Article Rearranging Apparatus Sequence Sorting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing article rearranging apparatuses face inefficiencies in rearranging articles in the shortest possible time after reception, particularly due to misalignment of articles with designated sequence numbers, leading to prolonged accumulation and sorting times.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a receiving unit, a transport conveyor, a sorting unit with upstream and downstream accumulating units, and a control unit that reads article information to rearrange articles according to designated sequence numbers, ensuring continuous transport and efficient accumulation and dispatch based on sequence groups, allowing for immediate rearrangement even if articles are not initially aligned.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If articles are delivered to the transport line regardless of identification number in primary sorting, then articles can be accumulated in buffer lines, but articles are arranged in a sequence different from designated sequence numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary sorting by the ones place digit before articles enter the main transport line. Articles are pre-grouped into buffer lines based on their ones place digit (0-9), ensuring that when they are later sorted by tens place digit, the final sequence matches the designated sequence numbers. This preliminary action prevents sequence disruption.
2Ease of operation
If articles are rearranged by article group in primary sorting and returned to transport line, then sorting can be performed, but it takes time for articles with sequential numbers to accumulate in each buffer line
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting process is segmented into two independent stages: primary sorting by ones place digit and secondary sorting by tens place digit. Each stage operates on different buffer line sets, allowing parallel processing. This segmentation enables articles to be sorted more efficiently without requiring sequential accumulation delays.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple buffer lines are used for sorting, then articles can be organized by sequence numbers, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary sorting digits (ones place and tens place) from the identification numbers and uses them to determine buffer line assignments. By focusing only on these specific digits rather than processing the entire identification number, the system reduces complexity while maintaining accurate sequence arrangement.
Data Source
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AI summary
An article rearranging apparatus is provided that can send out articles in the shortest possible time after being received by the receiving unit. A control unit controls a sorting unit A and a send-out conveyor C30 to transport articles B received by a receiving unit L1 to an upstream accumulating unit 60 so that articles B that belong to the same article group are accumulated on the same upstream branch accumulating unit U, and articles B that belong to different article groups are accumulated on different upstream branch accumulating units U, to transport articles B accumulated in the upstream accumulating unit 60 to a final accumulating unit 70 so that articles B that belong to the same article group are accumulated on different final branch accumulating units V, and an article group with smaller designated sequence numbers is accumulated on a downstream side X, in a transportation direction X, of an article group with larger designated sequence numbers, and to send out articles B accumulated in the final accumulating unit 70 from the send-out conveyor in accordance with the designated sequence numbers.