Item sorting device and item inspection device

Abstract

To provide an article sorting device capable of safely resuming an operation even in the case where a sorting gate is stopped at a position deviated from a standby position due to emergency stop and the like, and to provide an article inspection device.SOLUTION: An air control part 34 for moving a sorting gate 31 by an air cylinder 33 includes: a directional control valve 53 which, in a non-excited state, connects cylinder ports 53a, 53b to a supply pressure port 53p; a supply control valve 52 which can be switched between an air supply stop state for connecting an atmosphere open port 52r to an output port 52a to be connected to the supply pressure port 53p, and an air supply state for connecting an air source side pressure port 52p to the output port 52a; and a dangerous operation avoid control circuit which executes stop time atmosphere open control for switching the supply control valve 52 into the air supply stop state when the directional control valve 53 comes into a non-excited state by the operation stop and air supply start control for switching the supply control valve 52 to the air supply state when the condition is established, and for increasing the pressure and balancing the pressure of pressure chambers 44A, 44B of the air cylinder 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an article sorting device and an article inspection device, and more particularly to an article sorting device that sorts transported articles in different directions in response to a sorting command input, and an article inspection device that has a sorting unit that sorts transported articles in response to the results of their article inspection. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART There have been known for some time now item sorting devices that sort items being transported along a predetermined route and discharge them outside the transport route or sort and transport them to one of multiple downstream transport routes, and item inspection devices that use the same device as a sorting unit to perform sorting operations based on the results of item inspection in an upstream inspection unit.

[0003] In many of such article sorting devices and article inspection devices, an air cylinder, which is a pneumatically operated actuator, is controlled by an electromagnetically switched directional control valve or the like.

[0004] As an example of this type of article sorting device and article inspection device, Patent Document 1 describes one in which a measuring unit measures the weight of articles on a conveyor and a pusher-type sorting unit ejects defective articles from the conveying path based on the results. In this device, when the measuring unit is switched to a non-operating mode for adjustment work, the display unit displays the non-operating mode, the sorting unit stops, and the operation of the upstream equipment that transfers the measured articles to the conveyor stops.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes a device in which, when a pusher-type sorting unit having a push-out member carries out defective products to the conveying path and detects that a subsequent workpiece has entered the pinch-inducing area of ​​the sorting unit, a control unit outputs a stop signal to the sorting unit to suspend the sorting operation. In addition, in this device, in order to prevent a workpiece from being pinched by the push-out member, when the drive of the sorting unit is stopped, the push-out member is moved to the push-out completion position and then the sorting operation is suspended.

[0006] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 describes an article inspection device in which, when it is detected that the push-out member is not in its initial position at the start of operation, the push-out member is manually returned to its initial position while operation is prohibited, and when it is detected that the push-out member has returned to its initial position, an operation start command is issued from the article inspection device and the article to be inspected is transported into the conveying path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-168981 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-193001 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-193000 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] However, in conventional item sorting devices and item inspection devices such as those described above, when an emergency stop or urgent stop (hereinafter simply referred to as an emergency stop, etc.) occurs, a non-standby state may occur in which the extrusion member stops at a position outside the waiting position (sorting gate position during standby) where it should stop outside the sorting operation period, and in such cases, the following problems may occur.

[0009] That is, in the device described in Patent Document 1, when the changeover switch is used to switch to non-operating mode, the operation of the pusher-type sorting unit is stopped; in the device described in Patent Document 2, when a subsequent workpiece enters the pinch-inducing area during the sorting and discharge operation of defective inspected products, the extrusion member is moved to the extrusion completion position and then the sorting operation is interrupted in order to prevent the workpiece from getting pinched; and in the device described in Document 3, if it is detected that the extrusion member is not in its initial position at the start of operation, it is possible to manually return it to its initial position.

[0010] Therefore, depending on the type of directional control valve that controls the operation of the air cylinder in the sorting section, whether or not it is possible to manually return a push-out member that has moved away from its standby position and stopped to its standby position from its emergency stop position varies, and in some cases, it is unavoidable for the push-out member to suddenly move as soon as operation is resumed because it is not possible to manually return it to the standby position.

[0011] In addition, in cases where a shielding cover or the like is installed over the sorting section and it is not easy to manually return it to the standby position, or where it is difficult to approach the sorting section, it is sometimes unavoidable that the extrusion member will suddenly move as soon as operation resumes, regardless of the type of directional control valve.

[0012] Furthermore, there is a concern that if care is not taken when restarting the operation, the safety of the work may be impaired due to the possibility of the extrusion member moving in this way.

[0013] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an article sorting device and an article inspection device that can safely resume operation even if the sorting gate stops at a position away from the standby position due to an emergency stop or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] (1) To achieve the above object, the article sorting device of the present invention is an article sorting device that sorts articles passing through a conveying path by moving a sorting gate to a plurality of different operating positions with respect to the conveying path by an actuator that responds to the supply and discharge of air to one and the other pressure chambers, and includes a standby state detection means that detects whether the sorting gate is in a standby state at a predetermined standby position among the plurality of operating positions or in a non-standby state away from the standby position, and an air control unit that controls the supply and discharge of the air so as to move the sorting gate toward the standby position on the condition that the standby state detection means detects the non-standby state when starting operation to start supplying the air to the actuator, and the air control unit has one and the other actuator ports connected to the one and the other pressure chambers, and a supply pressure port and a discharge port for the air, and in a non-energized state, connects both the one and the other actuator ports to the supply pressure port, and in an energized state, connects the one actuator port to the supply pressure port or the discharge port, and the other actuator port to the a supply control valve having an output port connected to the supply pressure port of the directional control valve and an air source side pressure port and an atmosphere release port selectively connected to the output port, and capable of switching between an air supply stop state in which the atmosphere release port is connected to the output port and an air supply state in which the air source side pressure port is connected to the output port and compressed air from the air source side is supplied to the supply pressure port of the directional control valve; and a dangerous operation avoidance control circuit that executes an atmosphere release control during stoppage in which, when the directional control valve is in the de-excited state due to operation being stopped, the supply control valve is switched to the air supply stop state to release the inside of the actuator to the atmosphere, and an air supply start control in which, when the condition is met, the supply control valve is switched to the air supply state to increase and balance the pressures in both the one and the other pressure chambers, and when the condition is met, the dangerous operation avoidance control circuit moves the sorting gate toward the standby position during or immediately after the air supply start control is being executed.

[0015] With this configuration, in the present invention, when the sorting gate is detected to be in a non-standby state with the directional control valve in a de-energized state (OFF state) at the start of operation, the supply control valve is switched to an air supply state for the actuator, which had previously opened one and the other pressure chambers to the atmosphere through the stop-time atmosphere release control, thereby executing air supply start control, which increases the pressure in both pressure chambers while balancing the pressures. At this time, depending on the position of the actuator's output member, the rate of pressure increase in the smallest-volume pressure chamber increases, and the output member is centered by a thrust force from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side of the two pressure chambers, achieving pressure balance in both pressure chambers at a pressure close to the air supply pressure. Then, when the directional control valve is energized and the actuator is directional-controlled toward the standby position, the centered output member moves slowly toward the standby position at a speed corresponding to the exhaust speed from one or the other pressure chamber. As a result, the output member of the actuator will not suddenly move toward the standby position when operation starts, and operation can be safely restarted even if the sorting gate stops at a position away from the standby position due to an emergency stop, etc. Furthermore, if there is a difference in the area that receives pressure in the direction of displacement of the output member due to the air in one and the other pressure chambers, even if both pressure chambers reach a state of pressure equilibrium, the output member may be displaced at an extremely slow speed by a thrust in one direction according to the difference in the pressure-receiving area.

[0016] (2) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further includes a display / operation unit capable of inputting a movement command to move the sorting gate toward the standby position, and the air control unit can be configured to control at least the supply control valve out of the directional control valve and the supply control valve based on the movement command input from the display / operation unit, thereby operating the actuator to move the sorting gate toward the standby position.

[0017] In this case, the actuator is controlled to move toward the standby position based on the movement instruction input from the display operation unit, so that operation can be resumed more safely even if the sorting gate stops at a position away from the standby position due to an emergency stop or the like.

[0018] (3) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air control unit may control the directional control valve in a direction that moves the sorting gate toward the standby position at a predetermined timing when the pressures in the one and the other pressure chambers of the actuator reach an approximately equilibrium state due to switching of the supply control valve.

[0019] In this way, the sorting gate begins to move slowly toward the standby position when both pressure chambers of the actuator reach a state of approximate pressure equilibrium due to air supply start control at the start of operation. Therefore, even if the sorting gate moves out of the standby position and stops due to an emergency stop or the like, it can be automatically returned to the standby position without suddenly moving when operation starts, or can be returned in response to a movement instruction input from the display operation unit.

[0020] (4) In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the directional control valve is a pressure-center type five-port three-position switching valve that connects both of the one and the other actuator ports to the supply pressure port in a non-energized state, and connects the one actuator port to the supply pressure port or the discharge port and the other actuator port to the discharge port or the supply pressure port in an energized state, and the supply control valve may be a three-port two-position switching valve having an output port connected to the supply pressure port of the directional control valve and an air source pressure port and an atmosphere release port that are selectively connected to the output port.

[0021] (5) In order to achieve the above object, the item inspection device of the present invention comprises an item sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 as a sorting unit, and further comprises an inspection unit arranged upstream of the sorting gate for inspecting the quality condition of the items, and is characterized in that during operation of the inspection unit and the sorting unit, the air control unit controls the supply and exhaust of air to the actuator for each inspected item that has been inspected in the inspection unit in accordance with the inspection results of each item.

[0022] With this configuration, in the article inspection device of the present invention, when the sorting gate is detected to be in a non-standby state with the directional control valve de-energized at the start of operation, air supply start control is executed to the actuator, which is open to the atmosphere when stopped, to increase the pressure in both pressure chambers and achieve pressure equilibrium at a pressure close to the air supply pressure. When the directional control valve is energized and the actuator is directional-controlled toward the standby position, the centered output member moves slowly toward the standby position at a speed corresponding to the exhaust speed from one or the other pressure chamber. As a result, the output member of the actuator does not momentarily move toward the standby position at the start of operation. Even if the sorting gate stops at a position away from the standby position due to an emergency stop or the like, operation can be safely resumed. Furthermore, the directional control valve is switched and controlled according to the inspection results of each inspected article in the inspection unit, and the actuator moves the sorting gate to one of several different operating positions, thereby performing sorting according to the inspection results for each article. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an article sorting device and an article inspection device that can safely resume operation even if the sorting gate stops at a position away from the standby position due to an emergency stop or the like. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an article inspection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 3 is a circuit diagram of an air pressure control circuit that controls an air cylinder of a pusher-type sorting unit (article sorting device) in the article inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the pushing operation conditions of the pusher-type sorting unit in the object inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a movement operation screen displayed on the display operation unit when the sorting gate of the sorting unit is stopped outside the standby position during an emergency stop or the like in the object inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a standby position confirmation screen that is displayed on the display operation unit when an instruction is input from the movement operation screen during an emergency stop or the like in the item inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and when it is detected that the sorting gate of the sorting unit has returned to the standby position. [Figure 6] This is a schematic explanatory diagram of the operation screen that is displayed when normal operation is resumed after confirmation that the sorting gate has returned to the standby position during an emergency stop or other such event in the item inspection device of the first embodiment of the present invention is confirmed by inputting a confirmation into the standby position confirmation screen. [Figure 7] 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of the procedure for returning the sorting gate from the stop position to the standby position, which is executed when starting operation after an emergency stop or the like in the article inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 10 is a time chart showing the operation timing of each part during return control of the sorting gate from the stop position to the standby position, which is executed when starting operation after an emergency stop or the like in the object inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 3 is a pneumatic circuit diagram showing a state in which a pusher-type sorting unit in the object inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is on standby at a standby position on the retraction side of the sorting gate. FIG. [Figure 10] 1(a) is a pneumatic circuit diagram showing a state in which the sorting unit of the item inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is at a stop position away from the waiting position on the retraction side toward the intermediate stop position, with the air cylinder open to the atmosphere; and FIG. 1(b) is a pneumatic circuit diagram at the start of operation, in which the air cylinder of the sorting unit is centered by air pressure from the stop position. [Figure 11]1(a) is a circuit diagram of essential parts showing the atmospheric release control state when the air cylinder is stopped when the sorting unit in the item inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is at an intermediate stop position away from the waiting position on the retraction side; FIG. 1(b) is a circuit diagram of essential parts when the air cylinder of the sorting unit is centered from the stop position by air pressure; and FIG. 1(c) is a diagram of an air pressure control circuit when the air cylinder of the sorting unit is switched in direction toward the waiting position after centering. [Figure 12] 1(a) is a circuit diagram of essential parts showing the atmospheric release control state when the air cylinder stops when the sorting section of the item inspection device according to the first embodiment of the present invention moves significantly from the waiting position on the retraction side to the sorting position, which is the push-out completion position; FIG. 1(b) is a circuit diagram of essential parts when the air cylinder of the sorting section is centered by air pressure from the stop position on the push-out side; and FIG. 1(c) is a diagram of an air pressure control circuit when the air cylinder of the sorting section is moved to the waiting position on the retraction side immediately after centering. [Figure 13] 1(a) is an air pressure control circuit diagram showing the air supply and exhaust control state of the air cylinder when, during operation of the item inspection device of the first embodiment of the present invention, the item inspection result is a pass judgment, the operation direction control signal RJ5 that commands the product to pass is turned ON, the sorting section is switched in direction and held in a standby position on the retraction side, and FIG. 1(b) is an air pressure control circuit diagram showing the air supply and exhaust control state of the air cylinder when, in the same item inspection device, the item inspection result is a fail judgment, the operation direction control signal RJ1 that commands the sorting and ejection of NG products is turned ON, the sorting section is switched in direction to the push-out operation direction and held in its push-out completion position. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a pneumatic circuit diagram showing a state in which a pusher-type sorting unit in an object inspection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention stops on the cylinder extension side corresponding to the standby position on the retraction side of the sorting gate, and the air cylinder is controlled to be released to the atmosphere when stopped. [Figure 15] 1(a) is a pneumatic circuit diagram when the sorting unit using an air cylinder in an object inspection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention is in a non-standby state, having moved away from the standby position toward the intermediate stop position, and FIG. 1(b) is a circuit diagram of the main parts when the air cylinder of the same sorting unit is centered from the stop position by air supply control. [Figure 16] 1(a) is a circuit diagram of the main parts showing the atmospheric release control state when the air cylinder is stopped when the sorting unit in the item inspection device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is at an intermediate stop position away from the standby position, (b) is a circuit diagram of the main parts when the air cylinder of the sorting unit is centered from the stop position by air supply control, and (c) is an air pressure control circuit diagram when the air cylinder of the sorting unit is switched in direction to the cylinder extension side after centering. [Figure 17] 1(a) is an air pressure control circuit diagram showing the air supply and exhaust control state when the item inspection result is a pass / fail judgment in an item inspection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the operation direction control signal RJ5 that commands the product to pass is turned ON, and the sorting unit is held in a standby position on the cylinder extension side; and FIG. 1(b) is an air pressure control circuit diagram showing the air supply and exhaust control state when the item inspection result is a fail judgment in the same item inspection device, the operation direction control signal RJ1 that commands the sorting and ejection of defective items is turned ON, and the sorting unit is switched in direction to the cylinder retraction side and held in a sorting and ejection position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] (First embodiment) 1 to 6 show the configuration of an article inspection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 7 to 12 show its control procedures and operating states.

[0027] First, the configuration of the article inspection device will be described.

[0028] (Overall composition) As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the item inspection device 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a conveying section 10 that sequentially conveys workpieces W, which are items to be inspected, along a plurality of conveyors 11, 12, and 13 (conveying paths) extending in a predetermined conveying direction; an inspection section 20 that inspects the quality condition of the workpieces W on the front-stage conveyor 11, which is an inspection conveyor, within an inspection section Z1 on the same conveyor 11 according to inspection conditions corresponding to the type of workpiece; a sorting section 30 that sorts and discharges the workpieces W that require sorting and discharge as a result of inspection by the inspection section 20, such as defective products, by pushing the workpieces W to be discharged outward from the conveyor 12 (one side in the width direction of the conveying path, the downward side in Figure 1) within a sorting section Z2 on the rear-stage conveyor 12 (middle side in Figure 3), which is a sorting conveyor; and a rejected item receiving table conveyor 15 arranged outward from above the conveyor 12.

[0029] On the upstream side of the sorting section Z2 on the multiple conveyors 11-13 (which may also be upstream of the inspection section Z1), a transported article detection sensor 25 is provided that detects the introduction of a workpiece W into the sorting section Z2, which is a predetermined section of the article transport path, at a predetermined position upstream of the sorting section Z2. This transported article detection sensor 25 is an optical type that has an optical axis that is approximately perpendicular to the transport direction of the transport section 10 (to the right in FIG. 1), for example, and switches ON / OFF when light is blocked or reflected by the workpiece W, and can detect the timing when the leading and trailing ends of each workpiece W pass a predetermined position in the transport direction. It is also possible to use the transported article detection sensor 25 as a means for detecting articles from camera images or X-ray images.

[0030] Conveyors 11, 12, and 13 of the conveying section 10 are not shown in detail, but are belt conveyors that, for example, have a loop-shaped conveying belt stretched over multiple conveying rollers, and sequentially convey workpieces W to the right in FIG. 1 via the upper running section of the conveying belt above these conveying rollers, and are supported by a housing not shown.

[0031] The inspection unit 20 has an inspection device configuration that performs a predetermined type of product inspection on the workpiece W being transported together with the conveyor 11 of the transport unit 10.

[0032] The inspection unit 20 inspects the work W conveyed by the conveying unit 10 to see whether it meets the quality and physical quantities required for the product, for example, whether there are any foreign objects mixed in, whether there are any missing parts, whether the shape, size, and storage condition of the contents are acceptable, and the distribution of density, thickness, volume, or mass.

[0033] This inspection section 20 can be composed of, for example, an X-ray generator that generates X-rays that can penetrate the workpiece W and irradiate them in a fan beam pattern that is approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying section 10 toward the workpiece W on the conveyor 11, and an X-ray detector such as an X-ray line sensor camera that is arranged directly below the upper running section of the conveyor 11.

[0034] (Sorting section configuration) The sorting section 30 has a device configuration that selectively sorts and discharges the works W being transported together with the conveyor 12 at the middle stage of the transport section 10 in accordance with the inspection results in the inspection section 20.

[0035] This sorting section 30 has a push-out member 31 that can push the work W in the sorting section Z2 (predetermined conveying section) from the conveyor 12 of the conveying section 10 outward (downward in Figure 1) onto the waste product receiving table conveyor 15, and a drive mechanism 32 that drives the push-out member 31 in the approach direction and retreat direction (hereinafter also referred to as the advance / retreat direction) to the sorting section Z2.

[0036] The push-out member 31 has a sorting function that switches the transport path downstream from the sorting section Z2, which is the normal transport path after inspection, to either the line conveyor 13 side, which is the subsequent conveyor, or the rejected product receiving table conveyor 15 side. The push-out member 31 is made of a plate-like body, such as a stainless steel plate or other metal plate, having a flat or curved plate-like metal surface 31a that extends in the transport direction of the work W and in the height direction on the conveyor 12.

[0037] The drive mechanism 32 is capable of reciprocating the push-out member 31 in the aforementioned forward / backward movement direction that is approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction of the workpiece W, and is configured to include, for example, an air cylinder 33 which is a pneumatically operated actuator, a solenoid valve unit 34 which controls the supply and discharge (supply / discharge control) of air (compressed air, compressible fluid) to the air cylinder 33 in response to a control signal input, and a guide mechanism 35 (not shown in detail) which is responsible for the lateral load (side pressure) of the air cylinder 33. The drive mechanism 32 drives the air cylinder 33 to extend and retract by controlling the supply and discharge of air from an air source 50 which includes pneumatic source equipment such as an air compressor.

[0038] 2, the air cylinder 33 is a double-acting type, with a piston 42 slidably housed in a cylinder 41, the piston 42 dividing the interior of the cylinder 41 into a pair of pressure chambers 44A, 44B, and air supply / discharge ports 45a, 45b communicating with the pair of pressure chambers 44A, 44B. A piston rod 43, which serves as an output member, is fixed integrally to the piston 42, and a push-out member 31 is attached to a tip end 43a of the piston rod 43 protruding outward from the cylinder 41, thereby forming a sorting gate that directs the movement direction of the workpieces W within the sorting section Z2.

[0039] (Supply / Exhaust Control Unit) The solenoid valve unit 34 constitutes a supply / exhaust control unit connected to the air cylinder 33 to control the direction and flow rate of air supply / exhaust in the air cylinder 33. When either the operation direction control signal RJ1 for the extrusion direction (cylinder extension direction) or the operation direction control signal RJ5 for the retraction direction (cylinder retraction direction) is ON, compressed air from the air source 50 is supplied to the pressure chamber 44A or 44B through the corresponding air supply / exhaust port 45a or 45b, and exhausted from the pressure chamber 44B or 44A through the other air supply / exhaust port 45b or 45a. (In the following description of air supply / exhaust, the air supply / exhaust ports 45a and 45b will be mainly described.) In this embodiment, the extrusion-side operation direction control signal RJ1 is described as a command to sort and eject defective products, and the retraction-side operation direction control signal RJ5 is described as a pass permission signal that allows non-defective products to move or pass in the normal carry-out direction. However, the signals can be reversed depending on whether the normal carry-out direction is the conveyor transport direction or the extrusion / exhaust direction.

[0040] When compressed air is supplied to any one of the pair of air supply / discharge ports 45a, 45b, for example, the air supply / discharge port 45a on the extrusion pressure (extension) side, and air is exhausted from the other air supply / discharge port 45b on the retraction pressure (contraction) side, the air cylinder 33 moves the piston rod 43 to one side in the advancing / retracting direction (the lower side in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the left side in FIG. 2; hereinafter also referred to as the extrusion side) so that the push-out member 31 enters the sorting section Z2 on the conveyor 12 and pushes the workpiece W being conveyed outward from the conveyor 12. Conversely, when compressed air is supplied to the air supply / discharge port 45b on the retraction pressure side, and air is exhausted from the air supply / discharge port 45a on the extrusion pressure side, the air cylinder 33 moves the piston rod 43 to the other side in the advancing / retracting direction (the upper side in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively, and the right side in FIG. 2; hereinafter also referred to as the retraction side) so that the push-out member 31 retreats out of the sorting section Z2 on the conveyor 12.

[0041] In addition, by controlling the supply and exhaust of air to and from the air cylinder 33 and its direction using the solenoid valve unit 34, the drive mechanism 32 can perform a push-out operation (see Figure 3) of moving the push-out member 31 in the push-out direction from a standby position P1 on the retraction side shown by a solid line in Figures 2 and 3 to a push-out completion position P2 shown by a virtual line in the same figures, and a retraction operation of returning the push-out member 31 from the push-out completion position P2 to the standby position P1, in accordance with the extension and contraction operation of the air cylinder 33 which has a width Lc that is the width of the conveying path of the conveyor 12 or less.

[0042] 2, the solenoid valve unit 34 has a filter regulator 51, a supply control valve 52, a direction control valve 53 (directional control valve), and a pair of speed control valves 54, 55 as multiple components interposed between the air source 50 and the pair of air supply / discharge ports 45a, 45b of the air cylinder 33. In addition, the air cylinder 33 is equipped with a standby position sensor 56 and a sorting position sensor 57 that detect the standby position P1 and the extrusion completion position P2 of the extrusion member 31 from the displacement of the piston 42, for example.

[0043] Here, the filter regulator 51 is composed of, for example, a manual drain type filter 51a and a regulator valve 51b that can adjust the regulator set pressure, and is capable of supplying air from the air source 50 to the supply control valve 52 at a predetermined supply pressure.

[0044] The supply control valve 52 is composed of a solenoid valve and / or a fluid pressure type three-port two-position switching valve, and has an output port 52a connected to the directional control valve 53, and an air source side pressure port 52p and an atmosphere release port 52r that are selectively connected to the output port 52a.

[0045] This supply control valve 52 has a valve body 52v that is switched by the force of a spring 52k to a supply OFF position [i] (air supply stopped state) where the output port 52a is connected to an atmosphere release port 52r equipped with a silencer 59 when the air supply command signal Sa is OFF and the solenoid is in a non-energized state, and that is switched to a supply ON position [ii] (air supply state) where the air source side pressure port 52p is connected to the output port 52a when the air supply command signal Sa is ON and the solenoid is in an excited state.

[0046] The directional control valve 53 is configured, for example, as a pressure center type electromagnetic and / or fluid pressure type 5-port 3-position switching valve, and has a supply pressure port 53p that can be connected to the air source 50 side via a filter regulator 51 and a supply control valve 52, a pair of exhaust ports 53q, 53r that are each connected to the atmosphere via a silencer 58, and a pair of actuator ports 53a, 53b (control pressure ports) that are connected to a pair of air supply / exhaust ports 45a, 45b of the air cylinder 33 via speed control valves 54, 55.

[0047] This directional control valve 53 can switch the connection state between the pair of actuator ports 53a, 53b and the supply pressure port 53p and the pair of exhaust ports 53q, 53r by displacing the valve body 53v in response to the ON / OFF of the operating direction control signals RJ1, RJ5, and when compressed air from the air source 50 side is supplied to the supply pressure port 53p via the filter regulator 51 and the supply control valve 52, it can extend and retract the air cylinder 33 and switch its operating direction.

[0048] Specifically, when one of the operation direction control signals RJ1, RJ5 is ON and the other is OFF, the direction control valve 53 can connect the supply pressure port 53p to any one of the pair of actuator ports 53a, 53b and connect one of the pair of discharge ports 53q, 53r to the other of the pair of actuator ports 53a, 53b by displacing the valve element 53v in one direction in the displacement direction. Therefore, the direction control valve 53 can take a first operating position [I] in which compressed air from the air source 50 is supplied to the first air supply / discharge port 45a of the pair to perform the extrusion operation of the push-out member 31 while exhausting it from the second air supply / discharge port 45b of the pair, and a second operating position [II] in which compressed air from the air source 50 is supplied to the second air supply / discharge port 45b of the pair to perform the retraction operation of the push-out member 31 while exhausting it from the first air supply / discharge port 45a.

[0049] In the directional control valve 53, the valve element 53v is constantly biased to a neutral position by a pair of centering springs 53k, and in a non-excited state, such as when control is stopped and both of the operating direction control signals RJ1 and RJ5 are turned OFF, the valve element 53v is centered by the biasing force from the pair of centering springs 53k, and is switched to a third operating position [III] in which the supply pressure port 53p is connected to the pair of actuator ports 53a and 53b.

[0050] In other words, when one and the other solenoids are in a non-excited state (OFF state), the directional control valve 53 connects both one and the other actuator ports 53a, 53b to the supply pressure port 53p, and when the solenoids are in an excited state, the one actuator port 53a is connected to the supply pressure port 53p or the exhaust port 53q, and the other actuator port 53b is connected to the exhaust port 53r or the supply pressure port 53p, respectively.

[0051] Therefore, when the supply control valve 52 is switched to the supply OFF position [i], the supply pressure port 53p of the directional control valve 53 is connected to the atmosphere release port 52r of the supply control valve 52, and the pair of pressure chambers 44A, 44B of the air cylinder 33 are opened to the atmosphere via the pair of air supply / discharge ports 45a, 45b and the pair of speed control valves 54, 55.

[0052] On the other hand, when the supply control valve 52 is switched to the supply ON position [ii], compressed air from the air source 50 side supplied to the air source side pressure port 52p of the supply control valve 52 is supplied to the supply pressure port 53p of the directional control valve 53, and the pair of pressure chambers 44A, 44B of the air cylinder 33 are pressurized with air of the same supply pressure via the pair of air supply / discharge ports 45a, 45b and the pair of speed control valves 54, 55.

[0053] When the directional control valve 53 is switched to the first operating position [I], it executes a pushing operation in which the push-out member 31 is advanced to the push-out completion position P2 by the air cylinder 33 at a discharge operation time and a push-out operation speed according to the type of work W, and the work W to be sorted can be sorted and discharged with a push-out stroke close to the width Lc in the width direction of the conveyor 12. In addition, when the directional control valve 53 is switched to the second operating position [II], it can cause the air cylinder 33 to move the push-out member 31 backward to the standby position P1 at a predetermined high-speed return time and return operation speed.

[0054] The speed control valves 54, 55 have check valves 54a, 55a that open in the air supply direction to the corresponding pressure chambers 44A, 44B and close in the opposite direction (exhaust direction), and variable throttling elements 54b, 55b that can control the exhaust flow rate from the corresponding pressure chambers 44A, 44B by variable throttling.

[0055] The drive mechanism 32 can use these supply control valve 52, directional control valve 53, and speed control valves 54, 55 to control the direction of air supply and exhaust to the air cylinder 33, and to control the operating speed corresponding to the exhaust speed when driving the air cylinder 33 to extend or retract.

[0056] (Configuration of control unit) 1, the article inspection device 1 further includes a first control unit 61 that controls the inspection unit 20, and a second control unit 62 that controls the sorting unit 30. The inspection unit 20 is also provided with a display operation unit 63 that can input required operations to the first control unit 61, display the input contents, and display the inspection results, etc.

[0057] Although the specific hardware configuration of the first control unit 61 and the second control unit 62 is not shown, each is configured to include, for example, a CPU, ROM, RAM, an input / output interface circuit, a drive circuit, etc., and is configured to perform conveyance control of the conveyance unit 10, control of item inspection in the inspection unit 20, control of sorting operation in the sorting unit 30, etc., using predetermined conveyance control programs, inspection control programs, sorting control programs, etc. stored in the ROM or other memory devices. The first control unit 61 and the second control unit 62 are configured to be able to perform the control functions of the multiple means described below by executing the various control programs mentioned above.

[0058] The first control unit 61 includes a transport control means for controlling the transport speed and transport interval of the workpiece W by the conveyor 11 of the transport unit 10, and an inspection control means for controlling the inspection in the inspection unit 20 by controlling the output of the X-ray generator and the X-ray line detection cycle and inspection period of the X-ray detector according to the transport speed of the workpiece W, while outputting a sorting command signal RJ and an inspection judgment signal (OK / NG) according to the inspection result in the inspection unit 20 to the second control unit 62. Furthermore, the first control unit 61 can generate a sorting command signal RJ and an inspection judgment signal (indicated by OK / NG in FIG. 1) according to the inspection result in the inspection unit 20, for example, the result of determining whether or not the workpiece W being inspected contains foreign matter, and output them to the second control unit 62 within a predetermined time from the time of the judgment (for example, see times t3, t4, t8, t9, etc. of the inspection judgment (NG or Pass) in FIG. 8).

[0059] The second control unit 62 includes a conveying control means for controlling the conveying speed Vrj (see Figure 3) of the work W by the conveyor 12 of the conveying unit 10 and the sorting time interval corresponding to the conveying interval D (see Figure 1), and a sorting control means for controlling the operation of the sorting unit 30 based on the sorting command signal RJ and inspection judgment signal from the first control unit 61 and the item detection signal from the conveyed item detection sensor 25.

[0060] When the second control unit 62 receives a sorting command signal RJ and an NG judgment signal from the first control unit 61, it sets the time from the time the signal is input (see, for example, the rising times t4, t9, t16 of the inspection judgment NG signal in Figure 8) to the time when the work W reaches a predetermined position within the sorting section Z2, for example, as shown in Figure 3, the time when half (L / 2) of the product length L, which is the length of the work W in the conveying direction, can enter the front area of ​​the push-out member 31 at the waiting position P1 (corresponding to the rising times t5, t10, t17 of the operation direction control signal RJ1 in Figure 8), as a sorting delay time Td, and delays the sorting and discharge operation of the sorting unit 30 for the work W to be discharged during the sorting delay time Td.

[0061] In addition, the second control unit 62 is configured to output an operation direction control signal RJ1 to the directional control valve 53 of the solenoid valve unit 34 to instruct sorting and discharge by pushing, during the discharge operation setting time Te (from the rising to falling of the operation direction control signal RJ1), which is the normal sorting operation time, so that, in the case of normal sorting operation, the work W to be sorted is sorted and discharged by pushing at a pushing operation speed according to the type of work W, with a normal operating stroke close to the width Lc of the conveyor 12 in the width direction.

[0062] Furthermore, in the case of normal sorting operation, when the discharge operation setting time Te has elapsed from the time when the operation can be started (for example, t7, t11, t19 in Figure 8), the second control unit 62 stops outputting the push-side operation direction control signal RJ1, but immediately thereafter starts outputting the retract-side operation direction control signal RJ5, and outputs the retract-side operation direction control signal RJ5 to the directional control valve 53 of the solenoid valve unit 34 to contract the air cylinder 33 for a predetermined return time so as to retract the push-out member 31 out of the sorting section Z2 on the conveyor 12 at a predetermined retraction operation speed.

[0063] As illustrated in Figure 8 as the state of the position sensor, the output of the standby position sensor 56 falls from the standby position detection state to an OFF state indicating a non-standby state when the sorting and discharge operation is started in which the air cylinder 33 extends in response to the output of the push-out side operation direction control signal RJ1, and the push-out member 31 constituting the sorting gate moves out of the standby position P1 (for example, when it moves toward the position of the imaginary line indicated by the two-dot chain line in Figure 2) (see t5, t10, and t17 in Figure 8). Then, during a certain sorting and discharge operation setting time Te, the extension amount of the air cylinder 33 reaches a predetermined amount and the output of the sorting position sensor 57 turns ON (see t6, t10', t18 in the same figure), at which point the sorting position detection state is entered, and from the point at which the sorting and discharge operation setting time Te has elapsed (see t7, t11, t19 in Figure 8), the air cylinder 33 contracts in response to the retraction side operation direction control signal RJ5, causing the sorting position to move away from the sorting position and turn OFF, and at the point at which the contraction amount of the air cylinder 33 reaches a predetermined amount (see t7', t14, t19' in Figure 8), the standby position sensor 56 turns ON again and changes to the standby position detection state.

[0064] The second control unit 62 is a sorting control means that completes the reciprocating movement of the extrusion member 31 from the standby position P1 shown by the solid line in Figure 2 to the extrusion completion position P2 shown by the virtual line in the same figure, and then returns to the standby position P1 again, within a predetermined operating time (transport time interval) corresponding to the transport interval D of the work W, by controlling the ON / OFF of the operation direction control signals RJ1 and RJ5.

[0065] Furthermore, for stable sorting of the workpiece W, as shown in FIG. 3, pushing begins when the center of gravity of the workpiece W to be discharged, in this case center G, reaches within the area of ​​the conveying direction length Lg of the extrusion member 31, and extrusion is completed before the center G of the workpiece W passes through the conveying direction length area of ​​the extrusion member 31.

[0066] As described above, the article inspection device 1 of this embodiment comprises an inspection unit 20 that inspects the workpieces W on the multiple conveyors 11, 12 (conveying paths), and a pusher-type sorting unit 30 that, when the inspection result by the inspection unit 20 is a defective product, pneumatically drives an air cylinder 33 to move a push-out member 31 and a piston rod 43 that constitute a sorting gate in the push-out direction, thereby discharging the workpiece W outward from the conveyor 12. Hereinafter, the push-out member 31 that constitutes the sorting gate will also be simply referred to as a sorting gate 31.

[0067] The sorting section 30 can perform a sorting operation to allocate the direction of transport of the work W passing on the conveyor 12 by moving the sorting gate 31 to different operating positions P1, P2 relative to the conveyor 12 using an air cylinder 33 that operates in response to the supply and exhaust of air to one and the other pressure chambers 44A, 44B.

[0068] Here, the standby position sensor 56 or sorting position sensor 57 attached to the air cylinder 33 can detect whether the sorting gate 31 is in a standby state at a predetermined standby position P1 or P2 among the multiple operating positions P1, P2, or is in a non-standby state away from that standby position. When the retraction-side operating position P1 among the multiple operating positions P1, P2 of the sorting gate 31 is the standby position, the standby position sensor 56 detects whether the sorting gate 31 is in a standby state at the operating position P1 or in a non-standby state away from the operating position P1, and serves as a standby state detection means that outputs a detection signal of ON (standby state) or OFF (non-standby state). On the other hand, when the push-out-side operating position P2 among the multiple operating positions P1, P2 of the sorting gate 31 is the standby position, the sorting position sensor 57 detects whether the sorting gate 31 is in a standby state at the operating position P2 or in a non-standby state away from the operating position P2, and serves as a standby state detection means that outputs a detection signal of ON or OFF. Furthermore, when both the standby position sensor 56 and the sorting position sensor 57 are OFF, it becomes possible to detect that the sorting gate 31 is stopped somewhere between the multiple operating positions P1 and P2 (hereinafter referred to as an intermediate stop).

[0069] The second control unit 62, together with the solenoid valve unit 34, constitutes the air control unit referred to in the present invention, and when the operation of the article inspection device 1 starts after an emergency stop or the like, it can control the operating state of the air cylinder 33 based on a movement instruction input from the display operation unit 63, as shown in Fig. 4, to move the sorting gate 31 toward the standby position P1. That is, the second control unit 62 cooperates with the solenoid valve unit 34, and when the operation starts to start supplying air to the air cylinder 33 (actuator), the second control unit 62 controls the supply and discharge of air to the air cylinder 33 by the supply control valve 52 and the directional control valve 53 so as to move the sorting gate 31 toward the standby position P1, on the condition (execution condition) that the standby position sensor 56 detects a non-standby state.

[0070] (Inspection control and sorting control) The first control unit 61 of the inspection unit 20 and the second control unit 62 of the sorting unit 30 are started up when the power to the item inspection device 1 is turned on (power-on time t0 in Figure 8), a predetermined control program is launched, necessary sensor information is acquired, and operational control begins.

[0071] While the inspection section 20 and the sorting section 30 are operating, a predetermined item inspection is performed on the work W being transported by the inspection section 20, while the second control section 62, which is an air control section, controls the supply and exhaust of air to the air cylinder 33 according to the inspection results for each inspected work W that has been inspected by the inspection section 20, and performs the necessary sorting operation. During this operation, based on the input of the sorting signal RJ and the inspection judgment signal OK / NG from the first control unit 61, the second control unit 62 selectively outputs either the push-side operation direction control signal RJ1 or the pull-in side operation direction control signal RJ5 depending on the timing of these inputs and the inspection results, and switches and controls the direction control valve 53 of the solenoid valve unit 34 to control whether or not the air cylinder 33 of the sorting unit 30 will extend or retract and the direction in which it will operate.

[0072] On the other hand, when the item inspection device 1 starts operating (including when it resumes operation after an emergency stop, etc.), the second control unit 62 determines whether the sorting gate 31 is in the standby position based on the ON / OFF state of the standby position sensor 56 and the sorting position sensor 57, and depending on the determination result, the second control unit 62 requests the first control unit 61 to control the display output and the acquisition of operation input at the display operation unit 63.

[0073] Then, upon receiving this control request, the first control unit 61 controls the display operation unit 63 to display and output a message indicating that a movement operation is required to return the sorting gate 31, which has moved away from the standby position P1, to the standby position P1 when the item inspection device 1 starts operating or resumes operation after an emergency stop, etc., provided that the standby position sensor 56 is in the OFF state (detecting the non-standby state of the sorting gate 31).

[0074] Specifically, after the power supply to the device is turned on (power-on time t0 in FIG. 8), when the device starts operating, a standby period is set to a predetermined time, for example, a predetermined time from the device operation start time t1 in FIG. 8 or the operation restart time t12 after an emergency stop (stop time t11 in FIG. 8) or the like is released, and the second control unit 62, which is an air control unit, executes standby movement and confirmation processing at the start of operation as shown in the flowchart in FIG. 7.

[0075] In this standby movement / confirmation process, first, it is checked whether the sorting gate 31 is at the standby position P1 or has moved away from the standby position P1 (step S11). If the sorting gate 31 is not at the standby position P1 and is in a non-standby state (NO in step S11), the display operation unit 63 displays the movement operation screen 71 shown in Figure 4 (step S12), and outputs information that a movement operation is possible to center the sorting gate 31 that has moved away from the standby position P1 and then return it to the standby position P1 side.

[0076] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, in a display area 71c near the center of the movement operation screen 71, in addition to displaying that the sorting unit (push plate) will move toward the center and then return to the standby position, the display also displays "After confirming safety and that there are no products on the conveyor, please press 'Yes'" and "If you do not want to move, please press 'No'", indicating that it is possible to select whether or not to perform the movement operation. This operation of selecting whether or not to perform the movement operation can be performed by, for example, touching the button display portions of the "Yes" button 71a and the "No" button 71b on the movement operation screen 71 (see step S13).

[0077] When the "Yes" button 71a is selected on this movement operation screen 71 to request movement to the standby position (when the movement operation "required" is selected in step S13), the first control unit 61 and the second control unit 62 transition to a low-speed automatic return mode (first movement operation mode) in which air supply start control, which will be described later, can be executed (step S14), and when the return of the sorting gate 31 to the standby position is confirmed from the detection information of the standby position sensor 56 (YES in step S11), the standby position confirmation screen 72 shown in Fig. 5 is displayed (step S15). Similarly, when the sorting gate 31 is in the standby position during the initial standby state check (step S11) (YES in step S11), the standby position confirmation screen 72 shown in Fig. 5 is displayed (step S15).

[0078] (low speed automatic recovery mode) In the low-speed automatic return mode, first, in response to a selection operation input (movement instruction input) using the "Yes" button 71a from the movement operation screen 71 of the display operation unit 63, the supply control valve 52 is controlled to the air supply side, and first centering is performed to move the sorting gate 31 toward the center of the stroke range, and then the directional control valve 53 is switched to the second operating position [II], and the air cylinder 33 is controlled to operate so as to move the sorting gate 31 toward the standby position P1.

[0079] Furthermore, prior to the activation of this low-speed automatic return mode, while the device is in an operation-stop state (times t0 and t11 before the start of operation in FIG. 8), the directional control valve 53 is in the OFF state (de-energized state), and the supply control valve 52 is also in the OFF state and switched to the air supply stop state [i]. In other words, before the device starts operation, the device is in a state where the atmosphere release control during stop is executed, which releases both the one and the other pressure chambers 44A, 44B of the air cylinder 33 to the atmosphere.

[0080] When the device starts operating, the first control unit 61 and the second control unit 62 determine whether the standby position sensor 56 is in the OFF state while the directional control valve 53 is in the OFF state, and if it is in the OFF state, activate the low-speed automatic return mode in response to the selection and operation input of the "Yes" button 71a. At this time, the air supply command signal Sa turns ON, the supply control valve 52 switches to the air supply state [ii], and air supply start control is executed to increase the pressures in both the pressure chambers 44A, 44B while balancing them at equal pressures.

[0081] The second control unit 62 controls the directional control valve 53 to switch in a direction to move the sorting gate 31 toward the standby position P1 at a predetermined timing when the pressure in one and the other pressure chambers 44A, 44B of the air cylinder 33 reaches an approximately equilibrium state and the piston 42 is approximately centered after the air supply command signal Sa is turned ON.

[0082] In this way, the second control unit 62 performs the aforementioned atmospheric release control when the device is stopped and the aforementioned air supply start control when the device is started, thereby functioning as a dangerous operation avoidance control circuit that can move the sorting gate 31 slowly toward the standby position during or immediately after the air supply start control is being executed.

[0083] More specifically, when the standby position sensor 56 detects that the sorting gate 31 is in a non-standby state with the directional control valve 53 in a non-excited state at the start of operation, the second control unit 62 changes the air supply command signal Sa from the stop atmosphere release control state in which one and the other pressure chambers 44A, 44B of the air cylinder 33 are open to the atmosphere to the ON state, and switches the supply control valve 52 to the air supply state [ii], thereby increasing the pressure in both pressure chambers 44A, 44B by supplying air pressurized to a predetermined pressure.

[0084] At this time, depending on the position of the piston 42, which is the output member of the air cylinder 33, the rate of pressure increase in the smaller-volume pressure chamber 44A or 44B of the one or the other pressure chamber 44A, 44B first becomes higher, and the piston 42 is centered by the thrust from the higher-pressure side to the lower-pressure side of both pressure chambers 44A, 44B, and within a predetermined time of approximately half a stroke of the piston 42, both pressure chambers 44A, 44B reach a state of pressure equilibrium at a pressure close to the air supply pressure.

[0085] In addition, if there is a difference in the area (pressure-receiving area) on which the pressure in one pressure chamber 44A and the other pressure chamber 44B acts in the displacement direction of the piston 42, even if both pressure chambers 44A and 44B reach a state of pressure equilibrium, the piston 42 will be displaced at a very slow speed due to a specific unidirectional thrust force corresponding to the difference in pressure-receiving area, that is, according to Pascal's principle.

[0086] Then, at a predetermined timing when the sorting gate 31 has passed the first movement time, for example, the time required for it to be centered from the sorting position (the non-standby state farthest from the standby position), the electromagnetic directional control valve 53 is urged toward the second operating position [II] by the operating direction control signal RJ5, and when the air cylinder 33 is directional controlled toward the standby position P1, the approximately centered piston 42 moves toward the standby position P1 at a speed corresponding to the exhaust speed from one of the pressure chambers 44A.

[0087] At this time, a reaction force corresponding to the throttling of the variable throttling element 54b of the speed control valve 54 is generated in one of the pressure chambers 44A on the exhaust side against the thrust force of the piston 42 in the retraction direction (cylinder contraction direction) from the sorting position P2 side toward the standby position P1 side, and the moving speed of the sorting gate 31 corresponds to the exhaust speed from one of the pressure chambers 44A, and is relatively slower than when the directional control valve 53 is immediately excited from the atmosphere release control state at the time of stop and the air cylinder 33 is directional controlled toward the standby position P1 side.

[0088] Compressed air of equal pressure is introduced into both the pressure chambers 44A and 44B of the pre-centered air cylinder 33, and when the directional control valve 53 is switched to the second operating position [II] by the operating direction control signal RJ5 in this state, the sorting gate 31 returns to its standby position under a condition in which the speed of the piston 42 is limited according to the throttling of the variable throttling element 54b from the time of switching.

[0089] In addition, when the directional control valve 53 is immediately switched to return the non-standby sorting gate 31 from the atmosphere release control state when the air cylinder 33 is stopped to its original state, the air pressure in the exhaust side pressure chamber 44A increases in accordance with the exhaust speed, causing the piston 42 to momentarily move at high speed until the speed of the piston 42 is limited, and the sorting gate 31 momentarily moves toward the standby position P1.

[0090] In this embodiment, when the device starts operating, the piston rod 43, which is the output member of the air cylinder 33, and the sorting gate 31 connected to it will no longer move instantaneously toward the standby position P1, and operation can be safely resumed even if the sorting gate 31 stops at a position away from the standby position due to an emergency stop or the like.

[0091] (Screen operation and instruction input) When the sorting gate 31 reaches the standby position P1, provided that the standby position is detected by the standby position sensor 56, the standby position confirmation screen 72 shown in Figure 5 is displayed (see step S15 in Figure 7), and a display output is given informing the user that the sensor has detected that the sorting gate 31, which has moved away from the standby position P1, has returned to the standby position P1, and prompting the user to select by button operation whether to resume operation or stop operation (see step S16 in Figure 7).

[0092] In Figure 5, a display area 72c near the center of the standby position confirmation screen 72 displays the message, "The standby position sensor confirmed that the pusher has returned to the standby position. Pressing 'Yes' will transition to operation, and pressing 'No' will transition to stop."

[0093] In this case, by performing a selection operation input (such as a touch operation) on the "Yes" button 72a or the "No" button 72b shown in the lower half of the standby position confirmation screen 72 in Fig. 5, the screen transitions to the operation screen 73 shown in Fig. 6, where an instruction can be input as to whether to select to start or resume operation, or to temporarily suspend operation. Then, in response to such a selection request by button operation (step S16 in Fig. 7), the screen transitions to the operation screen 73 (step S17 in Fig. 7), or a transition process to an operation stop screen (not shown) is executed (step S18 in Fig. 7).

[0094] In addition, if the sorting gate 31 is at the standby position P1, the standby position is detected by the standby position sensor 56, and it is desired to immediately resume operation, the confirmation operation on the standby position confirmation screen 72 (step S15) and the selection request (step S16) can be omitted.

[0095] (Example of an emergency stop) Below, using Figures 9 to 17, we will explain specific examples of atmospheric release control when the item inspection device 1 is stopped, air supply start control when operation starts, and air control during operation for several cases in which the stopping position of the sorting gate 31 is different when the item inspection device 1 is stopped in an emergency (emergency stop or abnormal stop in the figures).

[0096] As shown in Figure 9, when the sorting gate 31 has the retraction side stop position as its standby position, and as shown in Figures 10(a) and 11(a), when the sorting gate 31 is in a non-standby state shifted from the standby position P1 toward the intermediate position, or when it is in a non-standby state shifted toward the push-out completion position shown in Figure 12(a), when the item inspection device 1 is in a normal power-off state, stopped state, or emergency stop state (emergency stop or abnormal stop), the second control unit 62, which is an air control unit, does not output either the push-out side operation direction control signal RJ1 or the retraction side operation direction control signal RJ5, which are sorting commands.

[0097] When the sorting gate 31 has the retraction side stopping position as the standby position P1, as shown in Figure 9, even when the sorting gate 31 is stopped at that standby position P1, when the item inspection device 1 is in a normal power-off state, stopped state, or emergency stop state, the second control unit 62 does not output either the push-out side operation direction control signal RJ1 or the retraction side operation direction control signal RJ5.

[0098] That is, during a preparation period after the article inspection apparatus 1 is powered on and before restarting operation (stop state a from power-on time t0 to operation start time t1 in FIG. 8, or stop state A from emergency stop time t11 to operation restart time t12), the air supply command signal Sa to the supply control valve 52 and the operating direction control signals RJ1, RJ5 to the direction control valve 53 from the second control unit 62 are both in the OFF state. Therefore, the pressure center type direction control valve 53 returns its valve element 53v to the neutral position, and the supply control valve 52 is in the OFF state blocking the air supply, and the supply pressure port 53p of the direction control valve 53 communicates with the atmosphere release port 52r of the supply control valve 52, thereby achieving an atmosphere release state during stop in which one and the other pressure chambers 44A, 44B of the air cylinder 33 are open to the atmosphere (see FIGS. 9 and 10(a)).

[0099] If the sorting gate 31 had normally stopped at the standby position P1 and the air cylinder 33 was in a contracted state before operation was stopped, the standby position sensor 56 would normally be detected in an ON state (the sorting gate 31 is in a standby state) at the start of operation t1, and the standby position confirmation screen 72 shown in Fig. 5 would then be displayed (step S15 in Fig. 7). Then, when the "Yes" button 72a on the standby position confirmation screen 72 is selected (YES in step S16 in Fig. 7), operation of the article inspection device 1 is started (step S17 in Fig. 7), and the operation screen 73 shown in Fig. 6 is displayed.

[0100] At this time, normal operation starts with the sorting gate 31 in the standby position, so that simultaneously with the start of operation, the operation direction control signal RJ5 to the directional control valve 53 turns ON (state s in FIG. 8), and with the directional control valve 53 taking the second operating position [II] that retracts the sorting gate 31, when the "Yes" button 72a on the standby position confirmation screen 72 is selected and operated, the air supply command signal Sa to the supply control valve 52 turns ON, and compressed air is supplied from the air source 50 side via the supply control valve 52 to the supply pressure port 53p of the directional control valve 53, thereby starting the air supply (see air supply start time t3 in FIG. 8). Note that when the "No" button 72b on the standby position confirmation screen 72 is selected and input (in the case of NO in step S16 in the same figure), the operation of the article inspection device 1 is temporarily stopped and the screen transitions to a stop screen (not shown).

[0101] On the other hand, if the sorting gate 31 is stopped in an emergency (emergency stop time t11 in Figure 8) without returning to the standby position before operation starts, or if the sorting gate 31 is manually moved to a position away from the standby position (for example, an intermediate stop position) while open to the atmosphere during the stop, the standby position sensor 56 will be detected in an OFF state (the sorting gate 31 is not in a standby state) during the preparation period before operation is restarted, for example, during the stop state A from the emergency stop time t11 to the operation restart time t12 in Figure 8. At this time, the air supply command signal Sa from the second control unit 62 to the supply control valve 52 and the operation direction control signals RJ1 and RJ5 to the directional control valve 53 are both in an OFF state.

[0102] Then, since the sorting gate 31 starts operating in a non-standby state, the transfer operation screen 71 is displayed and output, and when the "Yes" button 71a on the transfer operation screen 71 is selected, as shown in Figure 10(b), the air supply command signal Sa to the supply control valve 52 is turned ON (t12 in Figure 8), and compressed air is supplied from the air source 50 side via the supply control valve 52 to the supply pressure port 53p of the directional control valve 53, thereby entering a state in which air supply start control is executed (state S in Figure 8, see Figures 10(b), 11(b), and 12(b)). At this time, the pressure in both pressure chambers 44A, 44B increases, and the pressure increase in the smaller-volume pressure chamber 44A or 44B progresses first, so that the piston 42 is centered by the thrust from the higher-pressure side to the lower-pressure side of both pressure chambers 44A, 44B, and both pressure chambers 44A, 44B reach a state of pressure equilibrium at a pressure close to the air supply pressure Pc within a predetermined time period of approximately half a stroke of the piston 42.

[0103] Furthermore, after the start of air supply (start time t12 in FIG. 8), at a predetermined timing (see t13, State S in FIG. 8) when the pressures in the one and the other pressure chambers 44A, 44B reach a substantially equilibrium state, the operation direction control signal RJ5 turns ON, controlling the direction control valve 53 in a direction to move the sorting gate 31 toward the standby position P1 (see State T in FIG. 8), as shown in FIGS. 11(c) and 12(c). The centered sorting gate 31 then returns to the standby position (t14 in FIG. 8). At this time, the substantially centered piston 42 moves toward the standby position at a speed corresponding to the exhaust speed from one pressure chamber 44A. As a result, the sorting operation according to the product inspection results can be started (State O following State T in FIG. 8). The piston displacement when there is a difference in the pressure-receiving area on both sides of the piston 42 is as described above. Moreover, state P in FIG. 8 indicates a state in which the inspection result of the workpiece W is determined to be a non-defective product, and state N in FIG. 8 indicates a state in which the inspection result of the workpiece W is determined to be a defective product.

[0104] In this embodiment, if the sorting gate 31 moves out of its standby position and stops due to an emergency stop or the like, it can be returned to its standby position in response to a movement instruction input from the movement operation screen 71 of the display operation unit 63, or the sorting gate 31 can be automatically returned to its standby position P1 when operation starts.

[0105] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the solenoid valve unit 34, which controls the operation of the air cylinder 33 in cooperation with the second control unit 62, has a directional control valve 53 configured as a pressure-center type 5-port 3-position switching valve, and a supply control valve 52 configured as a 3-port 2-position switching valve. Therefore, with a relatively simple valve configuration, it is possible to provide a low-cost, highly reliable article inspection device 1 that can safely resume operation even if the sorting gate 31 stops at a position away from the standby position due to an emergency stop or the like, and that can achieve both atmospheric release control at the time of shutdown and air supply start control at the start of operation.

[0106] Furthermore, the article inspection device 1 of this embodiment is provided with an inspection unit 20 that inspects the quality state of the workpieces W upstream of the sorting gate 31 of the sorting unit 30, and while the inspection unit 20 and the sorting unit 30 are operating, the second control unit 62, which is an air control unit, controls the supply and exhaust of air to the air cylinder 33 in accordance with the inspection results for each inspected workpiece W that has been inspected in the inspection unit 20. Therefore, the article inspection device 1 is capable of sorting operations in accordance with the inspection results, and is a highly reliable, low-cost article inspection device 1 that can safely resume operation even after an emergency stop, etc.

[0107] (Sorting control during operation based on product inspection results) FIG. 13 illustrates two control states of the sorting gate 31 according to the article inspection results while the article inspection device 1 is in operation.

[0108] 13(a), when the system is in a standby state during operation or a product pass state in which a workpiece W determined to be a non-defective is allowed to pass in a predetermined conveyance direction as a product, the air supply command signal Sa from the second control unit 62 to the supply control valve 52 is ON, and the operation direction control signal RJ5 to the directional control valve 53 is ON and the operation direction control signal RJ1 is OFF. Therefore, compressed air (shown by hatching in the figure for convenience) from the air source 50 is supplied to the pressure chamber 44B through the retraction pressure side air supply / discharge port 45b and exhausted from the pressure chamber 44A through the extrusion pressure side air supply / discharge port 45a. As the air cylinder 33 contracts, the sorting gate 31 moves to the retraction side standby position P1. At this time, the check valve 54a of the speed control valve 54 and the variable throttle element 54b perform their non-return functions, resulting in a meter-out speed control state according to the throttle of the variable throttle element 54b.

[0109] 13(b), when the system enters a NG sorting and discharge state in which workpieces W determined to be defective are sorted and discharged as NG products in a discharge direction different from the predetermined conveyance direction, the air supply command signal Sa from the second control unit 62 to the supply control valve 52 is ON, and the operation direction control signal RJ5 to the directional control valve 53 is turned OFF and the operation direction control signal RJ1 is turned ON. Therefore, compressed air from the air source 50 is supplied to the pressure chamber 44A through the air supply / discharge port 45a on the extrusion pressure side and is exhausted from the pressure chamber 44BA through the air supply / discharge port 45b on the retraction pressure side, and the sorting gate 31 moves to the extrusion completion position P2 as the air cylinder 33 extends. At this time, the check valve 55a of the speed control valve 55 and the variable throttle element 55b perform their non-return functions and the throttle function of the variable throttle element 55b are exerted, resulting in a meter-out speed control state according to the throttle of the variable throttle element 55b.

[0110] During operation of the article inspection device 1, one of the push-out direction operation direction control signal RJ1 and the retract-in direction operation direction control signal RJ5 corresponding to the article inspection result is turned ON (solenoid excited state) and the other is turned OFF in accordance with the inspection result of each inspected workpiece W in the inspection unit 20. As a result, compressed air from the air source 50 is supplied to the pressure chamber 44A or 44B through one air supply / discharge port 45a or 45b, and is exhausted from the pressure chamber 44B or 44A through the other air supply / discharge port 45b or 45a, and the sorting gate 31 is driven to either the push-out side or the retraction side by the expansion or contraction of the air cylinder 33.

[0111] Furthermore, when the article inspection device 1 starts operating, on the condition that the directional control valve 53 is in the OFF state and the sorting gate 31 is in a non-standby state, when compressed air starts to be supplied from the air source 50 via the solenoid valve unit 34 to the air cylinder 33, which is open to the atmosphere when stopped, air supply start control is executed to increase the pressure in both pressure chambers 44A, 44B and balance the pressure, thereby centering the sorting gate 31 and balancing the pressure in both pressure chambers 44A, 44B at a pressure close to the air supply pressure. Therefore, when the operation direction control signal RJ5 or RJ1 for the directional control valve 53 is turned ON and the air cylinder 33 is directionally controlled to the retraction side or the extrusion side, the centered sorting gate 31 moves slowly according to the speed of the throttled exhaust air from one or the other pressure chamber 44A or 44B.

[0112] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the directional control valve 53 is switched and controlled in accordance with the inspection results for each workpiece W. Therefore, the sorting gate 31 is moved to one of a plurality of different operating positions P1, P2 in accordance with the extension and contraction of the air cylinder 33, and sorting is performed in accordance with the inspection results for each workpiece W.

[0113] Next, the operation will be described.

[0114] In the article inspection device 1 of this embodiment configured as described above, when operation is started, such as when normal operation starts or when operation is resumed after an emergency stop, the standby movement / confirmation process shown in Fig. 7 is initiated, and if the sorting gate 31 is out of standby position P1 (if NO in step S11), the display operation unit 63 displays (step S12) that a movement operation is required to return the sorting gate 31 to standby position P1. Then, when a movement instruction is input from the display operation unit 63 (if a movement operation is required in step S13), the sorting gate 31 becomes ready to be moved toward standby position P1 based on the movement instruction input (step S14).

[0115] Therefore, if the sorting gate 31 has not moved out of the standby position P1 when operation starts (YES in step S11), the user can confirm on the standby position confirmation screen 72 that the gate is still in standby state (step S15), and then start operation in response to a start instruction input from the "Yes" button 72a (steps S16, S17).

[0116] Furthermore, even if the sorting gate 31 is out of the standby position P1 when operation starts (NO in step S11), the movement operation screen 71 is displayed on the display operation unit 63 on the condition that the standby position sensor 56 detects a non-standby state (step S12), and the operator is notified that the sorting gate 31 will be returned to the standby position P1 at a low speed in response to a movement instruction input from the "Yes" button 71a (step S13), and processing of the low-speed automatic return mode is executed to return the sorting gate 31 to the standby position P1 at a low speed (step S14).

[0117] Furthermore, when a movement instruction requesting a stop is input from the display operation unit 63, the operation is stopped (if it is not necessary in step S13, step S18).

[0118] Therefore, when restarting operation after an emergency stop or the like, there will be no unintended sudden movement of the sorting gate 31, and dangerous operations can be avoided in advance, allowing operation to be restarted safely without compromising work safety.

[0119] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second control unit 62, which is an air control unit, moves the sorting gate 31 at a low speed toward the standby position P1 based on a movement instruction input from the display operation unit 63 that instructs the sorting gate 31 to move backward toward the retraction side. Therefore, not only is unintended movement of the sorting gate 31 restricted when restarting operation from an emergency stop or the like, but the sorting gate 31 can also be safely and reliably returned from the stop position toward the standby position P1 with just a simple screen operation.

[0120] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first control unit 61 and the second control unit 62 have directional control valves 53 connected to the air supply / discharge ports 45a, 45b on the push-out pressure side and pull-in pressure side of the air cylinder 33, and control the air supply to the air cylinder 33 in response to a movement command input. Therefore, the air supply to the air cylinder 33 in response to a movement command input from the display / operation unit 63 is based on the switching timing and valve opening time of the electromagnetic directional control valve 53, making it possible to return the sorting gate 31 to the standby position P1 at an appropriate movement speed.

[0121] In addition, in this embodiment, when the item inspection device 1 is stopped in an emergency, the second control unit 62 controls the directional control valve 53 to open the air cylinder 33 to the atmosphere, and when returning, based on the movement instruction input from the display operation unit 63, the air cylinder 33 is first moved from an atmosphere-open state to a pressure equilibrium state between one and the other pressure chambers 44A, 44B while being centered, and then the directional control valve 53 controls the supply and exhaust of air from the air source 50 to the air cylinder 33, thereby avoiding sudden movement of the sorting gate 31 when operation starts and ensuring its return to the standby position P1.

[0122] In addition, in this embodiment, a mode switching means is provided that can switch between either a low-speed automatic return mode, in which the sorting gate 31 moves backward in response to movement instructions input from the movement operation screen 71 of the display operation unit 63, or an operation stop mode.Therefore, by selecting the low-speed automatic return mode, the sorting gate 31 can be safely and reliably returned from the stopped position to the standby position P1 with just a simple screen operation on the movement operation screen 71, and by selecting the operation stop mode, it is also possible to directly manually operate and adjust the sorting gate 31 in the event of an emergency stop, etc.

[0123] In addition, in this embodiment, while the second control unit 62 constituting the air control means controls the amount of movement of the sorting gate 31 to a predetermined amount when moving it backward, when the standby position sensor 56 detects that the sorting gate 31 has returned to the standby position P1, the backward movement of the sorting gate 31 can be stopped.

[0124] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide an article inspection device 1 that can safely resume operation even if the sorting gate 31 stops at a position away from the standby position P1 due to an emergency stop or the like.

[0125] (Second embodiment) Although not shown in detail, the article inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention has an air cylinder 33 disposed below the sorting conveyor, a sorting gate 31 supported movably in the extension / retraction direction of the air cylinder 33 via mounting members that clamp both ends of the sorting conveyor 12 on the inlet and outlet sides (see, for example, JP 2012-200618 A), and a sorting unit in which the sorting gate 31 pushes out (sorts and ejects) non-returnable products from the conveyance path when the cylinder contracts. Among FIGS. 14 to 17 illustrating this embodiment, FIG. 14 is a schematic pneumatic circuit diagram showing the sorting unit of the article inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a case in which the standby position of the sorting gate 31 is set in the extension direction of the air cylinder 33. Also, FIGS. 15 to 17 are explanatory diagrams illustrating the procedure for automatically returning the article inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment to the standby position from a stopped state at a non-standby position.

[0126] Although this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the relationship between the extension / retraction direction of the cylinder and the standby position, it has substantially the same configuration as the first embodiment, and therefore, in the following description of the configuration, the reference numerals of the corresponding components in the first embodiment will be used. Also, in this embodiment, the standby position of the sorting gate 31 is set on the extension side of the air cylinder 33, so contrary to the first embodiment, the standby position sensor 56 is disposed near the extension side end of the air cylinder 33, and the sorting position sensor 57 is disposed near the retraction side end of the air cylinder 33. Therefore, in Figures 14 to 17, the standby position P1' of the sorting gate 31 is the position where the air cylinder 33 is extended and the piston 42 is detected by the standby position sensor 56, and the sorting position P2' of the sorting gate 31 is the position where the air cylinder 33 is retracted and the piston 42 is detected by the sorting position sensor 57.

[0127] As shown in Figures 15(a) and 16(a), when the sorting gate 31 is in a non-standby state away from the standby position P1' towards the intermediate position, or when it is in the sorting position P2', which is the stop position on the cylinder retraction side shown by the dotted virtual line in Figure 15(a), when the item inspection device 1 is in a normal power-off state, stopped state, or emergency stop state, the second control unit 62, which is the air control unit, does not output either the cylinder retraction side operation direction control signal RJ1 or the cylinder extension side operation direction control signal RJ5, which are sorting commands, and both operation direction control signals RJ1 and RJ5 are in the OFF state.

[0128] As shown in Figure 14, when the sorting gate 31 is stopped at its standby position P1' on the extrusion side, and the item inspection device 1 is in a normal power-off state, stopped state, or emergency stop state, the first control unit 61 and the second control unit 62 do not output a sorting command, and the operation direction control signals RJ1 and RJ5 are both in the OFF state.

[0129] That is, during a preparation period after the article inspection apparatus 1 is powered on and before operation starts (stop state a from power-on time t0 to operation start time t1 in FIG. 8, or stop state A from emergency stop time t11 to operation restart time t12), the air supply command signal Sa to the supply control valve 52 and the operating direction control signals RJ1, RJ5 to the direction control valve 53 from the second control unit 62 are both in the OFF state. Therefore, the pressure center type direction control valve 53 returns its valve element 53v to the neutral position, and the supply control valve 52 is in the OFF state blocking the air supply, and the supply pressure port 53p of the direction control valve 53 communicates with the atmosphere release port 52r of the supply control valve 52, thereby achieving an atmosphere release state during stop in which one and the other pressure chambers 44A, 44B of the air cylinder 33 are open to the atmosphere (see FIGS. 14 and 15(a)).

[0130] If the sorting gate 31 is in a standby state, during this preparation period, the standby position sensor 56, which detects the standby position when the directional control valve 53 is in an OFF state, detects an ON state, and therefore the standby position confirmation screen 72 shown in Fig. 5 is displayed (step S15). Then, in response to a selection input to the "Yes" button 72a on the standby position confirmation screen 72, the operation screen 73 shown in Fig. 6 is displayed and operation of the article inspection device 1 is started, whereas if a selection input to the "No" button 72b on the standby position confirmation screen 72 is made, operation of the article inspection device 1 is temporarily stopped.

[0131] If the sorting gate 31 is not in a standby state, the standby position sensor 56, which detects the standby position, detects the OFF state, and the movement operation screen 71 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed (step S12). When a selection operation input is made to the "Yes" button 71a on the movement operation screen 71, the air supply command signal Sa to the supply control valve 52 turns ON, as shown in FIG. 15(b), and compressed air is supplied from the air source 50 side via the supply control valve 52 to the supply pressure port 53p of the non-energized directional control valve 53, thereby executing air supply start control (see FIGS. 15(b) and 16(b)). At this time, the pressure in both pressure chambers 44A, 44B increases, and the pressure increase in the smaller-volume pressure chamber 44A or 44B progresses first, so that the piston 42 is centered by the thrust from the higher-pressure side to the lower-pressure side of both pressure chambers 44A, 44B, and both pressure chambers 44A, 44B reach a state of pressure equilibrium at a pressure close to the air supply pressure Pc within a predetermined time period of approximately half a stroke of the piston 42.

[0132] Furthermore, at a predetermined timing when the pressures in the one and the other pressure chambers 44A, 44B reach a substantially equilibrium state due to the air supply (t12), the operation direction control signal RJ5 turns ON, controlling the direction control valve 53 in a direction that moves the sorting gate 31 to the standby position P1' on the cylinder extension side, as shown in Figure 16(c), and the centered sorting gate 31 returns further to the standby position P1'. At this time, the substantially centered piston 42 moves toward the standby position P1' at a speed that corresponds to the exhaust speed from one pressure chamber 44B.

[0133] As described above, piston displacement when there is a difference in the pressure-receiving area on both sides of the piston 42 is the same. In this embodiment, when the sorting gate 31 is moved to the standby position P1' on the cylinder extension side, it can also be moved at a slower speed toward the standby position P1' by the thrust force based on Pascal's principle caused by the difference in the piston pressure-receiving area after the pressure in both pressure chambers 44A, 44B is increased by air supply start control.

[0134] In this embodiment as well, when operation starts, such as when normal operation starts or when operation is resumed after an emergency stop, the standby movement / confirmation process described above in FIG. 7 is initiated, and, provided that the sorting gate 31 is out of standby position P1', a message is displayed on the display operation unit 63 indicating that a movement operation is required to return the sorting gate 31 to standby position P1'. This allows the sorting gate 31 to be moved toward standby position P1' by inputting a movement instruction from the display operation unit 63.

[0135] Therefore, if the sorting gate 31 has not deviated from the standby position P1' when operation starts, the fact that it is in standby state can be confirmed on the standby position confirmation screen 72, and operation can be started in response to a start instruction input using the "Yes" button 72a. On the other hand, if the sorting gate 31 has deviated from the standby position P1' when operation starts, the movement operation screen 71 is displayed on the condition that the standby position sensor 56 detects a non-standby state, and low-speed automatic return mode processing is executed to return the sorting gate 31 to the standby position P1' at a low speed in response to a movement instruction input using the "Yes" button 71a.

[0136] As a result, unintended sudden movement of the sorting gate 31 is eliminated when restarting operation after an emergency stop or the like, and dangerous operations can be avoided beforehand, allowing operation to be restarted safely without compromising work safety. Furthermore, since the sorting gate 31 is moved at a low speed toward the standby position P1' on the cylinder extension side based on a movement instruction input from the movement operation screen 71, not only is unintended movement of the sorting gate 31 restricted when restarting operation after an emergency stop or the like, but the sorting gate 31 can also be safely and reliably returned from the stopped position to the standby position P1' in accordance with the movement instruction with just a simple screen operation. Therefore, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained in this embodiment as well.

[0137] In the above-described embodiments, the operator touches the “Yes” button 71a on the movement operation screen 71 to input an instruction to move to the standby position P1 or P1′, or touches the “No” button 71b on the same screen to input an instruction to stop operation. However, the display operation unit 63 or either the first control unit 61 or the second control unit 62 may be provided with a communication port and a signal processing circuit capable of receiving external instruction input signals corresponding to various instruction inputs to the movement operation screen 71, so that instruction input operations can be performed from an external terminal. By outputting the standby position status to an external device, control similar to that on the screen can be performed. Furthermore, it goes without saying that operability can be further improved by receiving instruction inputs from the communication port in place of the instruction inputs to the “Yes” button 72a or the “No” button 72b on the standby position confirmation screen 72.

[0138] In addition, in this embodiment, the air control unit is composed of the second control unit 62 and the solenoid valve unit 34, but some of the functions of the second control unit 62 described above may be performed by the first control unit 61, so that the air control unit is composed of the solenoid valve unit 34, the first control unit 61, and the second control unit 62.

[0139] Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the solenoid valve unit 34 is configured to include a three-position switching type directional control valve 53, and the third operating position [III] is located between the first operating position [I] and the second operating position [II]. However, the third operating position [III] does not have to be located between the first operating position [I] and the second operating position [II]. Furthermore, the directional control valve 53 is not limited to one having a direct-acting valve element, and may have, for example, a rotary valve element whose rotation angle position can be switched. Furthermore, instead of a pressure-center type three-position switching valve, the directional control valve 53 can be configured to have the same function by using multiple two-position switching solenoid valves (solenoid valves) in combination, each of which opens an output port to the atmosphere in a non-excited state.

[0140] As described above, the present invention provides an article sorting device equipped with a sorting unit that assigns the direction of conveyance of an object to be inspected on a conveying path according to the inspection results of the object, and can safely resume operation even if the sorting gate stops at a position away from the standby position due to an emergency stop or the like. The present invention is useful for all article sorting devices equipped with a sorting unit that can assign the direction of conveyance of an object to be inspected on a conveying path according to the inspection results. [Explanation of symbols]

[0141] 1. Item inspection equipment 10 Conveying section 11 Conveyor (inspection conveyor, front conveyor, transport path) 12 Conveyor (sorting conveyor, middle conveyor, transport path) 13 Conveyor (line conveyor, downstream conveyor, transport path) 15. Discharged product receiving conveyor 20 Inspection Department 25 Transported item detection sensor (item detection means) 30 Sorting section (item sorting device) 31 Extrusion members (sorting gates, sorting members) 31a Plate metal plate surface 32 Drive mechanism 33 Air cylinder (pneumatically operated actuator) 34 Solenoid valve unit (air control section) 35 Guide mechanism 41 cylinders 42 Piston 43 Piston rod 43a Tip 44A Pressure chamber (pressure chamber on the extrusion pressure side) 44B Pressure chamber (pressure chamber on the retraction pressure side) 45a Air supply / exhaust port (extrusion pressure side air supply / exhaust port, first air supply / exhaust port) 45b Air supply / exhaust port (air supply / exhaust port on the intake pressure side, second air supply / exhaust port) 50 Air source 51 Filter regulator 51a filter 51b Regulator valve 52 Supply control valve (air supply control valve) 52a output port 52k spring 52p Air source pressure port 52r Atmospheric release port 52v valve body 53 Directional control valves (solenoid valves, pressure center type solenoid switching valves) 53a, 53b Actuator port (control pressure port) 53k Centering Spring 53p Supply pressure port 53q, 53r exhaust ports 53v valve body 54, 55 Speed ​​control valve 54a, 55a check valve 54b, 55b variable throttle element 56 Standby position sensor (standby state detection means) 57 Sorting position sensor 58, 59 Silencer 61 First Control Section 62 Second control unit (air control unit, dangerous operation avoidance control circuit, sorting control means) 63 Display operation unit (mode switching means) 71 Movement operation screen 71a "Yes" button (standby position movement button) 71b "No" button (operation stop button) 71c display area 72 Waiting position confirmation screen 72a "Yes" button 72b "No" button 72c display area 73 Operation screen D. Transfer interval G center (center of gravity) L Product length (length in the workpiece transport direction) Lc Width (advance amount from standby position to extrusion completion position, conveyance path width) Lg Length in the conveying direction (length of the extruded part in the conveying direction) OK / NG inspection decision signal P detection signal P1 Retraction side stop position (cylinder retraction side standby position, operating position) P1´ Standby position (standby position on the cylinder extension side, stop position on the retraction side of the ejector member, operating position) P2 Extrusion completion position (stop position on the cylinder extension side, stop position on the extrusion side of the extrusion member, operating position) P2´ Sorting position (stop position on the cylinder retraction side, stop position on the extrusion side of the extrusion member, operating position) Pc Air supply pressure RJ sorting command signal RJ1 Operation direction control signal (Extrusion side operation direction control signal, Extrusion pressure side signal, Cylinder extension direction signal, Cylinder retraction side operation direction control signal) RJ5 operation direction control signal (retraction side operation direction control signal, retraction pressure side signal, cylinder contraction direction signal; cylinder extension side operation direction control signal) Sa Air supply command signal Vrj conveying speed Double work (items to be inspected, items to be transported) Z1 Inspection section Z2 sorting section μpsh Friction coefficient (friction coefficient of the pusher surface against the workpiece) μcb Friction coefficient (friction coefficient of the conveying surface against the workpiece)

Claims

1. An article sorting device that sorts articles (W) passing through a conveying path (12) by moving a sorting gate (31) to a plurality of different operating positions (P1, P2) with respect to the conveying path (12) using an actuator (33) that operates in response to the supply and discharge of air to one and the other pressure chambers (44A, 44B), a standby state detection means (56 or 57) for detecting whether the sorting gate is in a standby state at a predetermined standby position (P1 or P2) among the plurality of operating positions or in a non-standby state away from the standby position; an air control unit (34, 62) that controls the supply and exhaust of air to move the sorting gate toward the standby position on the condition that the standby state detection means detects the non-standby state when starting operation to start supplying air to the actuator; a display operation unit (63) capable of inputting a movement instruction to instruct the sorting gate to move to the standby position side, The air control unit an electromagnetic directional control valve (53) having one and the other actuator ports (53a, 53b) connected to the one and the other pressure chambers, and a supply pressure port (53p) and a discharge port (53q, 53r) for the air, and in a non-energized state, connecting both the one and the other actuator ports to the supply pressure port, and in an energized state, connecting the one actuator port to the supply pressure port or the discharge port and the other actuator port to the discharge port or the supply pressure port, respectively; a supply control valve (52) having an output port (52a) connected to a supply pressure port of the directional control valve, and an air source side pressure port (52p) and an atmosphere release port (52r) selectively connected to the output port, and capable of switching between an air supply stop state in which the atmosphere release port is connected to the output port and an air supply state in which the air source side pressure port is connected to the output port and compressed air from the air source side is supplied to the supply pressure port of the directional control valve; a dangerous operation avoidance control circuit (62) that executes an atmosphere release control during stoppage, which switches the supply control valve to the air supply stop state when the directional control valve is in the de-energized state due to operation stoppage, and opens the inside of the actuator to the atmosphere, and an air supply start control, which switches the supply control valve to the air supply state when the condition is met, and increases and balances the pressures in both the one and the other pressure chambers, When the condition is met, the air control unit controls at least the supply control valve out of the directional control valve and the supply control valve based on the movement instruction input from the display operation unit, and operates the actuator to move the sorting gate toward the standby position during or immediately after the air supply start control is being executed.

2. An article sorting device that moves a sorting gate (31) to a plurality of different operating positions (P1, P2) relative to a conveying path (12) by an actuator (33) that responds to the supply and exhaust of air to one and the other pressure chambers (44A, 44B), thereby sorting articles (W) passing through the conveying path, a standby state detection means (56 or 57) for detecting whether the sorting gate is in a standby state at a predetermined standby position (P1 or P2) among the plurality of operating positions or in a non-standby state away from the standby position; an air control unit (34, 62) that controls the supply and exhaust of air to move the sorting gate toward the standby position on the condition that the standby state detection means detects the non-standby state at the start of operation to start supplying the air to the actuator, The air control unit an electromagnetic directional control valve (53) having one and the other actuator ports (53a, 53b) connected to the one and the other pressure chambers, and a supply pressure port (53p) and a discharge port (53q, 53r) for the air, and in a non-energized state, connecting both the one and the other actuator ports to the supply pressure port, and in an energized state, connecting the one actuator port to the supply pressure port or the discharge port and the other actuator port to the discharge port or the supply pressure port, respectively; a supply control valve (52) having an output port (52a) connected to a supply pressure port of the directional control valve, and an air source side pressure port (52p) and an atmosphere release port (52r) selectively connected to the output port, and capable of switching between an air supply stop state in which the atmosphere release port is connected to the output port and an air supply state in which the air source side pressure port is connected to the output port and compressed air from the air source side is supplied to the supply pressure port of the directional control valve; a dangerous operation avoidance control circuit (62) that executes an atmosphere release control during stoppage, which switches the supply control valve to the air supply stop state when the directional control valve is in the de-energized state due to operation stoppage, and opens the inside of the actuator to the atmosphere, and an air supply start control, which switches the supply control valve to the air supply state when the condition is met, and increases and balances the pressures in both the one and the other pressure chambers, When the condition is met, the air control unit controls the directional control valve in a direction to move the sorting gate toward the standby position at a predetermined timing when the pressure in the one and other pressure chambers of the actuator reaches an approximately equilibrium state by switching the supply control valve, thereby moving the sorting gate toward the standby position during or immediately after the air supply start control is being executed.

3. the directional control valve is a pressure-center type five-port three-position switching valve (53) that connects both the one and the other actuator ports to the supply pressure port in a non-energized state, and connects the one actuator port to the supply pressure port or the discharge port and the other actuator port to the discharge port or the supply pressure port in an energized state, 2. The article sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the supply control valve is configured as a three-port two-position switching valve (52) having an output port connected to the supply pressure port of the directional control valve, and an air source side pressure port and an atmosphere release port selectively connected to the output port.

4. The article sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is provided as a sorting unit (30), The system further includes an inspection unit (20) that is arranged upstream of the sorting gate and inspects the quality state of the items, An object inspection device characterized in that, while the inspection unit and the sorting unit are operating, the air control unit controls the supply and exhaust of air to the actuator for each inspected item that has been inspected in the inspection unit, depending on the inspection results of each item.

5. A sorting section (30) that moves a sorting gate (31) to a plurality of different operating positions (P1, P2) relative to the conveying path (12) by an actuator (33) that responds to the supply and exhaust of air to one and the other pressure chambers (44A, 44B), thereby sorting out the articles (W) that pass through the conveying path; an inspection unit (20) arranged upstream of the sorting gate to inspect the quality state of the articles, a standby state detection means (56 or 57) for detecting whether the sorting gate is in a standby state at a predetermined standby position (P1 or P2) among the plurality of operating positions or in a non-standby state away from the standby position; an air control unit (34, 62) that controls the supply and exhaust of air to move the sorting gate toward the standby position on the condition that the standby state detection means detects the non-standby state at the start of operation to start supplying the air to the actuator, During operation of the inspection unit and the sorting unit, the air control unit controls the supply and exhaust of air to the actuator for each inspected item that has been inspected by the inspection unit in accordance with the inspection result of each item; The air control unit an electromagnetic directional control valve (53) having one and the other actuator ports (53a, 53b) connected to the one and the other pressure chambers, and a supply pressure port (53p) and a discharge port (53q, 53r) for the air, and in a non-energized state, connecting both the one and the other actuator ports to the supply pressure port, and in an energized state, connecting the one actuator port to the supply pressure port or the discharge port and the other actuator port to the discharge port or the supply pressure port, respectively; a supply control valve (52) having an output port (52a) connected to a supply pressure port of the directional control valve, and an air source side pressure port (52p) and an atmosphere release port (52r) selectively connected to the output port, and capable of switching between an air supply stop state in which the atmosphere release port is connected to the output port and an air supply state in which the air source side pressure port is connected to the output port and compressed air from the air source side is supplied to the supply pressure port of the directional control valve; a dangerous operation avoidance control circuit (62) that executes an atmosphere release control during stoppage, which switches the supply control valve to the air supply stop state when the directional control valve is in the de-energized state due to operation stoppage, and opens the inside of the actuator to the atmosphere, and an air supply start control, which switches the supply control valve to the air supply state when the condition is met, and increases and balances the pressures in both the one and the other pressure chambers, When the condition is met, the sorting gate is moved to the standby position during or immediately after the air supply start control is being executed.

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