Cargo impact prevention apparatus, operation method thereof, and non-transitory computer readable recording medium in which a computer program for performing the method is recorded

Abstract

According to the embodiments disclosed herein, a cargo impact prevention device may include: an impact prevention body disposed on at least one side of a chute branching off from a conveyor for moving cargo, and including a gas containing space inside; an intake portion formed on a first surface of the impact prevention body and configured to supply gas to the gas containing space; an exhaust portion including at least one outlet formed on at least one side of the impact prevention body and configured to exhaust gas inside the gas containing space; and a control portion controlling the intake portion to adjust the gas supply level to the gas containing space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a cargo impact prevention device and its operating method. Prior Technology

[0002] In logistics systems, chute-based cargo handling systems are used to quickly and accurately classify and distribute large quantities of goods. In this system, goods are sorted by chute within a conveyor and then transported to their final destination. At this point, the goods moving within the conveyor fall into the chute, where gravity further classifies them.

[0003] Because the chutes in this type of system move at a constant speed within the conveyor, regardless of the packaging condition, size, or weight of the goods inside, increasing the conveyor speed will cause the goods to collide with the chute walls, resulting in damage. This leads to economic losses such as product spoilage and increased redistribution costs, as well as a deterioration in service quality. Therefore, in a chute-based logistics system, the conveyor belt speed can only be driven within practical limits, leading to a decrease in the processing speed of the logistics operations within the system.

[0004] For this point, please refer to previous literature such as KR100648619B1. Summary of the Invention

[0005] [The problem the invention aims to solve] One objective of the embodiments disclosed herein is to provide a cargo impact prevention device and its operating method, which can prevent damage caused by collision of cargo in a sliding chute and minimize quality damage.

[0006] The technical issues of the embodiments disclosed herein are not limited to those mentioned above. Operators can clearly understand other technical issues not mentioned based on the following description. [Technical means to solve the problem]

[0007] According to the embodiments disclosed herein, a cargo impact prevention device may include: an impact prevention body disposed on at least one side of a branch chute in a conveyor for moving cargo, and including a gas containing space inside; an intake portion formed on a first surface of the impact prevention body and configured to supply gas to the gas containing space; an exhaust portion including at least one outlet formed on at least one side of the impact prevention body and configured to exhaust gas inside the gas containing space; and a control portion controlling the intake portion to adjust the gas supply level to the gas containing space.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the at least one discharge outlet may include a first type discharge outlet and a second type discharge outlet that is larger than the first type discharge outlet.

[0009] According to the embodiment, the first type of outlet and the second type of outlet can be alternately arranged on at least one side of the impact prevention body.

[0010] According to the embodiment, the first type of outlet and the second type of outlet are configured such that they are opened to discharge the gas inside the gas containing space when the opening conditions are met; and the opening conditions of the first type of outlet and the second type of outlet are different from each other.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the above-mentioned opening conditions may include a first opening condition where the applied pressure is greater than or equal to a first pressure, and a second opening condition where the applied pressure is greater than or equal to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure; and the first type of outlet opens when the first opening condition is met, and the second type of outlet opens when the second opening condition is met.

[0012] According to the embodiment, the maximum angle formed between the first type of discharge outlet and the surface where the first type of discharge outlet is located when the outlet is open can be greater than the maximum angle formed between the second type of discharge outlet and the surface where the outlet is located when the outlet is open.

[0013] According to the embodiment, the control unit can: confirm at least one of the speed information and weight information of the goods branching from the conveyor to the chute; and control the suction unit based on at least one of the speed information and the weight information.

[0014] According to the embodiment, the speed information and the weight information can be confirmed by at least one sensor located on the conveyor or at a branch point of the chute.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the at least one sensor may include a weight sensor for confirming the weight information and an optical sensor for confirming the speed information.

[0016] According to the embodiment, the control unit can determine the impact amount information of the cargo based on the speed information and the weight information; and control the rotation speed of the fan included in the suction unit based on the impact amount information.

[0017] According to the embodiment, the impact amount information may include unit impact amount information; and the control unit further confirms the size information of the goods, and confirms the unit impact amount information based on the impact amount information and the size information.

[0018] According to the embodiment, the control unit can determine the expected collision location of the cargo based on the speed information; and then control the rotation speed based on the expected collision location.

[0019] According to the embodiment, the control unit can further confirm the size information of the goods, and based on the height information of the goods confirmed from the size information, control the position of the discharge unit.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the above-mentioned cargo impact prevention device may further include a joint portion coupled to at least one side of the above-mentioned slide.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the aforementioned joint may have a recessed joint structure, which is engaged with the aforementioned at least one side surface in a manner that the recessed joint structure fits into the aforementioned side surface.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the aforementioned joint may include a second surface and a third surface that are opposite each other with at least one side separated by the aforementioned second surface; and the aforementioned second surface is connected to the bottom surface of the aforementioned impact prevention body, the aforementioned cargo is opposite to the collision surface that can be collided with, and the aforementioned third surface is opposite to the aforementioned discharge portion.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the length of the second surface extending in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the groove may be longer than the length of the third surface extending in the vertical direction.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the collision surface may include a first portion corresponding to the suction portion and a second portion other than the first portion; and the first portion and the first surface are formed of a first material, and the second portion is formed of a second material.

[0025] The embodiments disclosed herein disclose a method for operating a cargo impact prevention device. The cargo impact prevention device is disposed on at least one side of a chute branching from a conveyor of moving cargo and includes a gas containing space inside. The method may include the following steps: confirming at least one of speed information and weight information of the cargo branching from the conveyor to the chute; confirming the impact amount information of the cargo based on at least one of the speed information and the weight information; and adjusting the gas supply level to the gas containing space based on the impact amount information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] The cargo impact prevention device and its operating method according to the embodiments disclosed herein can prevent damage caused by collision of cargo in the sliding chute and minimize quality damage.

[0027] In addition, it can provide various effects that can be directly or indirectly obtained through this article. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0028] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a logistics system according to one embodiment disclosed herein. Figure 2a is an example of the shape of the cargo impact prevention device as viewed from the upper surface of the chute. Figure 2b is an example of the shape of the cargo impact prevention device as viewed from the width direction of the chute. Figure 2c is an example of the shape of the cargo impact prevention device as viewed from the length direction of the chute. Figure 3a is an illustration of the structure of a combination of a cargo impact prevention device and a chute, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3b is a cross-section showing the section cut along AA in Figure 3a. Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation method of a cargo impact prevention device according to one embodiment disclosed herein. Implementation

[0029] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, outlines various embodiments of the present invention. However, it is not intended to limit the invention to any particular implementation, but rather to include various modifications, equivalents, and / or alternatives to the embodiments of the present invention.

[0030] Unless otherwise indicated in the relevant context, the singular form of the noun corresponding to an item in this document may include one or more of the aforementioned items. In this document, phrases such as "A or B," "at least one of A and B," "at least one of A or B," "A, B or C," "at least one of A, B and C," and "at least one of A, B, or C" may include any of the items listed concurrently with the corresponding statement in those phrases, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" and "second" may be used simply to distinguish the corresponding constituent element from other corresponding constituent elements, and the corresponding constituent element is not limited by other aspects (e.g., importance or order). If a component (e.g., the first) is referred to as being "coupled" or "connected" to another component (e.g., the second), regardless of whether the terms "functionally" or "communically" are used, this means that any of the aforementioned components can be directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or via the third component to the other aforementioned components.

[0031] Each component (e.g., module or program) described herein may comprise a single or multiple individuals. According to various embodiments, one or more components or actions of a corresponding component may be omitted, or one or more other components or actions may be added. Alternatively or additionally, multiple components (e.g., module or program) may be integrated into a single component. In this case, the integrated component may perform, in the same or similar manner, one or more functions of each of the multiple components that were performed by the corresponding components of the multiple components prior to the integration. According to various embodiments, actions performed by modules, programs, or other components may be executed sequentially, in parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically, or one or more of the aforementioned actions may be executed in another order, omitted, or one or more other actions may be added.

[0032] As used herein, the terms "module" or "...part" may include units implemented by hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit. A module may be a component that performs an integral structure, or the smallest unit or part of such a component that performs one or more functions. For example, according to one embodiment, a module can be implemented in the form of an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

[0033] The various embodiments described herein can be implemented by software (e.g., a program or application) including one or more commands stored in a storage medium (e.g., memory) that can be read by a machine. For example, a machine processor can call at least one of the commands stored in the storage medium and execute those commands. Thus, the machine can operate in a manner that performs at least one function according to the at least one command called. The one or more commands may include code generated by a compiler or code executed by an interpreter. The machine-readable storage medium can be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, "non-transitory" means only that the storage medium can actually exist, excluding signals (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and this term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently or temporarily in the storage medium.

[0034] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a logistics system according to one embodiment disclosed herein.

[0035] Referring to Figure 1, in the logistics system, goods B1 can be moved along the conveyor 10, and at least a portion of goods B2 of goods B1 moved along the conveyor 10 can be sorted and enter the chute 20 branching from the conveyor 10.

[0036] The conveyor 10 can move the loaded goods at a specific speed. For example, the conveyor 10 may include a belt configured to move at a specific speed. The chute 20 is a structure that sorts goods at specific locations on the conveyor 10 and guides them to individual paths. It has sidewalls on the bottom surface of the sorted goods moving within the conveyor 10 and on both sides of the bottom surface in the width direction. For example, the chute 20 is a sliding chute for gravity-based goods path conversion and can branch within the conveyor 10, forming a structure with a defined inclined surface. The sliding chute 20 may include a defined structure allowing the goods B2 to slide along the inclined surface, such as multiple rolling members formed on the bottom surface of the chute 20.

[0037] When goods transported in conveyor 10 are sorted at branch locations and enter chute 20, collisions may occur with the structure (e.g., sidewalls) of chute 20 depending on the drive speed of conveyor 10, gravity, and the inertia of the moving goods. Since conveyor 10 moves goods of varying weights and sizes at a constant speed, goods may be damaged due to collisions with chute 20, depending on the drive speed of conveyor 10. In this case, since the degree of impact caused by the collision can vary depending on the goods, adjusting the drive speed of conveyor 10 to prevent damage caused by collisions is limited. Furthermore, reducing the drive speed of conveyor 10 may result in an overall decrease in the cargo handling speed of the logistics system. Therefore, a cargo impact prevention device or method is provided to prevent damage from collisions between sorted goods in conveyor 10 and chute 20 without limiting the drive speed of conveyor 10 in the logistics system.

[0038] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1, a guide structure 40 may be provided between the conveyor 10 and the chute 20. The guide structure 40 may be an independent configuration of the conveyor 10 and the chute 20, or it may be a configuration of either the conveyor 10 or the chute 20. For example, the guide structure 40 may be a configuration of the chute 20. The guide structure 40 functions to smoothly guide the path of the goods as they enter the conveyor 10 through the chute 20 for sorting.

[0039] The structure of the logistics system shown in Figure 1 is an example of an environment in which the cargo impact prevention device is used. The form of the conveyor 10 and the chute 20 is not limited to that shown in Figure 1. It can be implemented as a structure of the chute 20 branching from the conveyor 10, and includes various structures such as guide walls or side walls, which collide in the direction in which the cargo enters.

[0040] The cargo impact prevention device 100 will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 2a to 2c.

[0041] Figure 2a is a diagram showing an example of the shape of the cargo impact prevention device 100 as viewed from the upper surface of the slide 20 in the direction D1. Figure 2b is a diagram showing an example of the shape of the cargo impact prevention device 100 as viewed from the width direction D3 of the slide 20. Figure 2c is a diagram showing an example of the shape of the cargo impact prevention device 100 as viewed from the length direction D2 of the slide 20.

[0042] The cargo impact prevention device 100 can be disposed on at least one of the two sides of the chute 20. The cargo impact prevention device 100 can be detached from the chute 20. The cargo impact prevention device 100 can protect the cargo B2 entering the chute 20 in the conveyor 10 from colliding with the structure of the chute 20. Generally, the structure of the chute 20 is made of a hard material such as metal, so the cargo B2 may be damaged when it collides with the structure of the chute 20. Therefore, the cargo impact prevention device 100 can cause the cargo B2 entering the chute 20 to collide with the cargo impact prevention device 100 before colliding with the structure of the chute 20, thereby reducing the impact of the cargo B2 and protecting the cargo B2.

[0043] The cargo impact prevention device 100 may include an impact prevention body 110, an intake section 120, an exhaust section 130, and a control section 140. The impact prevention body 110 may form the external shape of the cargo impact prevention device 100, and its interior may include a gas containing space. For example, the impact prevention body 110 may include at least one surface forming an outer surface. In Figures 2a to 2c, the impact prevention body 110 is shown in a hexahedral shape; however, the shape of the impact prevention body 110 is not limited to this, and it may have various three-dimensional shapes (e.g., spherical) rather than polyhedral shapes. For ease of explanation, it is assumed hereafter that the impact prevention body 110 has a hexahedral shape.

[0044] For example, the impact-prevention body 110 may include a top surface, a bottom surface, and four sides. When the cargo impact-prevention device 100 is disposed on at least one of the two sides of the chute 20, any one of the four sides of the impact-prevention body 110 may be a collision surface f4 that the cargo can collide with. For example, when the cargo impact-prevention device 100 is disposed on one side of the chute 20, the collision surface f4 may be a surface facing the inner side of the chute 20.

[0045] Gas, such as air or nitrogen, can be supplied to the gas containment space of the impact prevention body 110. In the event of a collision between cargo and the cargo impact prevention device 100, the cushioning effect of the gas supplied to the gas containment space can prevent damage to the cargo. The type of gas supplied to the impact prevention body 110 is not limited.

[0046] The impact-resistant body 110 can be formed of at least one material. According to one embodiment, the impact-resistant body 110 can be formed of a soft material (e.g., PVC, rubber, etc.) that can absorb impact without damaging the goods even upon collision. More specifically, the impact-resistant body 110 can be formed of PVC material that can recover its shape based on the release and supply of gas in the internal containment space, and will not damage the exterior of the goods even upon collision.

[0047] According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the impact-prevention body 110 may be formed of a material different from a soft material. For example, a portion of the cargo impact-prevention device 100 corresponding to a portion of the structure (e.g., the suction portion 120 described later) may be formed of a hard material rather than a soft material to provide protection.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the collision surface f4 may include a first portion 111 corresponding to the suction portion 120 and a second portion 113 other than the first portion 111. In this case, the first portion is formed of a first material, and the second portion may be formed of a second material. The first material may include a hard material, and the second material may include a soft material. As described above, the first portion 111 may be formed of a hard material to protect the suction portion 120, and the second portion 113 is the area that may collide with the cargo, therefore it may be formed of a soft material.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the surface f1 corresponding to the suction section 120 may be configured to face the entry point of the chute 20. By configuring it in this way, the cargo can collide with the second part 113 formed of a soft material without colliding with the first part 111.

[0050] The suction section 120 may be formed on the first surface f1 of the impact prevention body 110 and may be configured to supply gas to the gas containing space. The first surface f1 may include the surface of the outer side of the impact prevention body 110 facing the entry point of the slide 20.

[0051] The intake section 120 may include a configuration for supplying gas to the interior of the impact-prevention body 110. For example, the intake section 120 may be implemented as a fan capable of venting air to the inside and outside of the first surface f1. In this case, the intake section 120 may supply gas from the outside of the first surface f1 to the inside by means of the rotation of the fan, the outside being the exterior of the impact-prevention body 110 and the inside being the interior of the impact-prevention body 110.

[0052] As an example, the suction unit 120 can be implemented as a valve that supplies gas from a gas storage tank (not shown). In this case, the valve can be disposed in a portion of the first surface f1, and gas can be supplied by the opening of the valve and through a pipe connected to the valve. However, there are no restrictions on the implementation of the suction unit 120 as long as it can supply gas to the gas containing space.

[0053] The degree of gas supply to the internal gas space can be adjusted according to the operation of the suction unit 120. For example, in the event that gas is expelled from the internal gas space due to the impact of cargo, the operation of the suction unit 120 can be controlled to replenish the gas in the internal space. This can be controlled by the control unit 140, which will be described below, and the specific control method will be described below. However, this is only an example, and even in the event that there is no collision with cargo, the suction unit 120 can be configured to continuously supply a certain amount of gas to the internal gas-containing space.

[0054] The discharge section 130 can be configured to discharge gas from the gas containing space. The discharge section 130 can be configured to discharge gas based on the impact of cargo, but depending on the situation, it can also be configured to continuously discharge gas at a certain ratio even when there is no collision. For example, even when there is no collision, the suction section 120 can continuously supply a certain amount of gas, in which case the gas corresponding to the amount supplied by the suction section 120 can be discharged through the discharge section 130. As an example, even when no collision occurs, the discharge section 130 can be configured to discharge gas at a certain ratio corresponding to the capacity of the gas containing space, and the suction section 120 can be controlled to operate in accordance with the amount of gas corresponding to the certain ratio.

[0055] The discharge portion 130 may be formed on at least one side of the impact-prevention body 110. For example, the discharge portion 130 may be formed on one side f2 of the impact-prevention body. For example, one side f2 may be the side opposite to the collision surface f4. That is, the discharge portion 130 is located on the side f2 opposite to the collision surface f4 of the cargo, so that when the cargo collides, it can provide the best impact mitigation effect by effectively discharging gas.

[0056] However, this is only an example, and the surface on which the discharge part 130 is located is not limited to this, but may be located on multiple surfaces. For example, if it is difficult to form the discharge part 130 on one surface f2 of the chute connected to the cargo impact prevention device 100 due to the structure of the chute 20, the discharge part 130 may also be disposed on the upper surface of the impact prevention body.

[0057] The discharge section 130 may include at least one discharge port. The at least one discharge port can be configured to open when opening conditions are met, and as the at least one discharge port opens, gas within the gas containing space can be discharged. For example, in the event of a cargo collision, the impact surface of the impact prevention body 110 can be pulled inward in response to the impact, thereby reducing the volume of the gas containing space. As a result, gas pressure can act on the at least one discharge port, and the discharge section 130 can be opened to discharge a portion of the gas contained within the gas containing space by pressure.

[0058] The control unit 140 can be implemented as an electronic circuit including a processor or an electronic device including such an electronic circuit. The processor included in the control unit 200 can be a data processing device built into the hardware. This data processing device has a physically structured circuit to implement the functions expressed by the code or commands included in the program. The control unit may include, for example, a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a processor core, a multiprocessor, an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (field programmable gate array), or other processing devices.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can control the suction unit 120 by adjusting the amount of gas supplied to the gas containing space. For example, the control unit 140 can maintain the shape of the impact prevention body 110 by supplying gas to the gas containing space, and can control the suction unit 120 to supply gas again to correspond to the gas discharged through the discharge unit 130 due to cargo collision, etc.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can control the inhalation unit 120 based on cargo-related information. The degree of impact may vary depending on the cargo, so the inhalation unit 120 can be controlled in consideration of cargo-related information to provide the best impact mitigation effect according to the cargo.

[0061] Therefore, the control unit 140 can confirm information related to the goods. For example, when multiple goods enter the chute 20 in sequence, the control unit 140 can control the suction unit 120 by confirming the information of each of the multiple goods entering the chute 20.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can confirm at least one of the speed information and weight information of the goods branching from the conveyor 10 to the chute 20. However, the information related to the goods is not limited to the above information, and may include various information, such as the size information of the goods, detailed information of the goods, material information of the box packaging the goods, and the time information of the goods entering the branching point of the chute 20.

[0063] According to one embodiment, information related to goods can be confirmed by at least one sensor. The control unit 140 can receive information related to the measured or acquired goods from at least one sensor. For example, the information confirmed by at least one sensor may include at least one of the goods' speed information and the goods' weight information, and may further include the goods' size information.

[0064] According to one embodiment, at least one sensor may be located on the conveyor 10 or at a branch point of the chute 20. For example, at least one sensor may immediately and in real-time confirm information related to the goods before the goods are branched in the conveyor 10 and transmit it to the control unit 140. In another example, at least one sensor may immediately and in real-time confirm information related to the goods at the branch point of the chute 20, such as the time information of the goods entering the chute 20, the speed information of the goods, etc., and transmit it to the control unit 140.

[0065] According to one embodiment, at least one sensor may include at least one of a weight sensor and an optical sensor. For example, the weight sensor can confirm the weight information of the goods, and the optical sensor can confirm the speed information of the goods. However, this is only an example, and at least one sensor may replace the optical sensor or simultaneously include a speed sensor, which is used to confirm the speed information of the goods.

[0066] According to one embodiment, a weight sensor can be configured to obtain weight information of the loaded goods at the location where the goods pass through the chute 20 and branch off from the conveyor 10. For example, the weight sensor may include a piezoelectric sensor, which, as an example, can be implemented in a sheet form. Such a piezoelectric sensor can be disposed on the bottom surface of the conveyor 10, which is located at the location where the goods pass through the branch. For example, as shown in FIG1, a piezoelectric sensor 30 may be located at the location on the conveyor 10 from the branch to the chute 20.

[0067] Here, the piezoelectric sensor can be a two-dimensional sheet-like form in which piezoelectric elements are arranged in an array, and the magnitude of the flowing current changes in response to pressure applied to one side of the sensor. The control unit 140 can obtain weight information of the goods moving on the conveyor 10 by means of the piezoelectric sensor. In one embodiment, when the sheet-like piezoelectric sensor is arranged on the bottom surface of the conveyor 10, information about the size of the goods can be obtained based on the number of individual piezoelectric elements that apply pressure to the goods.

[0068] According to one embodiment, an optical sensor can be configured to obtain speed and / or size information of goods loaded at a branch point of the chute 20 of the conveyor 10 or at a point prior to the branch point. The optical sensor can obtain speed and / or size information of the goods by detecting them. The optical sensor can be implemented as a laser, LiDAR, CCD (Charge Coupled Device), a camera sensor based on complementary metal-oxide semiconductor, an ultrasonic optical sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, and a multi-beam optical sensor, but is not limited thereto, and can also be implemented as a device that provides optical information about the goods.

[0069] In one embodiment, the control unit 140 can obtain the speed information and / or size information of the goods based on the time it takes for the optical sensor to detect the goods. For example, the control unit 140 can confirm the size information of the goods, i.e., the longer the time it takes for the optical sensor to detect the goods moving in the conveyor 10, the larger the size of the goods. As another example, the control unit 140 can confirm the speed information of the goods based on the frames captured by the optical sensor. As an example, the control unit 140 can confirm the speed information of the goods based on the number of frames captured by the optical sensor from when the goods enter the shooting range to when they leave the shooting range. Furthermore, the control unit 140 can estimate the size of the goods based on the speed of the goods and the time it takes for the optical sensor to detect the goods.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can confirm that goods have entered the chute 20 based on at least a portion of goods-related information. For example, the goods-related information may include information that goods to be sorted into the chute 20 are detected before a branch point of the chute 20, thereby confirming that the goods are about to enter the chute 20. More specifically, the control unit 140 can confirm that goods have entered the chute 20 by detecting the goods using a weight sensor at the location where the goods pass through a branch point of the chute 20; or by detecting the goods at a branch point of the chute 20 using an optical sensor. In one embodiment, when the control unit 140 confirms that goods have entered the chute 20, it can control the suction unit 120 accordingly.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can control the suction unit 120 based on at least one of speed information and weight information. The greater the speed or weight of the cargo, the greater the impact caused by a collision. The control unit 140 can control the suction unit 120 based on at least one of the cargo's speed and weight information to counteract the impact and protect the cargo. For example, the control unit 140 can control the suction unit 120 such that the gas supply level increases with the increase of cargo speed and weight. Here, the control unit 140 controlling the suction unit 120 may include controlling the rotational speed of the fan included in the suction unit 120.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can identify a speedometer corresponding to at least one of the speed information and weight information of the goods, in order to control the rotational speed of the fan. The speedometer may include various speed and weight information, as well as at least one speed data determined experimentally through fan drive testing, and may be a data structure dynamically managed based on input from the control unit 140, external devices, or the user during the operation of the logistics system. The speedometer may be stored and managed in memory included in the control unit 140 or in external memory.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can determine the impact amount information of the cargo based on speed information and weight information. For example, the control unit 140 can determine the impact amount information of the cargo by multiplying the speed of the cargo by the weight of the cargo. The impact amount can represent the degree of impact exerted on the cargo when it collides with the cargo impact prevention device 100, so the control unit 140 can determine the impact amount information of the cargo.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can control the fan's rotation speed based on impact amount information. For example, the control unit 140 can control the fan's rotation speed to be proportional to the impact amount. Since the greater the impact amount of the cargo, the more gas is discharged from the gas containment space due to the cargo collision, the control unit 140 can confirm that the fan's rotation speed increases as the impact amount of the cargo increases, so as to resupply gas to the gas containment space.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the impact amount information may include unit impact amount information. Here, unit impact amount information may refer to the impact amount per unit area. Even when the same impact amount is applied, the degree of impact dispersion will vary depending on the area where the impact amount is applied. Therefore, the control unit 140 can control the fan rotation speed based on the unit impact amount information. For example, the control unit 140 can control the fan rotation speed to be proportional to the unit impact amount.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can further confirm the size information of the goods. For example, the control unit 140 can confirm the size information of the goods from an optical sensor. The size information of the goods may include the width, dimensions, and height of the goods.

[0077] The control unit 140 can confirm the unit impact amount information based on impact amount information and size information. For example, the control unit 140 can confirm the unit impact amount by dividing the impact amount by the collision area of ​​the cargo. The collision area of ​​the cargo may include the area of ​​the cargo in contact with the collision surface f4 at the moment of collision. For example, the control unit 140 can confirm the speed information of the cargo when it enters the chute 20 and the detailed information obtained from the optical sensor, and can estimate the collision area at the moment of collision between the cargo and the collision surface based on the speed information and the detailed information. As an example, the detailed information of the cargo may include the angle information formed by the collision surface of the cargo and the cargo impact prevention device 100, the angle information of the cargo tilting relative to the chute 20, etc. Here, the angle information of the cargo tilting relative to the chute 20 may include, for example, the angle formed by the width direction and the amplitude direction of the cargo based on the D2 direction and D3 direction shown in FIG. 2a.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can determine the predicted collision location of the cargo based on speed information. Here, the predicted collision location may refer to the location where the cargo collides with the collision surface of the impact prevention body 110.

[0079] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can further control the fan's rotation speed based on the predicted collision location. In the event of a cargo collision with the cargo impact prevention device 100, the outlet near the collision location can be opened to discharge gas. Therefore, the gas concentration in the vicinity of the collision location is temporarily relatively low. Thus, the control unit 140 can control the fan's rotation speed to resupply gas to the collision location via gas flow. For example, the greater the distance between the predicted collision location and the suction unit 120, the more effectively the control unit 140 can control the fan's rotation speed.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can control the fan's rotational speed to not exceed a critical speed. When gas in the internal gas containment space is expelled due to the impact of the cargo, the impact surface may be pulled back and recover as gas is supplied. During this process, the recovery of the impact surface may cause a rebound effect on the cargo. If the gas supply exceeds a critical level, the cargo may flip over due to strong rebound or collide with the opposite side of the chute 20. Therefore, the control unit 140 can control the fan's rotational speed to not exceed a critical speed.

[0081] According to one embodiment, the cargo impact prevention device 100 can be disposed on both sides of the chute 20. As described above, since the cargo will change its path due to the rebound force after colliding with the cargo impact prevention device 100, the cargo impact prevention device 100 can be disposed on both sides of the chute 20 to prevent collision. In this case, the cargo impact prevention device 100 can be implemented as a plurality of physically separate devices.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the control unit 140 can further confirm the size information of the goods, and control the position of the discharge unit 130 based on the height information of the goods confirmed from the size information. For example, the discharge unit 130 may include a configuration that can change the height on one side (e.g., a track). The control unit 140 can control the position of the discharge unit 130 according to the height of the goods so as to provide the best cushioning effect by discharging gas when the goods collide.

[0083] The structure of the cargo impact prevention device 100 will be described in more detail below. First, referring to FIG2a, the impact prevention body 110 may include four sides, namely, a first surface f1 on which the suction part 120 is disposed, a surface f2 on which the discharge part 130 is disposed, a surface f3 opposite to the first surface f1, and a collision surface f4. The discharge part 130 may include at least one discharge port formed on at least one surface f2, and at least one discharge port opens when the cargo collides with the collision surface f4, thereby discharging the gas inside the gas containing space.

[0084] Next, referring to FIG2b, at least one outlet included in the discharge section 130 may include a first-type outlet 131 and a second-type outlet 133. In one embodiment, the second-type outlet 133 may be formed to be larger than the second-type outlet 131. Here, the second-type outlet 133 being larger than the first-type outlet 131 may mean that the area for venting gas is larger. The first-type outlet 131 and the second-type outlet 133 may each include more than one outlet.

[0085] According to one embodiment, a first-type outlet 131 and a second-type outlet 133 may be alternately disposed on at least one side f2 of the impact prevention device body 110. The cargo impact prevention device 100 may include outlets of different types (first-type outlet, second-type outlet) to appropriately cope with the impact of various cargoes, and may be alternately disposed to achieve optimal gas discharge.

[0086] According to one embodiment, the first type outlet 131 and the second type outlet 133 can be configured such that they open to discharge gas inside the gas containing space when the opening conditions are met. Furthermore, the opening conditions of the first type outlet 131 and the second type outlet 133 may differ from each other. That is, the first type outlet 130 and the second type outlet 133 can be configured with different sizes and opening conditions.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the opening conditions may include a first opening condition and a second opening condition, and a first-type outlet 131 may open when the first opening condition is met, and a second-type outlet 133 may open when the second opening condition is met. In this case, the first and second opening conditions may be based on the applied pressure. For example, the first opening condition may include a condition where the applied pressure is greater than or equal to a first pressure, and the second opening condition may include a condition where the applied pressure is greater than or equal to a second pressure, which is greater than the first pressure. Here, the applied pressure may mean the pressure applied to the surface of the outlet. That is, the first-type outlet 131 may open when the pressure applied to the surface is greater than or equal to a first pressure, and the second-type outlet 133 may open when the pressure applied to the surface is greater than or equal to a second pressure.

[0088] Referring to Figure 2c, the first type outlet 131 and the second type outlet 133 can be opened to the outside of the configured surface f2 when the opening conditions are met. For example, the first type outlet 131 and the second type outlet 133 can be opened in the D3 direction.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the maximum angle θ1 formed by the first type outlet 131 and the surface f2 where the first type outlet 131 is located when it is open can be greater than the maximum angle θ2 formed by the second type outlet 133 and the surface where the second type outlet is located when it is open. The second type outlet 133 can be larger than the first type outlet 131, and under the same pressure, the degree of opening of the first type outlet 131 can be greater than the degree of opening of the second type outlet 133.

[0090] Figure 3a is an illustration of the structure of a combination of a cargo impact prevention device and a chute according to one embodiment disclosed herein. Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of Figure 3a.

[0091] Referring to Figures 3a and 3b, the cargo impact prevention device 100 can be coupled to at least one side L1 of the slide 20, and may include a coupling portion 150 coupled to one side L1 of the slide 20. The coupling portion 150 can perform the function of coupling and fixing the cargo impact prevention device 100 to the slide 20.

[0092] According to one embodiment, the connecting portion 150 may have a recessed connecting structure, which can be fitted into at least one side L1 of the slide 20. This secures the cargo impact prevention device 100 and the slide 20, and even if the cargo B collides with the cargo impact prevention device 100, the cargo impact prevention device 100 can be stably secured. In this case, the structure of the connecting portion 150 may have a shape corresponding to one side L1 of the slide 20. For example, when one side L1 of the slide 20 has a thick sidewall, the connecting portion 150 may have a recessed connecting structure with a gap of the same thickness. However, the method of connecting the connecting portion 150 to the slide 20 is not limited to this; it can be connected by various methods such as magnetic bonding or adhesive bonding.

[0093] According to one embodiment, the connecting portion 150 may include a second surface 151 and a third surface 153 facing each other across at least one side of the slide groove 20. For example, the second surface 151 and the third surface 153 of the connecting portion 150 may be connected to a side L1 by fitting with the slide groove 20.

[0094] According to one embodiment, the second surface 151 is connected to the bottom surface of the impact prevention body 110 and can be opposite to the collision surface f4 where the cargo B may collide. Furthermore, the third surface 153 can be opposite to the discharge section 130.

[0095] According to one embodiment, the length of the second surface 151 extending in the direction D1 perpendicular to the upper surface of the slide 20 may be longer than the length of the third surface 153 extending in the direction D1 perpendicular to the upper surface of the slide 20. For example, the third surface 153 may not contact the upper surface of the slide 20. The third surface 153 may be configured to correspond to the surface where the discharge portion 130 is located, and the gas in the gas containing space may be discharged to the discharge portion 130 through the connecting portion 150. At this time, the discharge portion 130 may be located at a higher position than the connecting portion 150 to allow the gas to flow smoothly, and the length of the third surface 153 extending in the direction D1 perpendicular to the upper surface of the slide 20 may be adjusted to correspond to the discharge portion 130.

[0096] According to one embodiment, the joint 150 may further include an auxiliary jointing member (e.g., a magnet) to improve the jointing force. For example, in FIG3b, when the side surface L1 of the groove 20 is formed of a metal material, the magnetic jointing force can be provided to assist the jointing by providing a magnet member on the upper part (D1 direction) of the second surface 151 and the third surface 153.

[0097] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation method of a cargo impact prevention device according to one embodiment disclosed herein.

[0098] Referring to Figure 4, in step S410, the cargo impact prevention device 100 can confirm at least one of the cargo's speed information and weight information. The cargo's speed information and weight information can be confirmed, for example, by a sensor.

[0099] In step S420, the cargo impact prevention device 100 can confirm the impact amount information of the cargo. For example, the cargo impact prevention device 100 can confirm the impact amount information by multiplying the cargo's speed information and weight information.

[0100] In step S430, the cargo impact prevention device 100 can adjust the gas supply level to the gas containing space based on the impact amount information. For example, the cargo impact prevention device 100 may include a gas intake section, and the gas supply level can be adjusted by controlling the intake section.

[0101] On the other hand, this specification and drawings disclose preferred embodiments of the invention. Although specific terminology is used, it is only for the purpose of readily illustrating the technical content of the invention and aiding in understanding the invention, and is used in a general sense, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that other variations based on the technical concept of the invention can be implemented in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0102] The apparatus or terminal described in the above embodiments may include a processor, memory for storing and executing program data, permanent storage such as a disk drive, a communication port for communicating with external devices, and user object devices such as touch panels, keys, and buttons. Computer-readable code or program commands, implemented using software modules or algorithms and executable on the processor, can be stored on a computer-readable recording medium. Here, computer-readable recording media include magnetic storage media (e.g., ROM (read-only memory), RAM (random-access memory), floppy disks, hard disks, etc.) and optical reading media (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD). The computer-readable recording medium is distributed across a network-connected computer system, enabling distributed storage and execution of computer-readable code. The medium can be read by a computer, stored in memory, and executed by a processor.

[0103] This embodiment can be represented by functional blocks and various processing steps. These functional blocks can be implemented by different numbers of hardware and / or software components performing specific functions. For example, the embodiment can employ integrated circuits capable of performing various functions via the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices, such as memory, processing, logic, lookup tables, etc. The constituent elements can be executed by software programs or software components. Similarly, this embodiment includes algorithms implemented by combinations of data structures, programs, conventions, or other programs, and therefore can be implemented using programming or scripting languages ​​such as C, C++, Java, assemblers, and Python. Functionally, it can be implemented by algorithms executed in one or more processors. Furthermore, this embodiment can employ prior art for electronic environment setup, signal processing, and / or data processing. Terms such as "mechanism," "element," "means," and "construction" are used broadly and are not limited to mechanical or physical construction. The above terms may be associated with processors and include the meaning of a series of software processes.

[0104] 10: Transport aircraft 20: Slide 30: Piezoelectric sensor 40: Guiding Structure 100: Cargo impact prevention device 110: Impact-resistant body 111: Part 1 113: Part 2 120: Inhalation section 130: Discharge section 131: Type 1 discharge outlet 133: Type 2 discharge outlet 140: Control Department 150: Joint 151: Second Surface 153: Third Surface B: Goods B1: Goods B2: Goods D1: Direction D2: Direction D3: direction f1: Face f2: face f3: face f4: Collision surface L1: Side view S410: Steps S420: Steps S430: Steps θ1: Maximum angle θ2: Maximum angle

Claims

1. A cargo impact prevention device, comprising: An impact-prevention body is disposed on at least one side of a branch chute in a conveyor for moving goods, and includes a gas-containing space inside; an intake unit is formed on a first surface of the impact-prevention body and configured to supply gas to the gas-containing space; an exhaust unit includes at least one outlet formed on at least one side of the impact-prevention body and configured to exhaust gas inside the gas-containing space; and a control unit controls the intake unit based on information related to the goods to adjust the gas supply level to the gas-containing space.

2. The cargo impact prevention device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one discharge outlet includes a first type discharge outlet and a second type discharge outlet that is larger than the first type discharge outlet.

3. The cargo impact prevention device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first type outlet and the second type outlet are alternately arranged on at least one side of the impact prevention body.

4. The cargo impact prevention device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first type of outlet and the second type of outlet are configured such that they open to discharge the gas inside the gas containing space when the opening conditions are met; and the opening conditions of the first type of outlet and the second type of outlet are different from each other.

5. The cargo impact prevention device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the opening conditions include a first opening condition where the applied pressure is greater than or equal to a first pressure, and a second opening condition where the applied pressure is greater than or equal to a second pressure; and the first type of outlet opens when the first opening condition is met, and the second type of outlet opens when the second opening condition is met.

6. The cargo impact prevention device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the maximum angle formed between the first type of outlet and the surface where the first type of outlet is located when the outlet is open is greater than the maximum angle formed between the second type of outlet and the surface where the second type of outlet is located when the outlet is open.

7. The cargo impact prevention device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to: confirm at least one of the speed information and weight information of the cargo branching from the conveyor to the chute; and control the suction unit based on at least one of the speed information and the weight information.

8. The cargo impact prevention device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the speed information and the weight information are confirmed by at least one sensor located on the conveyor or at a branch point of the chute.

9. The cargo impact prevention device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor includes a weight sensor for confirming the weight information and an optical sensor for confirming the speed information.

10. The cargo impact prevention device of claim 7, wherein the control unit confirms the impact amount information of the cargo based on the speed information and the weight information; and controls the rotational speed of the fan included in the suction unit based on the impact amount information.

11. The cargo impact prevention device of claim 10, wherein the impact amount information includes unit impact amount information; and the control unit further confirms the size information of the cargo, and confirms the unit impact amount information based on the impact amount information and the size information.

12. The cargo impact prevention device of claim 10, wherein the control unit determines the expected collision location of the cargo based on the speed information; and further controls the rotation speed based on the expected collision location.

13. The cargo impact prevention device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control unit further confirms the size information of the cargo, and controls the position of the discharge unit based on the height information of the cargo confirmed from the size information.

14. The cargo impact prevention device of claim 1, further comprising a joint portion coupled to at least one side of the aforementioned chute.

15. The cargo impact prevention device of claim 14, wherein the joint has a recessed joint structure and is engaged with the at least one side in such a way that the recessed joint structure fits into the at least one side.

16. The cargo impact prevention device of claim 15, wherein the joint includes a second surface and a third surface facing each other across at least one of the sides; and the second surface is connected to the bottom surface of the impact prevention body, the cargo faces the impact surface that can collide, and the third surface faces the discharge portion.

17. The cargo impact prevention device of claim 16, wherein the length of the second surface extending in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the groove is longer than the length of the third surface extending in the vertical direction.

18. The cargo impact prevention device of claim 16, wherein the impact surface includes a first portion corresponding to the suction portion and a second portion other than the first portion; and the first portion and the first surface are formed of a first material, and the second portion is formed of a second material.

19. A method of operating a cargo impact prevention device, the cargo impact prevention device being disposed on at least one side of a chute branching off from a conveyor of moving cargo, and including a gas containing space inside, the method comprising the steps of: confirming at least one of speed information and weight information of the cargo branching off from the conveyor to the chute; confirming impact amount information of the cargo based on at least one of the speed information and the weight information; and adjusting the gas supply level to the gas containing space based on the impact amount information.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium recording a program for performing the method as described in claim 19 on a computer.

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