardboard boxes, or when opening cardboard boxes to remove individually packaged products and transport them, they are transported in plastic returnable boxes (foldable containers commonly known as "oricon"). Many of these items are fixed-shaped products with flat bottoms, and large quantities need to be transported at once, and since it is also necessary to keep equipment costs down, the transport system often uses roller conveyors, which have rollers on a frame spaced at appropriate intervals according to the size of the items being transported.

[0004] When the conveying system is a roller conveyor, problems such as malfunctions of the rotating parts such as rollers, cracks and wear of the drive belt, etc. often occur. In addition, the "scanner" and "photocell" sensors that are attached to the conveyor frame to control the transported objects may become misaligned due to vibrations, etc., and may not be able to recognize the objects properly. Furthermore, the control devices may malfunction due to the installation environment of the equipment (temperature, humidity, dust, etc.) or constant exposure to various noises from other surrounding equipment. Regular inspection and maintenance are essential to check for these symptoms.

[0005] It takes a lot of time and effort to periodically inspect all of these long transport systems and detect signs of failure in advance. Currently, experienced engineers patrol the transport systems and inspect areas where failures may occur by visual inspection or hammering inspection, relying on their years of intuition and experience. However, it is very difficult for engineers with little experience to detect signs of failure. Furthermore, it becomes even more difficult to inspect places that are difficult for inspectors to access, such as when the transport route is complicated, or when the parts of the transport system that need to be inspected are tunnel-like inside the walls of a building or are installed at high places.

[0006] In addition, in the baggage transport and sorting system for passengers at airports, after passengers entrust the transportation of their baggage at a counter before boarding, the baggage is given a baggage identifier ID using a barcode or the like at the counter, and is automatically transported on a conveyer belt to a work area (make) for loading onto the designated aircraft. The baggage is then loaded onto the aircraft and airlifted to the destination, where it is promptly delivered to the customer at the baggage claim area at the airport upon arrival.

[0007] On departing flights, these baggage items are sorted and transported by a transport system according to flight number, destination, etc. The baggage is read by a baggage identifier ID reader (e.g. a barcode reader) installed on the transport aircraft and is transported to the boarding aircraft within the designated time. On arriving flights, after being transported by the aircraft, the baggage is promptly transported to the conveyor system at the baggage claim area of ​​the arrival airport.

[0008] In order to transport baggage of various sizes, passenger baggage transport systems have traditionally used wide conveyor belts. However, transport paths using wide and long rubber or other belts not only require a large amount of power from the driving motor, but also require a great deal of effort for maintenance (inspection and repair).

[0009] Furthermore, in recent years, airport baggage handling has been strengthened with more emphasis on "reducing damage to luggage" and "countermeasures for irregularly shaped or fragile items," and traceability has also become important to prevent passengers' individual baggage from going missing. Therefore, instead of individually transporting various types of baggage of the same passenger on a conveyor path using wide belts, a method is being changed to one in which the baggage is placed on uniformly shaped trays and transported all at once. This method of transport is called a method in which a narrow conveyor belt contacts only the bottom sides of the tray (a method known as the "DCT system"). This two-row system with narrow belts has started to spread in European airports, and a similar system is about to be introduced in airports in Japan as well.

[0010] Taking the baggage handling system at an airport as an example, if the baggage handling system were to break down for some reason and stop operating, it could have a huge impact on aircraft takeoffs and landings, which could cause confusion and major disruptions to airport management. Normally, when a breakdown occurs in airport management, the economic losses caused by the impact are enormous.

[0011] Methods and devices for diagnosing abnormalities that may lead to breakdowns in an article transport system in advance have been proposed in the prior art documents listed below.

[0012] Patent Document 1 discloses a technical idea of ​​arranging an ultrasonic detector at a predetermined location on the conveying path, detecting ultrasonic waves from the conveying device using ultrasonic detection every time the conveying device passes the predetermined location, and calculating a characteristic value of the detected ultrasonic waves. If the characteristic value, which is calculated sequentially every time the conveying device passes the predetermined location, exceeds a predetermined threshold value more than a predetermined number of times in succession, the conveying device is determined to be abnormal.

[0013] However, this technology only detects abnormalities at specific locations on the transport path, and does not capture signs of abnormalities or failures occurring on the entire transport path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0014] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-115606 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0015] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT In view of the above problems in the conventional technology, an object of the present invention is to provide a conveying system inspection device capable of detecting signs of an impending failure in an article conveying conveying path in advance.

[0016] More specifically, it is also an object of the present invention to provide a conveying system inspection device that can record various status information of the conveying path under normal conditions and detect signs of abnormalities by comparing the status information with information at the time of inspection.

[0017] Furthermore, it is also an objective of the present invention to provide a transport system inspection device that can inspect the transport system while it is actually operating and transmit the inspection result information in real time, thereby enabling the immediate inspection and repair of any areas where a malfunction may occur. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] In order to solve the above problems, a failure prediction transport system inspection device according to a first aspect of the present invention is configured to include a sensor attached to a transport body that can be transported on a transport path for transporting articles, which acquires information related to one or more of sound, vibration, image, light, ultrasound, pressure, and environment, an information recording device that is attached to the transport body and records sensor information collected from the sensor, and an information analysis and processing unit that drives the sensor and the information recording device to transport the transport body on the transport path while causing the sensor information about the area on or near the transport path to be recorded continuously in the information recording device.

[0019] As a failure prediction transport system inspection device according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the information analysis / processing unit can also have a function of determining signs of a failure occurring in the transport path based on the sensor information collected from the sensor.

[0020] As a failure prediction transport system inspection device according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the transport body is transported on the transport path while actual work related to article transportation is in progress, and the information analysis / processing unit compares the sensor information collected from the sensor with second sensor information previously recorded in the information recording device, determines signs of a failure occurring on the transport path, and records information related to the determined signs of a failure occurring in the information recording device.

[0021] As a failure prediction transportation system inspection device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the failure prediction transportation system inspection device may further include a communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from an outside, and the control unit may be configured to control the communication unit to transmit information related to the determined signs of failure occurrence to an outside.

[0022] As a failure prediction transportation system inspection device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the failure prediction transportation system inspection device further includes a communication unit for transmitting and receiving information with an external device, and the control unit transmits the sensor information collected from the sensor to an external analysis and processing device via the communication unit, and the control unit can also control the communication unit to receive failure occurrence symptom information from the external analysis and processing device.

[0023] As a failure prediction transport system inspection device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a position detection device is further provided for detecting a position of the transport body on the transport path or in the vicinity of the transport path, and the information analysis / processing unit can be configured to associate the sensor information with position information detected by the position detection device and record it chronologically in the information recording device.

[0024] As a failure prediction transportation system inspection device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, a gyrocompass and an accelerometer may be used as the position detection device.

[0025] As a failure prediction transport system inspection device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, an RF-ID reader can be used as the position detection device.

[0026] As a failure prediction transportation system inspection device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect, an image analysis device can be used as the position detection device.

[0027] As a failure prediction transportation system inspection device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the communication unit can receive control information from an external source for controlling the information analysis and processing unit, and the information analysis and processing unit can cause the sensor to obtain the sensor information based on the control information received by the communication unit.

[0028] As a failure prediction transportation system inspection device according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect, the control information can also include sensor information acquisition criteria information relating to information acquisition criteria for acquiring the sensor information.

[0029] As a failure prediction transport system inspection device according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the eleventh aspect, the sensor information acquisition standard information includes information that specifies a threshold level set for each type of sensor at each specified position on the transport path, and the control unit can be configured to record the sensor information in the information recording device and transmit the sensor information to the outside when the sensor information exceeds the threshold level.

[0030] In addition, in order to solve the above problem, a conveying system according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is configured to include a conveying path for conveying articles, a sensor attached to a conveying body that can be conveyed on the conveying path for acquiring information related to one or more of sound, vibration, image, light, ultrasound, pressure, and environment, an information recording device for recording sensor information collected from the sensor, an information analysis and processing unit that drives the sensor and the information recording device to continuously record the sensor information about the conveying path or near the conveying path in the information recording device while conveying the conveying body on the conveying path, and a function of determining signs of a malfunction of the conveying path based on the sensor information.

[0031] As a conveying system according to the 14th aspect of the present invention, in the 13th aspect, the conveying body is conveyed on the conveying path while actual work related to article transportation is being performed, and the control unit compares the sensor information collected from the sensor with second sensor information pre-recorded in the information recording device, determines signs of a malfunction in the conveying path, and records information related to the determined signs of a malfunction in the information recording device.

[0032] As a conveying system according to a 15th aspect of the present invention, in the 13th or 14th aspect, the conveying system further includes a communication unit that transmits and receives information between an external device and the conveying system, and the control unit can be configured to control the communication unit to transmit information related to the determined symptoms of a failure to an external device.

[0033] As a transportation system according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the thirteenth aspect, the transportation system further includes a communication unit for transmitting and receiving information between the outside, and the information analysis / processing unit transmits the sensor information collected from the sensor to an external analysis device via the communication unit, and the information analysis / processing unit controls the communication unit to receive failure occurrence symptom information from the external analysis device.

[0034] As a conveying system according to the 17th aspect of the present invention, in the 13th aspect, a position detection mechanism is further provided for detecting the position of the conveying body on the conveying path or in the vicinity of the conveying path, and the information analysis / processing unit can be configured to associate the sensor information with position information detected by the position detection mechanism and record it chronologically in the information recording device.

[0035] As a conveying system according to the 18th aspect of the present invention, in the 17th aspect, the position detection device can also be configured to include an RF-ID tag provided at a predetermined point along the conveying path or near the conveying path, and an RF-ID reader provided on the conveying body.

[0036] As a conveying system according to the 19th aspect of the present invention, in the 17th aspect, the position detection device can be configured to include an optical marker provided at a predetermined point along the conveying path or near the conveying path, and an image analysis device provided on the conveying body and having the function of reading the optical marker.

[0037] As a conveying system according to the 20th aspect of the present invention, in the 17th aspect, the position detection device can also be configured to include a conveying path configuration diagram recorded in the information recording device and a means for detecting a position on the conveying path by at least one of a specific sound, vibration, and impact associated with a specified point included in the conveying path configuration diagram.

[0038] As a transportation system according to a 21st aspect of the present invention, in the 15th aspect, the communication unit receives control information from the outside for controlling the information analysis and processing unit, and the information analysis and processing unit can also cause the sensor to acquire the sensor information based on the control information received by the communication unit.

[0039] As a transport system according to a 22nd aspect of the present invention, in the 21st aspect, the control information can also include sensor information acquisition criteria information relating to information acquisition criteria for acquiring the sensor information.

[0040] As a conveying system according to a 23rd aspect of the present invention, in the 22nd aspect, a threshold level set for each type of sensor is defined for each predetermined position on the conveying path, the sensor information acquisition standard information includes information defining the threshold level, and the information analysis / processing unit can be configured to record the sensor information in the information recording device and transmit the sensor information to the outside when the sensor information exceeds the threshold level.

[0041] As a conveying system according to the 24th aspect of the present invention, in any of the 13th to 23rd aspects, the conveying body may be configured so that at least a first body functions as an information collecting device for acquiring the sensor information by the sensor, and a second body functions as an information analysis / processing unit for determining signs of a malfunction in the conveying path based on the sensor information acquired by the first body, as separate bodies.

[0042] As a conveying system according to the 25th aspect of the present invention, in any of the 13th to 23rd aspects, the conveying body can be configured by connecting at least a first body that functions as an information collecting device for acquiring the sensor information by the sensor, a second body that functions as an information analysis and processing unit that determines signs of a malfunction in the conveying path based on the sensor information acquired by the first body and acquires malfunction sign information, and a third body that has a repair unit for cleaning or maintaining the sensors provided on the conveying path based on the sensor information acquired by the first body and / or the malfunction sign information obtained by the second body.

[0043] As a conveying system according to a 26th aspect of the present invention, in the 25th aspect, the sensor includes a photoelectric switch having at least a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion, and the repair portion can also have a function of cleaning dirt on the light-emitting portion and / or the light-receiving portion of the photoelectric switch by spraying compressed air.

[0044] As a transfer system according to a 27th aspect of the present invention, in any one of the 24th to 26th aspects, the information analysis / processing unit may include a personal computer and analysis software.

[0045] As the conveying system inspection device is conveyed along the actual conveying path, test measurement information of each sensor device during conveying is recorded. The test measurement information is compared with information from the sensor device during normal operation, and correlations with the test measurement information from the various sensor devices are investigated to correctly identify signs of failure, which are then recorded, for example, in the information recording device as failure indication information. The failure indication information may be retained as is in the conveying system inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and read from the information recording device for judgment after conveying along the conveying path is completed. (Offline) The failure indication information may also be transmitted to the outside by a wireless communication device, and the location of the failure indication may be immediately inspected. (Online)

[0046] The test measurement information from each of the sensor devices can be transmitted to the outside, and compared with the information of the sensor devices during normal operation, or correlations between the test measurement information of the various sensor devices can be investigated to detect signs of failure, which can be performed by an external information analysis and processing unit. Furthermore, the wireless communication device can receive control information from the outside, and the control information can be used to control the information acquisition method and information acquisition criteria of each of the devices.

[0047] Data from each device during normal operation of the transport system is recorded, and these are used as reference values. By comparing and correlating these with measurement data during normal inspections, signs of a malfunction can be identified.

[0048] Similarly, based on the test information obtained as described above, a threshold level can be set for each position on the transport path, and if the test measurement information exceeds the above level, the corresponding test measurement information can be recorded and transmitted to the outside, thereby transmitting information in real time. Effect of the Invention

[0049] According to the present invention, by transporting a conveying system inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention along an actual conveying route, it is possible to grasp the status of the conveying system (such as operating time, volume of conveyed goods, and abnormality history from the control device of the equipment itself) and collect and analyze various data to detect signs of abnormalities in advance, thereby enabling the conveying system to be operated efficiently and economic losses to be prevented.

[0050] In addition, because it is possible to grasp the transport status of the transported items (goods / luggage), there is no need to use parts with excessive precision standards in order to prevent breakdowns in the transport system, making it possible to select the optimal transport system and reduce costs.

[0051] The inspection device of the present invention can be used to automatically inspect transport routes in locations where inspectors cannot easily access them, such as when the transport route is complicated, tunnel-shaped, or located at a high altitude.

[0052] Furthermore, since signs of a malfunction can be detected while the transport system is actually operating and information can be transmitted in real time, the affected area can be immediately inspected in detail and repaired if necessary, preventing losses due to the transport system being stopped. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0053] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a transport system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied; [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a transport system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Diagram 3] 1 is a block diagram of a transport system inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram of a voice analysis device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the appearance of a transport system inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing the appearance of a transport system inspection device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 13 is an explanatory diagram of a signal analysis and processing method for a transport system inspection device according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0054] Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the scope necessary for the description to achieve the object of the present invention will be shown in a schematic manner, and the scope necessary for the description of the relevant parts of the present invention will be mainly described, and the parts that are omitted will be described as being related to the publicly known technology.

[0055] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below by taking as an example a case where the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a baggage conveying system that can simplify the conveying path by conveying baggage of different shapes on trays of substantially uniform shape. Since the baggage is conveyed on trays of substantially uniform shape regardless of the shape of the baggage, the baggage conveying system is very suitable as an application of the embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] 1 is a schematic diagram of a baggage conveying system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which conveys baggage 1 of different shapes on trays 2 of substantially uniform shape. The system is configured to include a relatively narrow belt 4 driven by a driving source 3 that may include a motor on both sides of a substantially straight conveying path (curved conveying paths and branching conveying paths are not described), a belt guide 5 arranged under the belt 4 to support the load of the baggage being conveyed, a guide rail 6 to prevent the tray 2 from shifting left and right, a control unit 7 that optimally controls the number of rotations of the driving source 3 that drives the conveying path based on speed information of the entire conveying unit, and controls to stop driving the driving source 3 of the conveying path when there is no tray 2 or baggage 1 on the tray 2 on the conveying path, and a conveying path position information unit 8 for identifying the position using identification information such as RFID or barcode.

[0057] The conveying system inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention has various measuring devices, which will be described later, loaded into a housing 2-0, which will be described later and has a shape that allows it to be transported along the conveying path, and observes the condition of the conveying path while conveying the object along the actual conveying path, quickly detecting and responding to any signs of malfunction, thereby preventing breakdowns from occurring.

[0058] 2 is a schematic perspective view of a conveying system inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention applied to a conveying system using a roller conveyor 9. The same measuring devices as in FIG. 1 are loaded onto a housing (which may be a conveying body; the same applies below) 6-0 (not shown) that can be conveyed by the conveying system to form a conveying system inspection device. A conveying path position information unit 10 having the same function as the conveying path position information unit 8 in FIG. 1 is provided on the guide rail 6. Note that when applying the above-mentioned conveying system inspection device to a wide belt conveyor conveying path, an inspection device of approximately the same shape can be used.

[0059] 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a conveying system inspection device Y according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the conveying system inspection device Y according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with at least one of an acoustic analysis device 3-1, a vibration analysis device 3-2, an image analysis device 3-3, an optical measurement device 3-4, an ultrasonic analysis device 3-5, a pressure analysis device 3-6, and an environment analysis device 3-7 as a sensor device for conveying system inspection in a housing 5-0 (not shown) that can be transported on a conveying path. Each of the above sensor devices is connected to an information analysis / processing device 3-13 via an I / F device 3-8, and the information analysis / processing device 3-13 is connected to a vibration device 3-10 and a position detection device 3-11 via the I / F device 3-8, and also to a wireless communication device 3-14 and an information recording device 3-12 via the I / F device 3-8.

[0060] The conveying system inspection device Y according to one embodiment of the present invention may analyze the stored data to detect a symptom of a fault (offline) after being conveyed by an actual conveying system, or may wirelessly transmit data to the outside during conveying and detect a symptom of a fault (online) in an external analysis device 3-30 (not shown in the figure). The external analysis / processing device 3-30 may be configured to include a wireless communication device 3-15 and a personal computer device, or a signal analysis device 3-16 having a more advanced signal analysis capability and an information recording device 3-17.

[0061] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of an acoustic analysis device according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is provided with one or more microphones (hereinafter abbreviated as "microphones") M0, M1 to Mn in a housing 2-0 (not shown) to capture the direction of a sound source, external sounds, and housing vibration sounds. The microphones M0, M1 to Mn may be of a required frequency band, or may be a wideband microphone whose output is controlled to a required frequency band by a frequency filter FIL. Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a volume control circuit AGC in case of a large volume such as a collision sound. This acoustic analysis device can capture or block only sounds of a specific frequency, and can detect the direction of sound generation by collecting and analyzing sound sources using multiple microphones.

[0062] In addition, since it is expected that the location where the transport path is installed will be subject to a large amount of ambient noise, a microphone M0 for detecting ambient sound may be provided and the detected ambient noise may be subtracted from the information from microphones M1 to Mn, or the ambient noise floor may be detected by microphone M0 and set as a threshold level, and only information exceeding that level may be handled, or a noise canceling function may be provided.

[0063] The vibration analyzer 3-2 is composed of a vibration sensor, and detects one or more pieces of information among the amplitude, direction, displacement, frequency, and acceleration of the shock, vibration, and vibration from the conveyor path transmitted to the housing 5-0. For example, looseness in a conveyor belt appears as intermittent vibration, and shaft displacement and wear of a drive motor appear as peculiar vibration frequencies, making it possible to detect signs of failure.

[0064] The image analyzer 3-3 is composed of an image / video camera and is installed in a necessary part of the housing 5-0. It can detect foreign objects on the conveyor path, and also detect distortions and scratches on the structures by comparing the images with those of the structures on the conveyor path under normal conditions. Also, by attaching image ID tags such as barcodes to the guide rails and structures on the conveyor path and detecting the images, it is possible to detect the current position on the conveyor path.

[0065] The optical measuring device 3-4 is composed of a laser emitter and a laser receiver, and can accurately measure the distance from the housing 5-0 in which the inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted to an object such as a guide rail. Furthermore, by scanning and receiving the emitted laser light, the surface roughness and surface rust condition of the object can be observed.

[0066] The ultrasonic analyzer 3-5 is configured with an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver, and can detect the generation of ultrasonic waves when metal breakage occurs in the mechanical parts on the conveying path. In addition, the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver are provided at specific positions in the housing 5-0, and it is possible to detect flaws in the metal parts constituting the conveying path.

[0067] The pressure detection device 3-6 is a pressure sensor installed on the bottom or side of the housing 5-0, and is preferably a small sensor that can obtain an electrical output, such as a semiconductor piezoresistance type. The pressure detection device 3-6 detects the pressure applied to the housing 5-0 while it is moving along the conveyance path, and can detect abnormalities such as the housing 5-0 being pressed to one side beyond the design value or hitting an unexpected protruding object along the conveyance path.

[0068] The environmental measuring device 3-7 is equipped with environmental measuring devices for temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind, dust, etc., and measures the conveyor system environment. For example, when conveying frozen foods, it is important to control the temperature of the conveyor path environment, and it is possible to prevent food accidents by capturing temperature changes in advance. In addition, it is also important to observe heat generation from the driving device of the conveyor path and heat generation due to friction of the conveyor belt in order to prevent accidents in advance.

[0069] The vibration device 3-10 is composed of an electric vibrator and / or a tapping mechanism. A tapping mechanism is a device that drives a small hammer using an electric solenoid or motor drive to give a light impact to an object. Such a vibration device applies vibration or impact to necessary points on the conveying path, and the reaction sound is collected, analyzed, and diagnosed by the acoustic analysis device 3-1. The above vibration analysis device also collects, analyzes, and diagnoses resonance frequencies. Usually, when a screw loosens or the structure is distorted or twisted, a reaction sound with a different frequency than normal is generated, or a peculiar impact sound is generated, making it possible to detect signs of a breakdown.

[0070] The position detection device 3-11 is configured to include a gyrocompass and an accelerometer, and further includes a wireless device (hereinafter referred to as a "wireless device") such as RFID or Bluetooth (registered trademark) using an IC tag, and performs current self-position estimation of the conveying system inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention using the accelerometer and gyrocompass. This self-position estimation is performed by calculating the moving distance and direction using the accelerometer and gyrocompass with the conveying path start position as a reference, and estimating the current position. If there is a risk of error superposition, an IC tag, for example, can be installed at a reference point installed at a known key point, and the IC tag can be read by an RFID reader to correct the error. Error correction using a reference point may be performed by installing a visual marker such as a barcode or an AR marker instead of an IC tag, and visually recognizing the marker with the above-mentioned image analysis device to perform error correction. The use of these IC tags, RFID readers, visual markers such as barcodes and AR markers, and image analysis devices is not limited to the above-mentioned error correction, and they can also be used as position detection devices. In addition, characteristic points such as branch points in the conveying path can be detected by the image analysis device to perform position correction and / or position detection. Furthermore, position correction and / or position detection may be performed by detecting light from a photoelectric sensor for detecting the passage of the transported article.

[0071] The I / F device 3-9 is an interface device for connecting information from each of the sensor devices 3-1 to 3-8 and control lines of each sensor to an information analysis and processing unit, and also includes a terminal 3-20 (not shown) for connection to an external device.

[0072] The information recording device (also called the "memory device") 3-11 can store (memory) information from each of the sensor devices 3-1 to 3-8 under the control of the control device 3-12, and can store information from each of the sensor devices when the conveying path is in a normal state as reference data. In addition, it also functions as a temporary memory or buffer memory similar to the memory device of a personal computer.

[0073] In addition, if the transport path configuration diagram is recorded in the information recording device, the position information from the position detection device can be compared with the transport path configuration diagram to more clearly grasp where the transport path testing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is located on the transport path. The arrival of the transport path system inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention at the transport path switching position can be detected by the characteristic points of the transport path that can be seen from the transport path configuration diagram, for example, the specific vibrations and impacts that occur at the transport path switching position, and this can be used to correct errors in the position detection device.

[0074] The information analysis and processing unit 3-13 is composed of a CPU similar to that of a personal computer, and performs calculations on data from each sensor device, comparisons with normal data, judgment of signs of failure based on correlations of information from multiple sensors, storage of data from each sensor including judgment data in an information recording device, data transmission to the outside via a wireless communication device described later, control based on control information from the outside, etc. Also, as described later, it is possible to estimate the position in the transport path configuration diagram by detecting a specific vibration frequency, and to detect loosening or peeling of side panels by images and vibration frequencies.

[0075] In the transport system inspection device of the present invention, as described above, in order to determine the signs of failure based on the information from each sensor in normal times, there is a method of making a judgment by comparing the information in normal times with the information in failure. However, failures rarely occur, and it is difficult to obtain information when a failure occurs. For this reason, there is also a method of assuming a certain failure, artificially generating a failure state, and predicting the failure based on the data at that time.

[0076] On the other hand, actual failures often occur under unexpected conditions, and the failure state cannot be described logically. In such cases, there is a method of determining failure occurrence predictions by using learning means including artificial neural networks (ANN) using artificial intelligence (AI) in the information analysis and processing section.

[0077] As the AI ​​method (herein) described above, the information from each sensor can be machine-learned by a processing means exemplified by the Naive Bayes method, the support vector machine method, the anomaly detection method, the neural network method, the feature space method (K-means method, etc.) as the application software used in the information analysis and processing device 3-13, and the information from each sensor can be compared with the data from each sensor under normal conditions, a sign of failure can be judged based on the correlation of data from multiple sensors, the data information from each sensor including the judgement information can be stored in the information recording device 3-12, the information can be transmitted to the outside via the wireless communication device 3-15 described later, and the information analysis and processing device 3-13 can be controlled by control information from the outside. By the above information analysis and processing, it is possible to accurately detect peculiar data information from each sensor, and not only judge the sign of failure, but also estimate the position in the transport path configuration diagram and detect the fault part and fault condition.

[0078] Taking the feature space method as an example of information analysis and processing using the above AI method, a correlation matrix is ​​constructed using normalized measurement data from a sensor, and a unit space is generated for the normal operation state of the transport equipment (hereinafter abbreviated as normal state) using Yak-9 multivariate analysis. The degree of anomaly is determined by comparing this unit space data with the data collected by the sensor. The above relationship is shown in the block diagram of Figure 7.

[0079] The wireless communication device 3-14 is configured with a transmitter / receiver of a wireless communication method such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or a specific low-power radio, and transmits the failure sign judgment results and information from each sensor device to the outside and receives signals from the outside under the control of the signal analysis device 3-12. The wireless communication method to be used is selected according to the required data transfer rate. Also, the antenna to be used by the wireless communication device is selected according to the required communication range. Also, it is possible to transmit data from each sensor device directly to the outside and have it analyzed by an external analysis device with advanced analysis functions, which is called cloud processing.

[0080] A rechargeable battery is used as the power supply device, and the battery capacity can be determined depending on how many types of sensors are installed.

[0081] Fig. 5(a) is a schematic top view of a housing 5-0 having substantially the same form (shape, weight) as the tray 2 shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5(b) is a schematic bottom view of the housing 5-0. Figs. 5(a) and (b) show a rectangular box-shaped housing 5-0 as an example, with a sensor bay SB1 on the side of the box-shaped housing 5-0 for accommodating the sensor units of various sensor devices, and sensor bays SB2 are disposed in front and behind the housing 5-0. The sensor bays SB1 and SB2 preferably accommodate the sensor devices (not shown) of an acoustic analysis device 3-1, a vibration excitation device 3-10, a vibration analysis device 3-2, an image analysis device 3-3, an optical measurement device 3-4, and a pressure detection device 3-6.

[0082] As shown in Fig. 5(b), a sensor bay SB4 is provided on the bottom surface of the housing 5-0, and it is desirable to accommodate sensor devices such as an acoustic analysis device 3-1, a vibration analysis device 3-2, an ultrasonic analysis device 3-5, and a position detection device 3-11. In addition, it is desirable to accommodate a wireless communication device 3-14 in the upper part SB5 of the housing 2-0.

[0083] As another application example of the present invention, a protruding sensor bay SB3 shown by a dotted line may be provided at a position corresponding to the item storage section of the housing 5-0 in Fig. 5(a) so that the surroundings of the housing 5-0 can be overlooked. The sensor bay SB3 may store sensor devices such as an acoustic analysis device 3-1, an image analysis device 3-3, an optical measurement device 3-4, and a wireless communication device 3-14 (not shown).

[0084] 6(a) and 6(b) are schematic diagrams of an inspection device according to another embodiment of the present invention when applied to a conveyance path formed by a roller conveyor or wide belt conveyor shown in FIG. 2. The conveyance system inspection device according to another embodiment of the present invention is housed in a housing 6-0 having substantially the same shape as a typical transported object transported on the conveyance path. The various measuring devices housed in the housing 6-0 and the sensor bays SB1 to SB5 that house their sensor units are substantially similar to the housing 5-0 shown in FIG. 5, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted. [Industrial Applicability]

[0085] According to the present invention, it is possible to inspect the entire system of a large-scale transport system such as an airport baggage transport system or a large logistics center while the system is in operation, and by quickly finding and dealing with areas where failures are likely to occur, it is possible to prevent accidents that could cause major disruption to the airport system.

[0086] In the explanation of Figure 1, an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a conveying device that conveys objects placed on dedicated trays, but the invention can also be applied to roller conveyor conveying systems and conveyor belt conveying systems that use wide belts.

[0087] When the conveying system is started up before transporting any goods, a conveying system inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention can be transported to inspect the conveying system, and then the actual goods can be transported. Alternatively, a conveying system inspection device Y according to one embodiment of the present invention can be transported at the same time while the actual goods are being transported, and system inspection can be performed during actual transport, thereby allowing both online and offline inspection of the goods conveying system.

[0088] In addition, the conveying system inspection device Y according to one embodiment of the present invention can be equipped with the sensor devices 3-1 to 3-7 as described above, but can also handle simple inspections such as acoustic inspections, as well as complex inspections equipped with various sensors. In other words, flexible operation is possible, such as performing simple inspections together with the conveyed goods under normal circumstances and performing complex periodic inspections at certain intervals, which helps to further improve the reliability of the conveying system.

[0089] Furthermore, in a system that transports items in trays, the device for the first tray at the front, like Doctor Yellow on the Shinkansen, may be configured as an information gathering device equipped with sensors for images, sound, light, ultrasound, etc., for the purpose of gathering information, the device for the second tray may be configured as an information analysis and processing unit that analyzes the information gathered by the first device using a personal computer and dedicated analysis software, and the device for the third tray may be configured as a device with a repair function such as spraying compressed air to clean dirt from the light-emitting and light-receiving parts of photoelectric switches installed appropriately on the transport line based on the information obtained by the device in front. In this way, repair functions other than inspection functions may be provided.

[0090] Furthermore, in a system that transports trays loaded with transported goods, only a tray incorporating the transport system inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention may be transported for transport system inspection, or an actual transported goods may be loaded onto the tray incorporating the inspection device at the same time for inspection. In other words, while the goods transport system is actually operating, the transport system inspection device according to one embodiment of the present invention can be transported along the same transport route as the transported goods, and the operation of the transport system can be diagnosed, making this a groundbreaking technology that can automatically perform the same function as Doctor Yellow on the Shinkansen.

[0091] In addition, when the present conveying system inspection device is used for inspection at a logistics center constructed by the applicant, the control system of the center can be known in advance, and detailed information such as the positional relationship of the photoelectric switches can be accurately known before the inspection, so the accurate positional relationship of the device can be understood using information obtained from these systems. However, in a center constructed by someone other than the applicant, it is difficult to obtain detailed information about the control system in advance, so it is difficult to grasp the status of the conveying line in advance. However, in the case of this device, since the device itself has sensors such as images, sounds, and light, and also has optical measuring devices such as lasers and autonomous positioning technologies such as gyros, the accurate positional relationship of the device can be understood by utilizing information obtained from these devices. Therefore, it can be used in various conveying forms such as roller conveyors, belt conveyors, and tray-type conveying systems such as DCT, and can be used in many logistics centers and airport facilities regardless of location.

[0092] As described above, the present invention can be widely used not only in airport baggage handling systems, but also in logistics center handling systems, warehouse management systems, production lines, and other locations that use handling systems, and is expected to make a significant contribution to future logistics management systems.

[0093] In addition, although the above explanation has focused on applications to conveyor transport devices, the present invention can also be widely applied to different industrial fields, such as inspection of the transport path status of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) in port facilities and inspection of the transport paths of automated guided vehicles in large markets such as Toyosu Market in Tokyo. In open space applications, a GPS device can be used as a position detection device in addition to the above position detection device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 1...baggage, 2...tray, 3...driving source, 4...conveyor belt, 5...belt guide, 6...guide rail, 7...control unit, 8...transport path position information unit, 9...roller conveyor, 10...transport path position information unit, 21...transported object, 2-0...housing, 3-0...housing, 3-1...acoustic analysis device, 3-2...vibration analysis device, 3-3...image analysis device, 3-4...image analysis device, 3-5...ultrasonic analysis device, 3-6...pressure detection device, 3-7...environment analysis device, 3-8...interface device, 3-9...external device connection, 3-10...vibration device, 3-11...position detection device, 3-12...information recording device, 3-13...information analysis and processing unit, 3-14...wireless communication device, 3-15...wireless communication device, 3-16...signal analysis device, 3-17...information recording device, 3-20...power supply device, M0 to Mn...microphone, AGC...automatic control circuit, FIL...frequency filter, C1, C2...control line, SB1 to SB5...sensor bay, Y...transport system inspection device

Claims

1. a sensor attached to a conveyor that can be conveyed along a conveyance path for conveying an article, the sensor acquiring information related to sound; an information recording device that is attached to the carrier and records sensor information collected by the sensor; an information analysis and processing unit which drives the sensor and the information recording device to transport the transport body along the transport path while continuously recording the sensor information about the transport path or the vicinity of the transport path in the information recording device, applies vibration or impact to a necessary portion of the transport path, collects, analyzes and diagnoses the reaction sound, and recognizes the generation of a reaction sound with a frequency different from that in normal times or the generation of a peculiar impact sound as a sign of impending failure; A failure prediction transport system inspection device comprising:

2. 2. The failure prediction transport system inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the information analysis and processing unit determines a sign of a failure occurring in the transport path based on the sensor information collected from the sensor.

3. The transport body is transported on the transport path in which actual work related to transporting items is in progress, The failure prediction transport system inspection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the information analysis / processing unit compares the sensor information collected from the sensor with second sensor information previously recorded in the information recording device, determines signs of a failure occurring in the transport path, and records information related to the determined signs of a failure occurring in the information recording device.

4. The failure prediction transportation system inspection device further includes a communication unit for transmitting and receiving information to and from an external device, 4. The failure prediction transportation system inspection device according to claim 2, further comprising a control unit that controls the communication unit so as to transmit information related to the determined failure occurrence symptom to an outside.

5. The failure prediction transportation system inspection device further includes a communication unit for transmitting and receiving information to and from an external device, The information analysis and processing unit transmits the sensor information collected from the sensor to an external analysis device via the communication unit, 2. The failure prediction transportation system inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the information analysis / processing unit controls the communication unit so as to receive failure occurrence symptom information from the external analysis device.

6. a position detection device that detects a position of the transport body on the transport path or in the vicinity of the transport path; 2. The failure prediction transportation system inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the information analysis / processing unit associates the sensor information with position information detected by the position detection device and records it chronologically in the information recording device.

7. 7. The failure prediction transport system inspection device according to claim 6, wherein a gyrocompass and an accelerometer are used as the position detection device.

8. 7. The failure prediction transport system inspection device according to claim 6, wherein an RF-ID reader is used as the position detection device.

9. 7. The failure prediction transport system inspection device according to claim 6, wherein an image analyzer is used as the position detection device.

10. The communication unit receives control information from an external device for controlling the information analysis and processing unit, 5. The failure prediction transport system inspection device according to claim 4, wherein the information analysis and processing unit causes the sensor to obtain the sensor information based on the control information received by the communication unit.

11. 11. The failure prediction transport system inspection device according to claim 10, wherein the control information includes sensor information acquisition criteria information relating to an information acquisition criteria for acquiring the sensor information.

12. the sensor information acquisition standard information includes information that specifies a threshold level set for each type of the sensor at each predetermined position on the transport path, 12. The failure prediction transportation system inspection device according to claim 11, wherein the information analysis / processing unit records the sensor information in the information recording device and transmits the sensor information to the outside when the sensor information exceeds the threshold level.

13. A conveying path for conveying an article; a sensor attached to a carrier that can be transported on the transport path and that acquires information related to sound; an information recording device that records sensor information collected from the sensor; an information analysis and processing unit which drives the sensor and the information recording device to transport the transport body along the transport path while continuously recording the sensor information about the transport path or the vicinity of the transport path in the information recording device, applies vibration or impact to necessary locations on the transport path, collects, analyzes and diagnoses the reaction sounds, and judges the indication of the occurrence of a failure of the transport path based on the sensor information when a reaction sound having a frequency different from that in normal times or a peculiar impact sound is generated; A transport system comprising:

14. The transport body is transported on the transport path in which actual work related to transporting items is in progress, The conveying system according to claim 13, characterized in that the information analysis / processing unit compares the sensor information collected from the sensor with second sensor information previously recorded in the information recording device, determines signs of a malfunction in the conveying path, and records information relating to the determined signs of a malfunction in the information recording device.

15. The transport system further includes a communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from an external device, 15. The transport system according to claim 13, wherein the information analysis / processing unit controls the communication unit so as to transmit information relating to the determined failure occurrence symptom to an outside source.

16. The transport system further includes a communication unit that transmits and receives information to and from an external device, The information analysis and processing unit transmits the sensor information collected from the sensor to an external analysis device via the communication unit, The transportation system according to claim 13 , wherein the information analysis / processing unit controls the communication unit so as to receive failure occurrence symptom information from the external analysis device.

17. a position detection device that detects a position of the transport body on the transport path or in the vicinity of the transport path; 14. The transport system according to claim 13, wherein the information analysis and processing unit causes the sensor information to be associated with position information detected by the position detection device and to be recorded chronologically in the information recording device.

18. The position detection device is An RF-ID tag provided at a predetermined point along the conveying path or near the conveying path, and an RF-ID reader provided on the conveying body; The transport system of claim 17 , comprising:

19. The position detection device is an optical marker provided at a predetermined point on the conveying path or near the conveying path; an image analyzer provided on the carrier and having a function of reading the optical marker; The transport system of claim 17 , comprising:

20. The position detection device is A transport path configuration diagram recorded in the information recording device; a means for detecting a position on the conveying path by at least one of a specific sound, a vibration, and an impact associated with a specific point included in the conveying path configuration diagram; The transport system of claim 17 , comprising:

21. The communication unit receives control information from an external device for controlling the information analysis and processing unit, 16. The transport system according to claim 15, wherein the information analysis and processing section causes the sensor to obtain the sensor information based on the control information received by the communication section.

22. 22. The transportation system according to claim 21, wherein the control information includes sensor information acquisition criteria information related to information acquisition criteria for acquiring the sensor information.

23. A threshold level is set for each type of the sensor at each predetermined position of the transport path, The sensor information acquisition standard information includes information that defines the threshold level, 23. The transportation system according to claim 22, wherein the information analysis and processing unit records the sensor information in the information recording device and transmits the sensor information to the outside when the sensor information exceeds the threshold level.

24. The carrier includes at least A first entity that functions as an information collecting device for acquiring the sensor information by the sensor; a second body that functions as an information analysis and processing unit that determines a sign of a failure occurring in the transport path based on the sensor information acquired by the first body; The transport system according to any one of claims 13 to 23, wherein the transport system is configured as a separate entity.

25. 25. The transport system according to claim 24, wherein the information analysis and processing unit comprises a personal computer and analysis software.

26. 26. The transport system according to claim 24, wherein the information analysis and processing unit compares information from each sensor when the transport path is not in a normal state with information from each sensor when the transport path is in a normal state.

27. The conveying system according to any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the information analysis / processing unit is equipped with application software that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI).

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