Scrap conveying device and scrap conveying method

Abstract

A scrap transport device and scrap transport method are provided that can prevent scrap and foreign objects from overlapping in a scrap pile at an unloading location. The scrap transport device (1) transports a scrap pile (SS) including multiple scraps (S) and foreign objects (D) to an unloading location (60). The scrap transport device (1) includes a scrap transport mechanism (10) that includes an inclined plate (11) that extends obliquely downward from above and that extends in a width direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, and that transports the scrap pile (SS) loaded onto the inclined plate (12) by sliding it diagonally downward to the unloading location (60), and a scrap spreading mechanism (13) that drops the scrap pile (SS) loaded onto the inclined plate (12) to a position outside the width direction of the inclined plate (11) relative to the loading position of the scrap pile (SS).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a scrap transport device and a scrap transport method. [Background technology]

[0002] Steelworks are seeking to increase the use of iron-based scrap as a raw material for producing steel products while reducing environmental impact. Scrap collected from the market is generated as waste from various products, such as processing equipment, automobiles, and electrical equipment. These products consist of various devices, such as electronic devices used for control, motors that act as actuators, various sensors, and electrical wires connecting the electronic devices to the actuators and sensors. Iron-based scrap is produced by extracting iron-based materials from the waste from such products. However, because iron-based materials are often connected to other materials during product manufacturing, materials containing non-iron components may be mixed into the iron-based scrap. Examples of materials containing non-iron components include electric motors containing copper, electrical wires containing copper, and electronic circuit boards containing copper or other metals.

[0003] On the other hand, when producing steel products, the composition of the steel product is important. For example, if a steel product contains a large amount of copper as an impurity, it can cause cracks during manufacturing, resulting in problems. When this copper is melted together with iron-based scrap to produce steel products, it cannot be removed during the manufacturing process. In addition, sealed objects may be found mixed in with ferrous scrap. If sealed objects containing moisture are mixed in with ferrous scrap, the high temperatures can cause steam explosions during melting of the ferrous scrap, damaging equipment and adversely affecting steel production. Sealed objects include pipes whose ends may be crushed during scrap transportation, resulting in a sealed structure.

[0004] In this way, if materials containing elements other than iron and sealed objects are melted together with iron-based scrap, various problems will arise during the production of steel products, so it is desirable to detect and remove foreign objects such as materials containing elements other than iron and sealed objects before melting. In other words, a group of iron-based scraps made up of multiple iron-based scraps contains foreign matter such as materials containing components other than iron and sealed objects that are undesirable when using the iron-based scrap, and it is desirable to detect and remove the foreign matter in the group of iron-based scraps before melting.

[0005] In recent years, object recognition technology has been developed that uses deep learning and other methods to identify pre-learned objects from photographed images of the target object, and it is possible that this technology could be applied to foreign object detection using scrap images. Conventionally, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a sealed object detection system that detects sealed objects contained in a collection of iron scrap. The sealed object detection system shown in Patent Document 1 includes a camera that photographs a collection of iron scrap, an inference unit that uses a trained model constructed in advance by machine learning using the presence or absence of sealed objects in the training image as training data to estimate whether or not the collection of iron scrap contains sealed objects from the camera image generated by the camera, and an alarm unit that detects when it is estimated that the collection of iron scrap contains sealed objects. The sealed object detection system disclosed in Patent Document 1 makes it easy to detect sealed objects contained in a collection of iron scrap. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-86285 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, the conventional enclosed object detection system disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the following problems. That is, in the sealed object detection system shown in Patent Document 1, a camera photographs scrap iron piled up in a scrap yard, scrap iron lifted from the scrap yard by a crane, or scrap loaded onto a truck or ship. However, when scrap iron is piled up, it is not possible to eliminate the possibility that the foreign object to be detected is buried in the pile of scrap iron and not exposed to the surface, and it is not possible to prevent the foreign object from being missed.

[0008] Therefore, currently, in order to detect all foreign objects without missing any, after unloading the iron scrap into the scrap yard, workers are sometimes required to spread out the scrap using heavy machinery with arms to check it, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve this conventional problem, and its object is to provide a scrap transport device and a scrap transport method that can prevent scrap and foreign objects from overlapping in a pile of scrap at an unloading location. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one embodiment of the present invention provides a scrap transport device that transports a group of scraps including multiple scraps and foreign objects to an unloading location, and is equipped with a scrap transport mechanism that includes an inclined plate that extends diagonally downward from above and has an inclined surface that extends in a width direction from left to right perpendicular to the up-down direction, and that transports the group of scraps loaded onto the inclined surface to the unloading location by sliding them diagonally downward, and a scrap spreading mechanism that drops the group of scraps loaded onto the inclined surface to the outside of the width direction of the inclined plate beyond the loading position of the group of scraps.

[0010] Another aspect of the present invention is a scrap transport method for transporting a group of scraps including a plurality of scraps and foreign objects to an unloading location using a scrap transport device, wherein the scrap transport device is provided with a scrap transport mechanism including an inclined plate that extends obliquely downward from above and has an inclined surface that extends in a width direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, and that transports the group of scraps loaded onto the inclined surface by sliding it diagonally downward to the unloading location, and a scrap spreading mechanism that drops the group of scraps loaded onto the inclined surface to the outside of the width direction of the inclined plate beyond the loading position of the group of scraps. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The scrap transport device and scrap transport method according to the present invention can provide a scrap transport device and scrap transport method that can prevent scrap and foreign objects from overlapping in a pile of scrap at an unloading location. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a scrap transport device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic side view of the scrap transport mechanism of the scrap transport device shown in FIG. 1 installed on a raised portion for truck travel. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a view of the scrap transport mechanism in FIG. 2 as seen from the direction of arrow A. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 of a first modified example of the scrap transport mechanism. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4 of a second modified example of the scrap transport mechanism. [Figure 7] 4 is a view of a scrap transport mechanism in a scrap transport device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the direction of arrow A, similar to FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a scrap transport mechanism in a scrap transport device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments shown below are examples of devices and methods for embodying the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments in terms of the materials, shapes, structures, arrangements, etc. of the components. In addition, the drawings are schematic, and therefore it should be noted that the relationship between thickness and planar dimensions, ratios, etc. may differ from the actual relationship, and the drawings may also contain parts where the relationship and ratio of dimensions differ from each other.

[0014] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a scrap transport device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the scrap transport device 1 includes a scrap transport mechanism 10, a photographing device 20, and a foreign matter detecting device 30. Here, the scrap transport mechanism 10 is installed on the front end surface of a truck travel raised portion 52 that rises from the ground near the unloading location 60.

[0015] The truck 50, with the scrap mass SS loaded on its loading platform 51, travels on the truck travel raised portion 52 toward the front end side where the scrap transport mechanism 10 is installed, and stops above the scrap transport mechanism 10. The loading platform 51 of the truck 50 is then dumped up, and the scrap mass SS is dumped onto the inclined plate 11 of the scrap transport mechanism 10. The scrap mass SS is then transported while sliding down the inclined plate 11 due to gravity, and is dropped into the unloading area 60.

[0016] The scrap group SS contains multiple scraps (iron-based scrap) S and, in some cases, one or more foreign objects D. Here, the foreign objects D generally refer to anything that is undesirable when using the scrap S, such as materials containing components other than iron and sealed objects. Examples of materials containing components other than iron include electric motors containing copper, electric wires containing copper, and electronic circuit boards containing copper or other metals. Examples of sealed objects include pipes whose ends may be crushed and become sealed during scrap transportation. The scrap transport mechanism 10 includes the inclined plate 11 and the scrap spreading mechanism 13.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 , the inclined plate 11 extends obliquely downward from above and includes an inclined surface 12 extending in a width direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The scrap pile SS fed onto the inclined surface 12 slides obliquely downward to be transported to the unloading location 60. The inclined plate 11 is formed by welding a first metal inclined plate portion 11a on the left side in the width direction and a second metal inclined plate portion 11b on the right side in the width direction at a widthwise center portion 12c. The first inclined plate portion 11a slopes obliquely upward from its left edge 12aa in the width direction toward the widthwise center portion 12c. The second inclined plate portion 11b slopes obliquely upward from its right edge 12ba in the width direction toward the widthwise center portion 12c. The first inclined plate portion 11a and the second inclined plate portion 11b are welded at the center portion 12c. The inclined surface 12 of the inclined plate 11 is composed of an upper surface 12a of the first inclined plate portion 11a and an upper surface 12b of the second inclined plate portion 11b.

[0018] As shown in Figure 3, the width of the inclined plate 11 gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the scrap group SS, so that it is W1 at the upstream end in the conveying direction (diagonally downward from above) of the scrap group SS and W2, which is wider than W1, at the downstream end in the conveying direction of the scrap group SS. The scrap spreading mechanism 13 drops the scrap group SS that has been placed on the inclined surface 12 to the outside in the width direction of the inclined plate 11 (towards the left edge 12aa and right edge 12ba in the width direction) from the placement position of the scrap group SS (a position near the center 12c in the width direction of the inclined plate 11).

[0019] The scrap spreading mechanism 13 is provided on the inclined surface 12 and is composed of a convex portion 13a that is convex from both widthwise edges (a left edge 12aa and a right edge 12ba) of the inclined plate 11 toward the widthwise center 12c. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the convex portion 13a constituting the scrap spreading mechanism 13 is composed of a triangle formed by an upper surface 12a of a first inclined plate portion 11a that is inclined so as to rise obliquely from the left edge 12aa of the inclined plate 11 toward the widthwise center 12c, and an upper surface 12b of a second inclined plate portion 11b that is inclined so as to rise obliquely from the right edge 12ba of the inclined plate 11 toward the widthwise center 12c. The convex portion 13a has a configuration similar to that of the inclined surface 12. Therefore, the widthwise center 12c of the inclined surface 12 is higher than the left edge 12aa and the right edge 12ba, and the scrap mass SS spreads out not only from above in the conveyance direction to diagonally downward, but also from the widthwise center 12c of the inclined plate 11 to both widthwise outer sides (towards the left edge 12aa and the right edge 12ba) as it falls. As a result, the scrap S and foreign objects D in the scrap mass SS piled up on the loading platform 51 of the truck 50 are spread out in a thin layer at the unloading location 60.

[0020] A pair of fall prevention plates 14a, 14b are provided on both widthwise edges (left edge 12aa and right edge 12ba) of the inclined plate 11. As shown in FIG. 4, each fall prevention plate 14a, 14b extends upward from the left edge 12aa and the right edge 12ba of the inclined plate 11 in the widthwise direction. As shown in FIG. 3, each fall prevention plate 14a, 14b extends from the upstream end to the downstream end of the left edge 12aa and the right edge 12ba of the inclined plate 11 in the conveying direction of the scrap group SS. The pair of fall prevention plates 14a, 14b prevent the scrap group SS from falling outward in the widthwise direction from the inclined plate 11 when the scrap group SS falls while spreading from the center portion 12c of the inclined plate 11 in the widthwise direction toward both widthwise outer sides (toward the left edge 12aa and the right edge 12ba).

[0021] Here, the width of the inclined plate 11 (width W1 of the upstream end in the conveying direction of the scrap group SS, width W2 of the downstream end), the inclination angle θ of the inclined plate 11 (inclined surface 12) relative to the horizontal direction (see Figure 2), the height H of the inclined plate 11 from the unloading location 60 (height between the upper surface of the truck travel raised portion 52 and the unloading location 60, see Figure 2), and the height h1 of the convex portion 13a that constitutes the scrap spreading mechanism 13 (see Figure 4) are determined by the size of the scrap S to be received.

[0022] Typically, the width of the loading platform 51 of the truck 50 delivering the scrap S is approximately 2.4 m, and the height of the piled scrap SS loaded on the loading platform 51 is approximately 2.4 m. Because the width or height of a single scrap S is generally approximately 500 mm, if the height of the piled scrap SS can be increased to 500 mm or less, foreign objects D can be prevented from being buried and hidden. Therefore, the width W1 of the upstream end of the inclined plate 11 in the conveying direction of the scrap SS is preferably approximately 2.4 m, so that scrap SS having a width and height of 2.4 m can be introduced. Furthermore, the width W2 of the downstream end of the inclined plate 11 in the conveying direction of the scrap SS is preferably approximately 1 / 5 or less of the height of the scrap SS having a width and height of 2.4 m introduced from the upstream end of the inclined plate 11 in the conveying direction. In this case, the width W2 of the downstream end is preferably 12 m, which is five times the width W1 of the upstream end.

[0023] The height H of the inclined plate 11 from the unloading location 60 is, for example, about 5 m. Furthermore, the inclination angle θ of the inclined plate 11 (inclined surface 12) relative to the horizontal direction is preferably approximately 30° to 45°. If the inclination angle θ is less than 30°, the scrap pile SS placed on the inclined surface 12 may stop midway through transport. On the other hand, if the inclination angle θ is greater than 45°, the piled scrap pile SS placed on the inclined surface 12 may fall onto the unloading area 60 without properly spreading out in the width direction. Furthermore, the height h1 of the convex portion 13a constituting the scrap spreading mechanism 13 is preferably approximately 500 mm, which is the same as the height of a single piece of scrap S. If the height of the convex portion 13a is the same as the height of a single piece of scrap S, the scrap group SS can be appropriately spread in the width direction when the scrap group SS is transported.

[0024] In addition, it is preferable that the inclination angle θa (see Figure 4) of the first inclined plate portion 11a of the inclined plate 11 in the width direction and the inclination angle θb (see Figure 4) of the second inclined plate portion 11b in the width direction are the same, approximately 5° to 20°, in order to appropriately spread the scrap group SS in the width direction. In this embodiment, the convex portion 13a constituting the scrap spreading mechanism 13 is triangular in shape, as shown in Figure 4, consisting of the upper surface 12a of the first inclined plate portion 11a which is inclined so as to rise obliquely from the left edge 12aa of the inclined plate 11 toward the center 12c in the width direction, and the upper surface 12b of the second inclined plate portion 11b which is inclined so as to rise obliquely from the right edge 12ba in the width direction of the inclined plate 11 toward the center 12c in the width direction, for the following reason.

[0025] That is, if the shape of the convex portion 13a is a triangle with two inclined upper surfaces 12a, 12b, the manufacturing cost is low and it is easy to attach a liner to the inclined upper surfaces 12a, 12b. If the scrap group SS contains a large amount of scrap S with heavy individual weight, the inclined plate 11 will wear out quickly, and it may be necessary to remake the inclined plate 11 many times or to protect it with a liner. Therefore, if the scrap group SS contains a large amount of scrap S with heavy individual weight, it is preferable that the shape of the convex portion 13a be a triangle. The photographing device 20 in the scrap transport device 1 is, for example, a camera, and photographs the scrap pile SS on the inclined surface 12 or the scrap pile SS that has slid down from the inclined surface 12 to the unloading location 60 .

[0026] In addition, the foreign matter detection device 30 is connected to the photographing device 20, processes the images photographed by the photographing device 20 to detect foreign matter D in the scrap group SS, and outputs the foreign matter detection results to an output device or the like not shown. Any foreign object D in the detected scrap group SS is lifted and removed by a transfer means such as a crane or heavy machinery. At this time, an operator may confirm the position of the foreign object D from the output device and operate the transfer means to remove the foreign object D, or the transfer means may be automatically controlled by a signal from the output device to remove the foreign object D. On the other hand, the scrap S in the scrap group SS other than the foreign matter D is transferred to a predetermined scrap storage location by the same transfer means or another transfer means such as the lifting magnet 40.

[0027] Next, a scrap transport method using the scrap transport device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, with the scrap transport mechanism 10 installed on the front end surface of the truck driving raised portion 52 that rises from the ground near the unloading location 60, the worker drives the truck 50, with the scrap group SS loaded on the loading platform 51, over the truck driving raised portion 52 toward the front end surface where the scrap transport mechanism 10 is installed, and stops it above the scrap transport mechanism 10. The worker then dumps up the loading platform 51 of the truck 50 and dumps the scrap mass SS onto the inclined surface 12 of the inclined plate 11 of the scrap transport mechanism 10. As a result, the scrap mass SS is transported by gravity while sliding diagonally downward along the inclined plate 11 and is dropped into the unloading area 60.

[0028] During the transport of the scrap mass SS, the scrap mass SS loaded onto the inclined surface 12 is spread out not only diagonally downward from above in the transport direction, but also to both widthwise outer sides (towards the left edge 12aa and right edge 12ba) of the loading position of the scrap mass SS (near the center 12c in the width direction of the inclined surface 11) due to the action of the scrap spreading mechanism 13. As a result, the scrap S and foreign objects D of the scrap mass SS piled up on the loading platform 51 of the truck 50 are spread out in a thinly spread state at the unloading location 60. Then, the photographing device 20 in the scrap transporting device 1 photographs the scrap pile SS on the inclined surface 12 or the scrap pile SS that has slid down from the inclined surface 12 to the unloading place 60. Next, the foreign matter detector 30 processes the image captured by the image capturing device 20 to detect foreign matter D in the scrap group SS, and outputs the foreign matter detection result to an output device or the like (not shown).

[0029] Thus, the scrap transport device 1 according to the first embodiment is provided with an inclined plate 11 that extends obliquely downward from above and that extends in a width direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, and that slides scrap masses SS loaded onto the inclined plate 12 diagonally downward to transport them to the unloading location 60. The scrap transport device 1 also has a scrap transport mechanism 10 that includes a scrap spreading mechanism 13 that drops scrap masses SS loaded onto the inclined plate 12 to the outside in the width direction of the inclined plate 11 from the loading position of the scrap masses SS. This allows the scrap S and foreign matter D in the scrap group SS at the unloading location 60 to be spread out in a thinly spread state, preventing them from overlapping. This makes it possible to detect the presence of foreign matter D in the scrap group SS without overlooking it.

[0030] Furthermore, according to the scrap conveying device 1 of the first embodiment, the scrap spreading mechanism 13 is provided on the inclined surface 12 and is composed of a convex portion 13a that is convex from the left edge 12aa and right edge 12ba of the inclined plate 11 in the width direction toward the central portion 12c in the width direction. As a result, when the scrap group SS is transported, the scrap group SS falls while spreading out downward from near the center 12c in the width direction of the inclined plate 11, which is the loading position of the scrap group SS, toward the left edge 12aa and the right edge 12ba in the width direction, and the scrap S and foreign matter D in the scrap group SS that were piled up on the loading platform 51 of the truck 50 can be appropriately spread out in a thinly spread state at the unloading location 60.

[0031] Furthermore, according to the scrap transport method of the first embodiment, the scrap group SS including the plurality of scraps S and foreign objects D is transported to the unloading location 60 using the scrap transport device 1 described above. This allows the scrap S and foreign matter D in the scrap group SS at the unloading location 60 to be spread out in a thinly spread state, preventing them from overlapping. This makes it possible to detect the presence of foreign matter D in the scrap group SS without overlooking it.

[0032] (First modified example of scrap transport mechanism) Next, a first modified example of the scrap conveying mechanism 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first modified example of the scrap conveying mechanism similar to Fig. 4. In Fig. 5, the same members as those in Fig. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and their description may be omitted. The first modified example of the scrap transport mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 5 has the same basic configuration as the scrap transport mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 4, but the shape of the convex portion 13a constituting the scrap spreading mechanism 13 is different. The scrap spreading mechanism 13 in the scrap conveying mechanism 10 shown in Figure 5 is, like the scrap spreading mechanism 13 in the scrap conveying mechanism 10 shown in Figure 4, provided on the inclined surface 12 and is composed of convex portions 13a that are convex toward the center of the width of both end edges (left end edge 12aa and right end edge 12ba) of the inclined plate 11 in the width direction.

[0033] 4, the shape of the protrusion 13a in the first modified example is different from that of the protrusion 13a shown in Fig. 4. The protrusion 13a is trapezoidal and includes an upper surface 12d of a third metal inclined plate portion 11d that is inclined so as to rise obliquely from the left edge 12aa of the inclined plate 11 toward the center in the width direction, an upper surface 12e of a fourth metal inclined plate portion 11e that is inclined so as to rise obliquely from the right edge 12ba of the inclined plate 11 toward the center in the width direction, and an upper surface 12f of a flat metal plate portion 11f that extends in the width direction at the center in the width direction. The protrusion 13a has the same configuration as the inclined surface 12.

[0034] In this way, the convex portion 13a of the first modified example is trapezoidal in shape, consisting of the upper surface 12d of the third inclined plate portion 11d, which is inclined so as to rise diagonally from the left edge 12aa of the inclined plate 11 toward the center in the width direction, the upper surface 12e of the fourth inclined plate portion 11e, which is inclined so as to rise diagonally from the right edge 12ba of the inclined plate 11 toward the center in the width direction, and the upper surface 12f of the flat plate portion 11f, which extends in the width direction at the center in the width direction, for the following reasons, which are similar to the triangular convex portion 13a of the first embodiment shown in Figure 4.

[0035] If the shape of the convex portion 13a is a trapezoid consisting of two inclined upper surfaces 12d, 12e and the upper surface 12f of the flat plate portion 11f, the manufacturing cost is low and it is easy to attach a liner to the upper surfaces 12d, 12e, 12f. If the scrap group SS contains a large amount of heavy individual scrap S, the inclined plate 11 will wear out quickly, and it may be necessary to remake the inclined plate 11 many times or to protect it with a liner. Therefore, if the scrap group SS contains a large amount of heavy individual scrap S, it is preferable to form the convex portion 13a in a trapezoidal shape.

[0036] (Second Modification of Scrap Conveying Mechanism) Next, a second modified example of the scrap conveying mechanism 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the second modified example of the scrap conveying mechanism similar to Fig. 4. In Fig. 6, the same members as those in Fig. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and their description may be omitted. The second modified example of the scrap transport mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 6 has the same basic configuration as the scrap transport mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 4, but the shape of the convex portion 13a that constitutes the scrap spreading mechanism 13 is different. The scrap spreading mechanism 13 in the scrap conveying mechanism 10 shown in Figure 6, like the scrap spreading mechanism 13 in the scrap conveying mechanism 10 shown in Figure 4, is provided on the inclined surface 12 and is composed of a convex portion 13a that is convex from both widthwise ends of the inclined plate 11 (the left widthwise end edge 12ga and the right widthwise end edge 12gb) toward the center in the widthwise direction.

[0037] However, the shape of the convex portion 13a in the second modified example is different from the shape of the convex portion 13a shown in Figure 4, and is formed in a curved shape consisting of the upper surface of a metal curved plate portion 11g whose upper side is convex from the left edge 12ga of the inclined plate 11 to the center in the width direction and toward the right edge 12gb in the width direction, and has a configuration similar to that of the inclined surface 12. The reason why the convex portion 13a of the second modified example is curved and formed by the upper surface of the curved plate portion 11g, which has a convex upper side from the left edge 12ga of the inclined plate 11 toward the center in the width direction and the right edge 12gb in the width direction, is as follows. If the convex portion 13a is configured to have a curved shape, any convex portion shape can be easily manufactured. Therefore, when the scrap group SS contains a large amount of scrap S with a light individual weight, the inclined plate 11 is less likely to wear out and there is less need to remanufacture it, so it is preferable to configure the convex portion 13a to have a curved shape to be able to have any convex portion shape.

[0038] (Second embodiment) Next, a scrap transport mechanism in a scrap transport device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Figure 7 is a view of the scrap transport mechanism in a scrap transport device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the direction of arrow A, as in Figure 3. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in Figure 7. In Figures 7 and 8, the same members as those in Figures 3 and 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their description may be omitted. The basic configuration of the scrap conveying mechanism 10 in the scrap conveying device 1 of the second embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8 is the same as the basic configuration of the scrap conveying mechanism 10 shown in Figures 3 and 4, but the configuration of the scrap spreading mechanism 13 is different. The scrap spreading mechanism 13 in the scrap conveying mechanism 10 shown in Figures 3 and 4 is provided on the inclined surface 12 and is composed of a convex portion 13a that is convex from both widthwise ends of the inclined plate 11 (the left widthwise end edge 12aa and the right widthwise end edge 12ba) toward the center in the widthwise direction.

[0039] In contrast, the scrap spreading mechanism 13 in the scrap conveying mechanism 10 shown in Figures 7 and 8 is composed of a plurality of (five in this embodiment) ribs 13b-13f arranged side by side on the inclined surface 12 in the width direction of the inclined surface 12. The inclined plate 11 is composed of a metal flat plate portion 11h whose width gradually increases from the upstream end to the downstream end in the conveying direction of the scrap group SS. The width of the upstream end of the inclined plate 11 in the conveying direction of the scrap group SS is W1, and the width of the downstream end in the conveying direction is w2. The upper surface of the inclined plate 11 forms the inclined surface 12. The ribs 13b-13f extend in the direction of conveyance of the scrap group SS, and radially expand such that the intervals B1, B2, B3, and B4 between adjacent ribs 13b:13c, 13c:13d, 13d:13e, and 13e:13f in the width direction gradually increase from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction. Each of the ribs 13b-13f rises vertically from the inclined surface 12.

[0040] The height h2 of each of the ribs 13b to 13f and the intervals B1, B2, B3, and B4 between the adjacent ribs 13b:13c, 13c:13d, 13d:13e, and 13e:13f in the width direction are determined depending on the size of the scrap S to be received. Generally, the width or height of a single piece of scrap S is approximately 500 mm, and if the height h2 of each rib 13b-13f is too short, it will not be effective in spreading the scrap group SS, and if it is too long, there is a concern that the scrap group SS may get caught during transport. For this reason, the height h2 of each rib 13b-13f is preferably approximately 50 mm to 100 mm. The height h2 of each rib 13b-13f is the same for all ribs 13b-13f, but may be different.

[0041] Furthermore, the spacings B1, B2, B3, and B4 between adjacent ribs 13b:13c, 13c:13d, 13d:13e, and 13e:13f in the width direction are desirably approximately 500 mm, which is the dimension of a single scrap S, at the upstream end of the narrowest inclined plate 11 in the conveying direction of the scrap group SS, and are desirably approximately 2500 mm, which is five times that dimension, at the downstream end of the inclined plate 11 in the conveying direction of the scrap group SS. Thus, according to the scrap conveying device 1 of the second embodiment, the scrap spreading mechanism 13 is a plurality of ribs 13b to 13f arranged in a row on the inclined surface 12 in the width direction of the inclined surface 12, and each of the ribs 13b to 13f extends along the conveying direction of the scrap group SS and spreads radially so that the spacings B1, B2, B3, B4 between adjacent ribs 13b:13c, 13c:13d, 13d:13e, 13e:13f in the width direction gradually widen from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0042] As a result, when the scrap group SS is transported, the scrap group SS is transported in the transport direction of the scrap group SS while being spread in the width direction by the multiple radially spreading ribs 13b to 13f that make up the scrap spreading mechanism 13. Then, the scrap S and foreign matter D in the scrap group SS that have been piled up on the loading platform 51 of the truck 50 can be appropriately spread out in a thinly spread state at the unloading location 60. Therefore, overlapping of scrap S and foreign matter D in the scrap group SS at the unloading site 60 can be suppressed.

[0043] (Third embodiment) Next, a scrap transport mechanism in a scrap transport device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the scrap transport mechanism in a scrap transport device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 9, the same members as those in Fig. 4 are given the same reference numerals, and their description may be omitted. The basic configuration of the scrap transport mechanism 10 in the scrap transport device 1 of the third embodiment shown in Figure 9 is the same as the basic configuration of the scrap transport mechanism 10 shown in Figure 4, but differs in that the scrap transport mechanism 10 in the scrap transport device 1 of the third embodiment shown in Figure 9 is equipped with a convex height adjustment mechanism 15. The scrap transport mechanism 10 shown in FIG. 9 includes an inclined plate 11, a convex portion 13a constituting a scrap spreading mechanism 13, and a convex portion height adjustment mechanism 15. The convex portion height adjusting mechanism 15 adjusts the height h1 of the convex portion 13a constituting the scrap spreading mechanism 13 from both widthwise end edges (left end edge 12aa and right end edge 12ba) of the inclined plate 11.

[0044] Specifically, when the shape of the convex portion 13a is triangular, the inclined plate 11 is configured by connecting a first inclined plate portion 11a on the left side in the width direction and a second inclined plate portion 11b on the right side in the width direction at the center of the width direction by a hinge structure 16. The convex portion height adjustment mechanism 15 is configured by a first cylinder 15a having a cylinder rod 15c that moves the left first inclined plate portion 11a up and down in the diagonal direction indicated by the arrow, and a second cylinder 15b having a cylinder rod 15d that moves the right second inclined plate portion 11b up and down in the diagonal direction indicated by the arrow. The height h1 of the convex portion 13a can be adjusted by moving the left first inclined plate portion 11a up and down in the diagonal direction indicated by the arrow using the cylinder rod 15c of the first cylinder 15a and moving the right second inclined plate portion 11b up and down in the diagonal direction indicated by the arrow using the cylinder rod 15d of the second cylinder 15b. By making the height h1 of the convex portion 13a variable in this way, it becomes possible to adjust the height h1 of the convex portion 13a according to the type and dimensions of the scrap S to be received.

[0045] Thus, according to the scrap conveying device 1 of the third embodiment, the scrap conveying mechanism 10 is equipped with a convex portion height adjustment mechanism 15 that adjusts the height h1 of the convex portion 13a that constitutes the scrap spreading mechanism 13 from both widthwise end edges (left end edge 12aa and right end edge 12ba) of the inclined plate 11. This makes it possible to adjust the height h1 of the convex portion 13a according to the type and dimensions of the scrap S to be received. Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this and various modifications and improvements can be made.

[0046] For example, the scrap transport device 1 does not necessarily have to be equipped with the photographing device 20 and the foreign matter detection device 30. In this case, an operator can visually check the scrap pile SS on the inclined surface 12 or the scrap pile SS that has slid down from the inclined surface 12 onto the unloading area 60 to check for the presence or absence of foreign matter D. Furthermore, in the scrap conveying device 1 of the second embodiment, the multiple ribs 13b to 13f constituting the scrap spreading mechanism 13 are provided on the inclined surface 12 of the inclined plate 11 consisting of the flat plate portion 11h, but the multiple ribs 13b to 13f may also be provided on the inclined surface 12 of the inclined plate 11 provided with the convex portion 13a in the first embodiment.

[0047] Furthermore, the scrap spreading mechanism 13 is configured with the convex portion 13a in the first embodiment and with the plurality of ribs 13b to 13f in the second embodiment, but is not limited thereto. The scrap spreading mechanism 13 may also be configured with a vibration mechanism that vibrates the inclined plate 11. Specifically, the inclined plate 11 may be made movable and vibrated in an out-of-plane direction (for example, the up-and-down direction in FIGS. 4 to 6) while the scrap mass SS is being transported. By vibrating the inclined plate 11, the piled scrap mass SS falls down the inclined surface 12 while breaking up, making it possible to spread the scrap mass SS in the width direction more effectively than without vibration.

[0048] In the scrap transport device 1 according to the third embodiment, when the convex portion 13a is triangular, the convex portion height adjustment mechanism 15 includes a first cylinder 15a having a cylinder rod 15c for moving the first inclined plate portion 11a on the left side in the diagonal direction indicated by the arrow, and a second cylinder 15b having a cylinder rod 15d for moving the second inclined plate portion 11b on the right side in the diagonal direction indicated by the arrow, thereby adjusting the height h1 of the convex portion 13a. However, even if the convex portion 13a is trapezoidal as shown in FIG. 5 or curved as shown in FIG. 6, the convex portion 13a may be connected to the inclined plate 11 at the center of its width by a hinge structure, and the height h1 of the convex portion 13a may be adjusted using the first cylinder 15a and the second cylinder 15b as shown in FIG. 9. Furthermore, as the convex portion height adjustment mechanism 15, it is not necessarily necessary to use the first cylinder 15a and the second cylinder 15b as long as the height h1 of the convex portion 13a from both widthwise end edges (left end edge 12aa and right end edge 12ba) of the inclined plate 11 can be adjusted.

[0049] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the bed 51 of the truck 50 is dumped up to dump the scrap mass SS onto the inclined surface 12, but this is not limited to this, and the scrap mass SS may be lifted from the bed 51 of the truck 50 or the bed of a trailer (not shown) using a crane (not shown) and dumped onto the inclined surface 12. Alternatively, the unloading location 60 may be a belt conveyor (not shown) for scrap, and the scrap mass SS dropped from the inclined surface 12 may be transported sequentially by the belt conveyor, while foreign objects D in the scrap mass SS are removed by a crane (not shown) or an arm-type robot (not shown). [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1. Scrap transport device 10 Scrap transport mechanism 11 Inclined plate 11a 1st inclined plate part 11b 2nd inclined plate part 11d 3rd inclined plate part 11e 4th inclined plate part 11f Flat plate part 11g curved plate part 11h Flat plate part 12 Slope 12a Top side 12aa left edge 12b Top surface 12ba right edge 12c central part 12d top surface 12da left edge 12e top 12ea right edge 12f top surface 12ga left edge 12gb right edge 13 Scrap deployment mechanism 13a Convex part 13b~13f Rib 14a~14b Fall prevention plate 15 Convex height adjustment mechanism 15a No. 1 cylinder 15b No. 2 cylinder 15c Cylinder rod 15d Cylinder rod 16 Hinge structure 20 Imaging equipment 30 Foreign object detection device 40 Lifting Magnet 50 Tracks 51 Cargo bed 52 Truck running ridge 60 Unloading area D Foreign object S Scrap SS Scrap Group

Claims

1. A scrap transport device that transports a group of scraps including a plurality of scraps and foreign objects to an unloading location, A scrap transport device characterized by comprising a scrap transport mechanism including an inclined plate that extends obliquely downward from above and has an inclined surface that extends in a width direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, and that transports the scrap load fed onto the inclined surface by sliding it diagonally downward to transport it to the unloading location, and a scrap spreading mechanism that drops the scrap load fed onto the inclined surface to a widthwise outer side of the inclined plate than the feed position of the scrap load.

2. 2. The scrap transport device according to claim 1, wherein the scrap spreading mechanism is provided on the inclined surface and is composed of a convex portion that is convex from both widthwise edges of the inclined plate toward the widthwise center.

3. The scrap transport device according to claim 2, characterized in that the scrap transport mechanism is provided with a convex portion height adjustment mechanism that adjusts the height of the convex portion that constitutes the scrap spreading mechanism from both end edges in the width direction of the inclined plate.

4. The scrap transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the scrap spreading mechanism is a plurality of ribs arranged side by side on the inclined surface in the width direction of the inclined surface, each rib extending along the transport direction of the scrap group and spreading radially so that the spacing between adjacent ribs in the width direction gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side in the transport direction.

5. a photographing device for photographing the pile of scrap on the inclined surface or the pile of scrap that has slid down from the inclined surface to the unloading area; 4. The scrap transport device according to claim 1, further comprising a foreign matter detection device that processes the image captured by the imaging device to detect foreign matter in the group of scraps.

6. A photographing device for photographing the scrap pile on the inclined surface or the scrap pile that has slid down from the inclined surface to the unloading location; 5. The scrap transport device according to claim 4, further comprising a foreign matter detector for detecting foreign matter in the group of scraps by processing the image taken by the image taking device.

7. A scrap transport method for transporting a group of scraps including a plurality of scraps and foreign objects to an unloading location using a scrap transport device, comprising: The scrap transporting device is characterized by comprising a scrap transport mechanism including an inclined plate that extends obliquely downward from above and has an inclined surface that extends in a width direction from left to right perpendicular to the up-down direction, and that transports the group of scrap loaded onto the inclined surface to the unloading location by sliding it diagonally downward, and a scrap spreading mechanism that drops the group of scrap loaded onto the inclined surface to a position outside the width direction of the inclined plate from the loading position of the group of scrap.

Images