Cargo impact prevention device and operation method thereof

Abstract

According to an embodiment disclosed in the present document, a cargo impact prevention device may comprise: an impact prevention body which is disposed on at least one surface of both side surfaces of a chute branched from a conveyor along which cargo moves, and comprises a gas accommodation space therein; a suction part formed on a first surface of the impact prevention body and configured such that gas is supplied to the gas accommodation space; a discharge part which comprises at least one discharge port formed on at least one surface of the impact prevention body and is configured such that the gas inside the gas accommodation space is discharged; and a controller for controlling the suction part to adjust the supply degree of gas to the gas accommodation space.

Description

Cargo shock protection device and its method of operation

[0001] The embodiments disclosed in this document relate to a cargo shock protection device and a method of operation thereof.

[0002] In logistics systems, cargo movement systems utilizing sliding chutes are employed to rapidly and accurately sort and deliver large volumes of cargo. In such systems, cargo is sorted from a conveyor into a chute and delivered to its final destination. During this process, cargo moving on the conveyor is dropped into the sliding chute, where gravity is used to sort the cargo.

[0003] In this type of chute, goods are sorted by a conveyor moving at a constant speed regardless of the packaging condition, size, or weight of the internal cargo. Consequently, if the conveyor is operated at a higher speed, the cargo may collide with the chute walls, causing damage. This issue results in financial losses, such as product disposal and increased redelivery costs, and deteriorates service quality. Therefore, in a sliding chute-based logistics system, the conveyor belt must operate within practical limits, leading to a decrease in the processing speed of logistics operations across the entire system.

[0004] In this regard, prior art documents such as KR100648619B1 can be referenced.

[0005] One objective of the embodiments disclosed in this document is to provide a cargo impact protection device and a method of operation thereof that can prevent damage caused by collision of cargo in a sliding chute and minimize quality damage.

[0006] The technical problems of the embodiments disclosed in this document are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned technical problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0007] According to an embodiment disclosed in this document, a cargo shock protection device may include: a shock protection body disposed on at least one side of a chute branching from a conveyor through which cargo moves, and comprising a gas receiving space inside; a suction part formed on a first side of the shock protection body and configured to supply gas to the gas receiving space; a discharge part comprising at least one discharge port formed on at least one side of the shock protection body and configured to discharge gas inside the gas receiving space; and a control part that controls the suction part to adjust the degree of gas supply to the gas receiving space.

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

[0009] According to an embodiment, the first type discharge port and the second type discharge port may be alternately arranged on at least one surface of the shock-resistant body.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the first type discharge port and the second type discharge port are configured to open when an opening condition is satisfied so that gas inside the gas receiving space is discharged, and the opening conditions of the first type discharge port and the second type discharge port may be different from each other.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the opening condition includes a first opening condition in which the applied pressure is greater than or equal to a first pressure and a second opening condition in which the applied pressure is greater than or equal to a second pressure which is greater than the first pressure, and the first type outlet may be opened when the first opening condition is satisfied and the second type outlet may be opened when the second opening condition is satisfied.

[0012] According to an embodiment, when the first type discharge port is opened, the maximum angle formed with the surface where the first type discharge port is located may be greater than the maximum angle formed with the surface where the second type discharge port is located when the second type discharge port is opened.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the control unit can check at least one of speed information and weight information of the cargo branched from the conveyor to the chute, and control the suction unit based on at least one of the speed information and weight information.

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

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

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

[0017] According to an embodiment, the impact information includes unit impact information, and the control unit further checks the size information of the cargo and can check the unit impact information based on the impact information and the size information.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the control unit can identify the expected collision point of the cargo based on the speed information and control the rotation speed based further on the expected collision point.

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

[0020] According to an embodiment, the suit may further include a connecting portion that is coupled to at least one side thereof.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the coupling portion has a concave coupling structure and can be coupled with the concave coupling structure and at least one side so as to be fitted together.

[0022] According to an embodiment, the coupling portion includes a second surface and a third surface facing each other with at least one side between them, the second surface is connected to the bottom surface of the shock-preventing body and faces a collision surface where the cargo can collide, and the third surface may face the discharge portion.

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

[0024] According to an embodiment, the collision surface includes a first portion corresponding to the suction portion and a second portion excluding the first portion, and the first portion and the first surface are formed of a first material, and the second portion may be formed of a second material.

[0025] According to an embodiment disclosed in this document, a method of operation of an impact protection device disposed on at least one side of a chute branching from a conveyor through which cargo moves, and comprising a gas receiving space inside, may include: a step of checking at least one of speed information and weight information of the cargo branching from the conveyor to the chute; a step of checking impact information of the cargo based on at least one of the speed information and the weight information; and a step of adjusting the degree of gas supply to the gas receiving space based on the impact information.

[0026] The cargo impact prevention device and the method of operation thereof according to the embodiments disclosed in this document can prevent damage caused by collision of cargo in a sliding chute and minimize quality damage.

[0027] In addition, various effects that can be identified directly or indirectly through this document may be provided.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a logistics system according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0029] FIG. 2a is a drawing illustrating an example of a cargo shock protection device viewed from the upper surface direction of a chute.

[0030] FIG. 2b is a drawing illustrating an example of a cargo shock protection device viewed from the width direction of the chute.

[0031] FIG. 2c is a drawing illustrating an example of a cargo shock protection device viewed from the longitudinal direction of the chute.

[0032] FIG. 3a is a drawing showing an example of a structure in which a cargo shock protection device and a chute are combined according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0033] Figure 3b is a drawing showing a cross-section cut along AA of Figure 3a.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation method of a cargo impact prevention device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0035] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, and / or alternatives of the embodiments of the present invention.

[0036] In this document, the singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of said items unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise. In this document, each of the 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 one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as “first,” “second,” or “first” or “second” may be used simply to distinguish a component from another corresponding component and do not limit the components in any other aspect (e.g., importance or order). Where any (e.g., 1st) component is referred to as “coupled” or “connected” to another (e.g., 2nd) component, with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicationly,” it means that said any component may be connected to said other component directly (e.g., via a wire), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0037] Each component (e.g., module or program) of the components described in this document may include a singular or multiple entities. According to various embodiments, one or more of the components or operations may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Generally or additionally, multiple components (e.g., module or program) may be integrated into a single component. In such a case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each of the multiple components in the same or similar manner as they were performed by the corresponding component among the multiple components prior to the integration. According to various embodiments, operations performed by a module, program, or other component may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or heuristically, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or one or more other operations may be added.

[0038] As used in this document, the terms "module" or "...part" may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic block, component, or circuit, for example. A module may be a component formed integrally, or a minimum unit of said component or a part thereof that performs one or more functions. For example, according to one embodiment, a module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

[0039] Various embodiments of this document may be implemented as software (e.g., a program or application) comprising one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (e.g., memory) readable by a machine. For example, the processor of the machine may call at least one of the one or more instructions stored from the storage medium and execute it. This enables the machine to operate to perform at least one function according to the at least one called instruction. The one or more instructions may include code generated by a compiler or code that can be executed by an interpreter. The storage medium readable by a machine may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here, "non-transitory" simply means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain a signal (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and this term does not distinguish between cases where data is stored semi-permanently and cases where it is stored temporarily in the storage medium.

[0040]

[0041] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a logistics system according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, in a logistics system, cargo (B1) can be transported along a conveyor (10), and at least some of the cargo (B2) among the cargo (B1) transported along the conveyor (10) can be classified and entered into a chute (20) branched from the conveyor (10).

[0043] The conveyor (10) can transport loaded cargo at a specific speed. For example, the conveyor (10) may include a belt set to move at a specific speed. The chute (20) is structured to sort cargo at a specific point on the conveyor (10) and guide it to a separate path, and may be in the form of a floor surface on which the cargo sorted from the conveyor (10) moves, and side walls provided on both sides in the width direction of the floor surface. For example, the chute (20) may be implemented as a sliding chute for gravity-based cargo path conversion, branching off from the conveyor (10) and having a predetermined inclined surface. The sliding chute (20) may include a predetermined structure that allows cargo (B2) to slide along the inclined surface, and may include, for example, a plurality of rolling members formed on the bottom surface of the chute (20).

[0044] When cargo being transported on a conveyor (10) is sorted at a branching point and enters a chute (20), a collision may occur with the structure of the chute (20) (e.g., side wall) due to gravity and inertia caused by the movement of the cargo, depending on the driving speed of the conveyor (10). Since the conveyor (10) moves cargo of various weights and sizes at the same speed, damage to the cargo may occur due to a collision with the chute (20) depending on the driving speed of the conveyor (10). At this time, since the degree of impact caused by the collision may vary depending on the cargo, there are limitations to preventing damage caused by the collision by adjusting the driving speed of the conveyor (10). Furthermore, if the driving speed of the conveyor (10) is lowered, a problem may arise where the overall cargo processing speed of the logistics system is reduced. Therefore, a cargo impact prevention device or method can be provided to prevent cargo sorted on the conveyor (10) from colliding with the chute (20) and being damaged, without imposing restrictions on the driving of the conveyor (10) in the logistics system.

[0045] Additionally, referring to FIG. 1, a guiding structure (40) may be provided between the conveyor (10) and the chute (20). The guiding structure (40) may be an independent component from the conveyor (10) and the chute (20), or it may be a component of the conveyor (10) or the chute (20). For example, the guiding structure (40) may be a component of the chute (20). The guiding structure (40) may serve to gently guide the path of the cargo when the cargo is sorted from the conveyor (10) into the chute (20).

[0046] The structure of the logistics system illustrated in FIG. 1 is an example of an environment for the operation of a cargo impact prevention device, and the shape of the conveyor (10) and the chute (20) is not limited to that illustrated in FIG. 1, and can be implemented in any structure including a chute that branches off from the conveyor (10) and includes various structures such as a guide wall or a side wall where a collision occurs in the direction of entry of the cargo.

[0047] The cargo impact prevention device (100) will be described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 2a to 2c.

[0048] FIG. 2a is a drawing illustrating an example of a cargo shock protection device (100) viewed from the upper surface direction (D1) of a chute (20). FIG. 2b is a drawing illustrating an example of a cargo shock protection device (100) viewed from the width direction (D3) of a chute (20). FIG. 2c is a drawing illustrating an example of a cargo shock protection device (100) viewed from the length direction (D2) of a chute (20).

[0049] The cargo impact protection device (100) may be placed on at least one of the two sides of the chute (20). The cargo impact protection device (100) may be detachable from the chute (20). The cargo impact protection device (100) can protect cargo (B2) that has been sorted from the conveyor (10) into the chute (20) and entered the chute (20) from colliding with the chute (20) structure. Generally, since the chute (20) structure is formed of a hard material such as metal, the cargo (B2) may be damaged if it collides with the chute (20) structure. Accordingly, the cargo impact protection device (100) can mitigate the impact on the cargo (B2) and protect the cargo (B2) by causing the cargo (B2) that has entered the chute (20) to collide with the cargo impact protection device (100) before colliding with the chute (20) structure.

[0050] The cargo shock protection device (100) may include a shock protection body (110), an intake part (120), an exhaust part (130), and a control part (140). The shock protection body (110) may form the outer shape of the cargo shock protection device (100) and may include a gas receiving space inside. For example, the shock protection body (110) may include at least one surface forming an outer surface. Although the shock protection body (110) is depicted as having a rectangular shape in FIGS. 2a to 2c, the shape of the shock protection body (110) is not limited thereto, and it is possible to have various three-dimensional shapes (e.g., spheres) that are not polyhedra. For convenience of explanation, the following description will assume that the shock protection body (110) has a rectangular shape.

[0051] For example, the shock-prevention body (110) may include an upper surface, a lower surface, and four side surfaces. When the cargo shock-prevention device (100) is positioned on at least one of the two sides of the chute (20), one of the four side surfaces of the shock-prevention body (110) may be a collision surface (f4) where the cargo may collide. For example, when the cargo shock-prevention device (100) is positioned on one side of the chute (20), the collision surface (f4) may be a surface facing the inside of the chute (20).

[0052] Gases such as air or nitrogen may be supplied to the gas receiving space of the shock-proof body (110), and damage to the cargo may be prevented through the cushioning action of the gas supplied to the gas receiving space when the cargo collides with the cargo shock-proof device (100). The type of gas supplied inside the shock-proof body (110) is not limited.

[0053] The shock-absorbing body (110) may be formed from at least one material. According to one embodiment, the shock-absorbing body (110) may be formed from a flexible material (e.g., PVC, rubber, etc.) that can absorb impact and prevent damage to the cargo even when colliding with it, and can change shape upon collision. More specifically, the shock-absorbing body (110) may be formed from a PVC material that can restore its shape through the discharge and supply of gas within the internal containment space, while not causing damage to the outside of the cargo even when colliding with it.

[0054] According to one embodiment, at least one part of the shock-absorbing body (110) may be formed of a material different from a flexible material. For example, a part corresponding to a component of the cargo shock-absorbing device (100) (e.g., the suction part (120) described later) may be formed of a rigid material for protection rather than a flexible material.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the collision surface (f4) may include a first part (111) corresponding to the suction part (120) and a second part (113) excluding the first part (111). In this case, the first part may be formed of a first material and the second part may be formed of a second material. The first material may include a hard material and the second material may include a flexible material. As described above, the first part (111) may be formed of a hard material to protect the suction part (120), and the second part (113) may be formed of a flexible material as it is an area that may collide with cargo.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the surface (f1) corresponding to the suction part (120) may be positioned to face the entry point of the chute (20). By positioning it in this way, the cargo may collide with the second part (113), which is formed of a flexible material, without colliding with the first part (111).

[0057] The suction portion (120) may be formed on the first surface (f1) of the shock-proof body (110) and configured to supply gas to the gas receiving space. The first surface (f1) may include a surface facing the entry point of the chute (20) among the outer surfaces of the shock-proof body (110).

[0058] The suction unit (120) may include a configuration for supplying gas into the shock-proof body (110). For example, the suction unit (120) may be implemented as a fan that allows gas to pass through the inside and outside of the first surface (f1). In this case, the suction unit (120) can supply gas from the outside of the first surface (f1), i.e., the outside of the shock-proof body (110), to the inside, i.e., the inside of the shock-proof body (110), through the rotation of the fan.

[0059] As another example, the suction part (120) may be implemented in the form of a valve capable of supplying gas from a gas storage tank (not shown). In this case, the valve may be placed in a part of the first surface (f1) and may supply gas through a pipe connected to the valve through the opening of the valve. However, there are no limitations on the implementation of the suction part (120) as long as it can supply gas into the gas receiving space.

[0060] The degree of gas supply to the internal space of the gas can be controlled according to the operation of the suction unit (120). For example, if gas in the internal space of the gas is discharged due to impact of cargo, etc., 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) described later, and the specific control method will be described later. However, this is merely an example, and the suction unit (120) can be configured to continuously supply a certain amount of gas to the internal space of the gas even when there is no collision with cargo.

[0061] The discharge unit (130) may be configured to discharge gas within the gas receiving space. The discharge unit (130) may be configured to discharge gas upon collision of cargo, but in some cases, it may be configured to continuously discharge gas at a certain rate even when cargo does not collide. For example, even when cargo does not collide, the intake unit (120) may continuously supply a certain amount of gas, and in this case, the discharge unit (130) may be configured to discharge an amount of gas corresponding to the amount supplied through the intake unit (120). For example, even when cargo collision does not occur, the discharge unit (130) may be set to discharge gas corresponding to a certain ratio of the capacity of the gas receiving space, and the operation of the intake unit (120) may be controlled to correspond to the amount of gas corresponding to that certain ratio.

[0062] The discharge section (130) may be formed on at least one surface of the shock-prevention body (110). For example, the discharge section (130) may be formed on one surface (f2) of the shock-prevention body. For example, one surface (f2) may be a surface facing the collision surface (f4). That is, the discharge section (130) is located on the surface (f2) facing the collision surface (f4) where cargo may collide, thereby providing an optimal shock mitigation effect through effective gas discharge upon collision of the cargo.

[0063] However, this is merely an example, and the surface where the discharge section (130) is located is not limited thereto, and it is also possible to have it located on multiple surfaces. For example, if it is difficult to form the discharge section (130) on one surface (f2) of the chute to which the cargo shock prevention device (100) is attached due to the structure of the chute (20), the discharge section (130) may be placed on the upper surface of the shock prevention body.

[0064] The discharge section (130) may include at least one discharge port. The at least one discharge port may be configured to open when an opening condition is satisfied, and as the at least one discharge port is opened, gas in the internal gas receiving space may be discharged. For example, when cargo collides with the shock-resistant body (110), the collision surface may be retracted inward in response to the collision, and accordingly, the volume of the internal gas receiving space may be reduced. As a result, gas pressure may be applied to the at least one discharge port, and the discharge section (130) may be opened so that a portion of the gas contained in the internal gas receiving space may be discharged by the pressure.

[0065] The control unit (140) may be implemented as an electronic circuit including a processor or an electronic device including such an electronic circuit, and the processor included in the control unit (200) may be a data processing device embedded in hardware having a physically structured circuit to perform a function expressed by code or instructions included in a program. The control unit may include, for example, a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and other processing devices.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the control unit (140) can control the suction unit (120) to control the degree of gas supply to the gas receiving space. For example, the control unit (140) can control the suction unit (120) to maintain the shape of the shock-resistant main body (110) by supplying gas to the internal gas receiving space, and to resupply gas in response to the gas being discharged through the discharge unit (130) due to collision with cargo, etc.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the control unit (140) can control the suction unit (120) based on information related to the cargo. Since the degree of impact may vary depending on the cargo, the suction unit (120) can be controlled by considering information related to the cargo in order to provide an optimal impact mitigation effect depending on the cargo.

[0068] To this end, the control unit (140) can check information related to the cargo. For example, when multiple cargoes enter the chute (20) sequentially, the control unit (140) can check the information of each of the multiple cargoes entering the chute (20) and control the suction unit (120).

[0069] According to one embodiment, the control unit (140) can check at least one of speed information and weight information of a cargo branching from the conveyor (10) to the chute (20). However, information related to the cargo is not limited to the above information and may include various information such as size information of the cargo, posture information of the cargo, material information of the box in which the cargo is packaged, and information on the point of entry of the cargo into the chute (20) branching point.

[0070] According to one embodiment, information related to the cargo can be verified by at least one sensor. A control unit (140) can receive information related to the cargo that is measured or obtained from at least one sensor. For example, the information verified by at least one sensor may include at least one of speed information of the cargo and weight information of the cargo, and may further include size information of the cargo.

[0071] According to one embodiment, at least one sensor may be located on the conveyor (10) or at a branching point of the chute (20). For example, at least one sensor may check information related to the cargo in real time just before the cargo is branched off from the conveyor (10) and transmit it to the control unit (140). In another example, at least one sensor may check information related to the cargo in real time at the branching point of the chute (20), such as information on the time of entry of the cargo into the chute (20) and information on the speed of the cargo, and transmit it to the control unit (140).

[0072] 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 check the weight information of the cargo, and the optical sensor can check the speed information of the cargo. However, this is merely an example, and at least one sensor may include a speed sensor for checking the speed information of the cargo in place of or simultaneously with the optical sensor.

[0073] According to one embodiment, a weight sensor may be positioned to obtain weight information of a loaded cargo at a location where the cargo passes through a point where the chute (20) branches off from the conveyor (10). For example, the weight sensor may include a piezoelectric sensor, and may be implemented as a sheet-type piezoelectric sensor, for example. Such a piezoelectric sensor may be placed on the bottom surface of the conveyor (10) at a location where the cargo passes through a branching point. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the piezoelectric sensor (30) may be located at a point where the conveyor (10) branches off to a chute (20).

[0074] Here, the piezoelectric sensor may be in the form of a two-dimensional sheet in which piezoelectric elements, whose magnitude of the current flowing in response to pressure applied to one surface of the sensor changes, are arranged in an array format. The control unit (140) can obtain weight information of a cargo moving on the conveyor (10) through the piezoelectric sensor. In one embodiment, when a sheet-shaped piezoelectric sensor is placed on the bottom surface of the conveyor (10), additional information regarding the size of the cargo can be obtained based on the number of individual piezoelectric elements to which pressure is applied in response to the cargo.

[0075] According to one embodiment, an optical sensor may be positioned to acquire speed information and / or size information of a loaded cargo at a branching point or a point prior to the branching point for the chute (20) of the conveyor (10). The optical sensor may detect the cargo to acquire speed information and / or size information of the cargo. The optical sensor may be implemented including a laser, LiDAR, CCD (Charge Coupled Device), CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) based camera sensor, ultrasonic optical sensor, infrared (IR) sensor, and multi-beam optical sensor, but is not limited thereto, and may be implemented including a device that provides optical information about the cargo.

[0076] In one embodiment, the control unit (140) can obtain speed information and / or size information of the cargo based on the time the cargo is detected by the optical sensor. For example, the control unit (140) can determine the size information of the cargo by determining that the longer the time the cargo moving on the conveyor (10) is detected by the optical sensor, the larger the size of the cargo. As another example, the control unit (140) can determine the speed information of the cargo based on the frames captured by the optical sensor. For example, the control unit (140) can determine the speed information of the cargo based on the number of frames captured from the time the cargo enters the shooting range of the optical sensor until it exits. Additionally, the control unit (140) can estimate the size of the cargo based on the speed of the cargo through the time the cargo (1) is detected by the optical sensor.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the control unit (140) can confirm that cargo is entering the chute (20) based on at least some of the information related to the cargo. For example, the information related to the cargo may include information that confirms that cargo to be classified into the chute (20) is detected before the branching point of the chute (20) and that the cargo is about to enter the chute (20). More specifically, the control unit (140) can confirm the entry of the cargo into the chute (20) in response to the cargo being detected by a weight sensor at the location where the cargo passes the branching point of the chute (20), or the entry of the cargo into the chute in response to the cargo being detected by an optical sensor at the branching point of the chute (20). In one embodiment, when the control unit (140) confirms that cargo is entering the chute (20), it can control the suction unit (120) in response to the cargo whose entry is detected.

[0078] 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. As the speed or weight of the cargo increases, the impact caused by the collision may be greater, and the control unit (140) can control the suction unit (120) based on at least one of the speed information and weight information of the cargo to protect the cargo in response to the impact. For example, the control unit (140) can control the suction unit (120) so that the degree of gas supply increases as the speed of the cargo increases and the weight of the cargo increases. Here, the control of the suction unit (120) by the control unit (140) may include controlling the rotational speed of the fan included in the suction unit (120).

[0079] According to one embodiment, the control unit (140) may check a rotational speed table corresponding to at least one of the speed information and weight information of the cargo in order to control the rotational speed of the fan. The rotational speed table may include various speed information and weight information and at least one rotational speed data experimentally determined through the test operation of the fan, and may be a data structure that is dynamically managed according to the input of the control unit (140), an external device, or a user during the operation of the logistics system. The rotational speed table may be stored and managed in a memory included in the control unit (140) or in an external memory.

[0080] 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 and the weight of the cargo. Since the impact amount can represent the degree of impact applied to the cargo when the cargo collides with the cargo impact prevention device (100), the control unit (140) can determine the impact amount information of the cargo.

[0081] According to one embodiment, the control unit (140) can control the rotational speed of the fan based on impact information. For example, the control unit (140) can control the rotational speed of the fan in proportion to the impact. Since the greater the impact of the cargo, the more gas in the internal receiving space of the gas can be discharged due to the collision of the cargo, the control unit (140) can determine that the rotational speed of the fan increases as the impact of the cargo increases in order to resupply gas to the internal receiving space of the gas.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the impact information may include unit impact information. Here, the unit impact information may refer to the impact per unit area. Even if the same impact is applied, the degree of dispersion of the impact may vary depending on the area to which the impact is applied. Accordingly, the control unit (140) can control the rotational speed of the fan based on the unit impact information. For example, the control unit (140) can control the rotational speed of the fan in proportion to the unit impact.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the control unit (140) can further check the size information of the cargo. For example, the control unit (140) can check the size information of the cargo from an optical sensor. The size information of the cargo may include the width, height, and depth information of the cargo.

[0084] The control unit (140) can determine unit impact information based on impact information and size information. For example, the control unit (140) can determine the unit impact by dividing the impact by the collision area of ​​the cargo. The collision area of ​​the cargo may include the area where the cargo and the collision surface (f4) come into contact at the time of collision. For example, the control unit (140) can determine speed information at the time the cargo enters the chute (20) and attitude information obtained from an optical sensor, and can estimate the collision area at the time the cargo collides with the collision surface based on the speed information and attitude information. As an example, the attitude information of the cargo may include angle information formed by the cargo with the collision surface of the cargo impact prevention device (100), angle information of the cargo tilted relative to the chute (20), etc. Here, the angle information of the cargo tilted relative to the chute (20) may include, for example, the angle formed by the width direction and the width direction of the cargo with respect to the D2 direction and D3 direction shown in FIG. 2a.

[0085] According to one embodiment, the control unit (140) can identify the expected collision point of the cargo based on speed information. Here, the expected collision point may refer to the point where the cargo collides with the collision surface of the impact-preventing body (110).

[0086] According to one embodiment, the control unit (140) can control the rotational speed of the fan based more on the predicted collision point. When a cargo collides with the cargo impact prevention device (100), the exhaust port adjacent to the point where the cargo collides can be opened to discharge gas. Accordingly, the amount of gas in the area near the point where the cargo collides becomes relatively low for a period of time. Therefore, the control unit (140) can control the rotational speed of the fan to resupply gas at the collision point through the flow of gas. For example, the control unit (140) can control the rotational speed of the fan more significantly as the distance between the predicted collision point and the intake unit (120) increases.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the control unit (140) can control the rotational speed of the fan so that it does not exceed a critical speed. When gas is discharged from the internal receiving space of the gas due to impact of the cargo, the collision surface may be retracted and then restored as gas is supplied. During this process, a repulsive force may be applied to the cargo due to the restoration of the collision surface, and if the degree of gas supply exceeds a critical level, the cargo may flip over or collide with the opposite side of the chute (20) due to strong repulsion. Therefore, the control unit (140) can control the rotational speed of the fan so that it does not exceed a critical speed.

[0088] According to one embodiment, the cargo impact prevention device (100) may be positioned on both sides of the chute (20). As described above, since the path of the cargo may be altered by the repulsive force after it collides with the cargo impact prevention device (100), the cargo impact prevention device (100) may be positioned on both sides of the chute (20) to prevent potential collisions. In this case, the cargo impact prevention device (100) may be implemented as a plurality of physically separated devices.

[0089] According to one embodiment, the control unit (140) can further check the size information of the cargo and further control the position of the discharge unit (130) based on the height information of the cargo confirmed from the size information. For example, the discharge unit (130) may include a configuration (e.g., a rail, etc.) on one side that can change the height. The control unit (140) can control the position of the discharge unit (130) according to the height of the cargo to provide an optimal cushioning effect through gas discharge in the event of a collision with the cargo.

[0090] Hereinafter, the structure of the cargo shock prevention device (100) will be described in more detail. First, referring to FIG. 2a, the shock prevention body (110) may include a first surface (f1) where the suction part (120) is positioned, a surface (f2) where the discharge part (130) is positioned, a surface (f3) facing the first surface (f1), and a collision surface (f4) as four sides. The discharge part (130) may include at least one discharge port formed on at least one surface (f2), and the at least one discharge port may be opened as cargo collides with the collision surface (f4), allowing gas inside the gas receiving space to be discharged.

[0091] Next, referring to FIG. 2b, at least one discharge port included in the discharge section (130) may include a first type discharge port (131) and a second type discharge port (133). In one embodiment, the second type discharge port (133) may be formed larger than the second type discharge port (131). Here, the fact that the second type discharge port (133) is larger than the first type discharge port (131) may mean that the area over which gas can be discharged is larger. The first type discharge port (131) and the second type discharge port (133) may each include one or more discharge ports.

[0092] According to one embodiment, a first type discharge port (131) and a second type discharge port (133) may be alternately arranged on at least one surface (f2) of the shock-prevention device body (110). The cargo shock-prevention device (100) may include different types of discharge ports (first type discharge port, second type discharge port) to adequately respond to the impact of various cargoes, and may be alternately arranged for optimal gas discharge.

[0093] According to one embodiment, the first type discharge port (131) and the second type discharge port (133) may be configured to open when the opening condition is satisfied, so that gas inside the gas receiving space is discharged. Additionally, the opening conditions of the first type discharge port (131) and the second type discharge port (133) may be different from each other. That is, the first type discharge port (130) and the second type discharge port (133) may be configured to have different sizes and opening conditions.

[0094] According to one embodiment, the opening condition includes a first opening condition and a second opening condition, and the first type outlet (131) may be opened when the first opening condition is satisfied, and the second type outlet (133) may be opened when the second opening condition is satisfied. At this time, the first opening condition and the second opening condition 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 the first pressure, and the second opening condition may include a condition where the applied pressure is greater than or equal to the second pressure, which is greater than the first pressure. Here, the applied pressure may refer to the pressure applied to the surface of the outlet. That is, the first type outlet (131) may be opened when the pressure applied to the surface is greater than or equal to the first pressure, and the second type outlet (133) may be opened when the pressure applied to the surface is greater than or equal to the second pressure.

[0095] Referring to FIG. 2c, the first type outlet (131) and the second type outlet (133) can be opened toward the outer direction of the surface (f2) where they are placed when the opening condition is satisfied. For example, the first type outlet (131) and the second type outlet (133) can be opened toward D3.

[0096] According to one embodiment, when the first type outlet (131) is opened, the maximum angle (θ1) formed with the surface (f2) where the first type outlet (131) is located may be greater than the maximum angle (θ2) formed with the surface where the second type outlet (133) is located when the second type outlet (133) is opened. The second type outlet (133) may be larger than the first type outlet (131), and accordingly, the degree of opening when the same pressure is applied may be greater for the first type outlet (131) than for the second type outlet (133).

[0097] FIG. 3a is a drawing showing an example of a structure in which a cargo shock protection device and a chute are combined according to one embodiment disclosed in this document. FIG. 3b is a drawing showing a cross-section cut along AA of FIG. 3a.

[0098] Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the cargo shock protection device (100) may be coupled to at least one side (L1) of the chute (20) and may include a coupling part (150) coupled to one side (L1) of the chute (20). The coupling part (150) may serve to secure the cargo shock protection device (100) and the chute (20) by coupling them together.

[0099] According to one embodiment, the coupling part (150) may have a concave coupling structure and may be coupled such that at least one side (L1) of the chute (20) is fitted into the concave coupling structure. Through this, the cargo shock protection device (100) and the chute (20) can be fixed, and the cargo shock protection device (100) can be stably fixed even if the cargo (B) collides with the cargo shock protection device (100). At this time, the structure of the coupling part (150) may have a shape corresponding to one side (L1) of the chute (20). For example, if one side (L1) of the chute (20) is a side wall having thickness, the coupling part (150) may have a concave coupling structure having an empty space of the same thickness. However, the method of coupling with the chute (20) through the coupling part (150) is not limited to this, and may be coupled in various ways such as coupling by magnetism or coupling by adhesion.

[0100] According to one embodiment, the coupling portion (150) may include a second surface (151) and a third surface (153) facing each other with at least one side of the chute (20) in between. For example, the second surface (151) and the third surface (153) of the coupling portion (150) may be coupled by contacting one side (L1) through fitting with the chute (20).

[0101] According to one embodiment, the second surface (151) is connected to the bottom surface of the shock-proof body (110) and may face a collision surface (f4) where cargo (B) can collide. Additionally, the third surface (153) may face the discharge section (130).

[0102] According to one embodiment, the length of the second surface (151) extending in a direction (D1) perpendicular to the upper surface of the chute (20) may be longer than the length of the third surface (153) extending in a direction (D1) perpendicular to the upper surface of the chute (20). For example, the third surface (153) may not come into contact with the upper surface of the chute (20). The third surface (153) may be configured to correspond to the surface where the discharge section (130) is located, and the gas in the internal gas receiving space may pass through the coupling section (150) and be discharged to the discharge section (130). At this time, the discharge section (130) may be located at a higher position than the coupling section (150) for the smooth flow of gas, and the length of the third surface (153) extending in a direction (D1) perpendicular to the upper surface of the chute (20) may also be adjusted to correspond to the discharge section (130).

[0103] According to one embodiment, the coupling portion (150) may further include an auxiliary coupling member (e.g., a magnet) to increase the coupling force. For example, in FIG. 3b, a magnet member is provided on the upper side (D1 direction) of the second surface (151) and the third surface (153) to provide a coupling force by magnetism when the side (L1) of the chute (20) is formed of a metal material, thereby assisting in the coupling.

[0104] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation method of a cargo impact prevention device according to one embodiment disclosed in this document.

[0105] Referring to FIG. 4, in step S410, the cargo shock prevention device (100) can check at least one of the cargo speed information and weight information. The cargo speed information and weight information can be checked, for example, by a sensor.

[0106] In step S420, the cargo impact prevention device (100) can check the impact amount information of the cargo. For example, the cargo impact prevention device (100) can check the impact amount information by multiplying the speed information and weight information of the cargo.

[0107] In step S430, the cargo shock protection device (100) can adjust the degree of gas supply to the gas receiving space based on shock amount information. For example, the cargo shock protection device (100) may include an intake unit that supplies gas, and can adjust the degree of gas supply by controlling the intake unit.

[0108]

[0109] Meanwhile, the present specification and drawings disclose preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. Although specific terms have been used, they are used merely in a general sense to facilitate the explanation of the technical content of the present disclosure and to aid in understanding the embodiments, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that, in addition to the embodiments disclosed herein, other variations based on the technical concept of the present disclosure are possible.

[0110] A device or terminal according to the embodiments described above may include a processor, memory for storing and executing program data, permanent storage such as a disk drive, a communication port for communicating with an external device, and user object devices such as a touch panel, a key, a button, etc. Methods implemented as software modules or algorithms may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium as computer-readable code or program instructions executable on the processor. 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 (Digital Versatile Disc)). Computer-readable recording media may be distributed across networked computer systems, allowing computer-readable code to be stored and executed in a distributed manner. The medium may be readable by a computer, stored in memory, and executed by a processor.

[0111] The present embodiment may be represented by functional block configurations and various processing steps. These functional blocks may be implemented by various numbers of hardware and / or software configurations that execute specific functions. For example, the embodiment may employ integrated circuit configurations such as memory, processing, logic, look-up tables, etc., capable of executing various functions by the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. Similar to how components may be implemented as software programming or software elements, the present embodiment may be implemented in programming or scripting languages ​​such as C, C++, Java, assembler, Python, etc., including various algorithms implemented as combinations of data structures, processes, routines, or other programming configurations. Functional aspects may be implemented as algorithms executed on one or more processors. Additionally, the present embodiment may employ prior art for electronic configuration, signal processing, and / or data processing. Terms such as "mechanism," "element," "means," and "configuration" may be used broadly and are not limited to mechanical and physical configurations. The above terms may include the meaning of a series of software processes (routines) in conjunction with processors, etc.

Claims

1. An impact-resistant body disposed on at least one side of the two sides of a chute branching off from a conveyor on which cargo moves, and including a gas receiving space inside; A suction part formed on the first surface of the shock-preventing main body and configured to supply gas to the gas receiving space; A discharge section comprising at least one discharge port formed on at least one surface of the shock-preventing body and configured to discharge gas inside the gas receiving space; and A control unit comprising a control unit that controls the suction unit to regulate the degree of gas supply to the gas receiving space, Cargo shock protection device.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above at least one discharge port includes a first type discharge port and a second type discharge port larger than the first type discharge port, Cargo shock protection device.

3. In Paragraph 2, The first type discharge port and the second type discharge port are alternately arranged on at least one surface of the shock-resistant body. Cargo shock protection device.

4. In Paragraph 2, The first type discharge port and the second type discharge port are configured to open when the opening condition is satisfied so that the gas inside the gas receiving space is discharged. The above-mentioned first type discharge port and the above-mentioned second type discharge port have different opening conditions. Cargo shock protection device.

5. In Paragraph 4, The above opening conditions include a first opening condition in which the applied pressure is greater than or equal to a first pressure, and a second opening condition in which the applied pressure is greater than or equal to a second pressure which is greater than the first pressure. The first type discharge port is opened when the first opening condition is satisfied, and the second type discharge port is opened when the second opening condition is satisfied. Cargo shock protection device.

6. In Paragraph 4, The maximum angle formed with the surface where the first type discharge port is located when the first type discharge port is opened is greater than the maximum angle formed with the surface where the second type discharge port is located when the second type discharge port is opened. Cargo shock protection device.

7. In Paragraph 1, The above control unit is, Check at least one of the speed information and weight information of the cargo branching from the above conveyor to the above chute, and Controlling the suction unit based on at least one of the above speed information and the above weight information, Cargo shock protection device.

8. In Paragraph 7, The above speed information and the above weight information are confirmed by at least one sensor located on the conveyor or at a branching point of the chute, Cargo shock protection device.

9. In Paragraph 8, The above at least one sensor includes a weight sensor for verifying weight information and an optical sensor for verifying speed information. Cargo shock protection device.

10. In Paragraph 7, The above control unit checks the impact force information of the cargo based on the speed information and the weight information. Controlling the rotational speed of the fan included in the suction part based on the above impact amount information, Cargo shock protection device.

11. In Paragraph 10, The above impact information includes unit impact information, and The control unit further checks the size information of the cargo and checks the unit impact information based on the impact information and the size information. Cargo shock protection device.

12. In Paragraph 10, The control unit above identifies the expected collision point of the cargo based on the speed information, and Controlling the rotational speed based further on the above predicted collision point, Cargo shock protection device.

13. In Paragraph 7, The control unit further checks the size information of the cargo and further controls the position of the discharge unit based on the height information of the cargo confirmed from the size information. Cargo shock protection device.

14. In Paragraph 1, A coupling portion further comprising a coupling portion coupled to at least one side of the above suit, Cargo shock protection device.

15. In Paragraph 14, The above-mentioned coupling portion has a concave coupling structure, and is coupled to the concave coupling structure and at least one side so as to be fitted together. Cargo shock protection device.

16. In Paragraph 15, The above-mentioned coupling portion includes a second surface and a third surface facing each other with at least one side in between, and The second surface is connected to the bottom surface of the shock-preventing body and faces a collision surface where the cargo may collide, and the third surface faces the discharge section. Cargo shock protection device.

17. In Paragraph 16, The length of the second surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the chute is longer than the length of the third surface extending in the perpendicular direction. Cargo shock protection device.

18. In Paragraph 16, The above collision surface includes a first portion corresponding to the suction portion and a second portion excluding the first portion, and The first part and the first surface are formed of a first material, and the second part is formed of a second material. Cargo shock protection device.

19. A method of operation of an impact protection device disposed on at least one side of a chute branching from a conveyor on which cargo is transported, and comprising a gas receiving space inside, A step of verifying at least one of the speed information and weight information of the cargo branching from the conveyor to the chute; A step of determining impact information of the cargo based on at least one of the speed information and the weight information; and A step comprising adjusting the degree of gas supply to the gas receiving space based on the above-mentioned impulse information, Operation method of a cargo shock protection device.

20. A computer-readable, non-transient recording medium having a program for executing the method of paragraph 19 on a computer.

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