JP3938084B2 - Goods sorting equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to equipment for sorting articles such as cigarette cartons for each store.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, in a facility that sorts cartons of 10 cigarettes according to orders from each dealer in accordance with orders from each store, at least a large number of cartons are racked for each brand. The automatic picking device that cuts out a predetermined number of cartons one by one, and the cartons that are cut and transported on the belt conveyor by this automatic picking device are brought into contact with the guide plate and dropped onto the cradle A stacking device for stacking a predetermined number of cartons on the cradle, and a boxing line for manually packing cartons stacked by the stacking device into empty boxes. It had been.
[0003]
By the way, in the automatic picking apparatus, the cartons are manually replenished to the rack portion, but since the cartons are cut out at a considerable speed, the replenishment of the popular cartons has not been caught up.
[0004]
In order to eliminate this drawback, there is a picking facility in which an automatic picking device and a manual picking unit manually are arranged (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In this equipment, the transport path of the box to be packed is provided in a meandering manner, and an automatic picking device and a plurality of manual picking units are sequentially arranged along the transport path, and the transport path switching device is used according to the type of cigarette. The empty box is guided to an automatic picking device or a predetermined manual picking unit.
[0005]
That is, when empty boxes are transported on the transport path, if there is a request for a type of cigarette with a relatively small number of orders, it is transported as it is to the automatic picking device and the carton is boxed. In the case of a request for many types of cigarettes, the transfer device is switched by the switching device, passes through the automatic picking device, is guided to the manual picking unit, and is manually boxed.
[0006]
Simply put, picking places differ between cigarettes with a high order quantity and cigarettes with a low order quantity.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-179224 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the picking equipment described above, the boxing operation is performed by the manual picking unit for cigarettes with a large number of orders and the automatic picking device for cigarettes with a small number of orders. When a large number of cigarettes and a small number of cigarettes are mixed, a box for delivery can be created separately, even though one box contains cigarettes (cartons) packed in the other. As a result, the box is wasted, and there are problems such as an increase in loading and unloading work on a truck, for example.
[0009]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an article sorting facility that can save boxes to be packed.
[0010]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the article sorting equipment according to claim 1 of the present invention automatically takes out a predetermined number of articles stacked in a storage unit, and then stacks them and stores them in a transport cassette. Article cutting line,
An automatic boxing line that automatically packs empty boxes after taking out articles from the cassette for transportation obtained in the article cutting line,
In the extra space part of the box boxed in the automatic boxing line, it comprises a manual boxing line for boxing articles manually .
Further, the article cutting line is constituted by the first and second cutting lines,
Cutting means for automatically cutting out articles stored in the storage section one by one in the first cutting line; stacking means for stacking a predetermined number of articles cut out by the cutting means; and A storage means for storing the group of articles stacked by the stacking means in a transport cassette;
A cut-out storage that automatically cuts a predetermined number of articles stored in the storage unit in a stacked state by a predetermined number in the second cut-out line and stores the cut-out predetermined number of articles in a transport cassette. Means are provided .
[0012]
Further, the article sorting facility according to claim 2 includes a transport means for transporting a box in which a group of articles are packed in the manual boxing line in the sort equipment according to claim 1 , and an article disposed in the vicinity of the transport means. Storage means and a display means for displaying the type and number of articles to be packed in the box transported by the transport means.
[0013]
According to the above configuration, the manual boxing line for manually packing the articles is arranged in the extra space part of the box packed by the automatic boxing line, so that the automatic boxing line and the manual boxing line are separately provided with empty boxes. Compared to the case of supplying and boxing, the number of boxes used for the same orderer can be saved.
[0014]
In addition, since the first cutting line for cutting out one by one and the second cutting line for cutting out a predetermined number of pieces are provided in the article cutting line, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the cutting operation of the articles, that is, the efficiency of the boxing operation.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an article sorting facility according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0016]
The article sorting facility according to the present embodiment, for example, uses a carton (an example of an article, which is a long box) containing 10 cigarettes to place an order from a cigarette retailer (which is the orderer). Accordingly, the order quantity is automatically boxed and sorted for each store.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the article sorting equipment is roughly divided into a plurality of cartons C stacked in a storage location one by one automatically, and then a predetermined number, for example, five steps. A first cut line 1 that is stacked and stored in a transport cassette (hereinafter referred to as a cassette) K, and a carton group (articles) that are stacked in a predetermined number, for example, five at a storage location different from the storage location. Group) CG is automatically taken out for each carton group and stored in a cassette K for preventing collapse of cargo, and a cassette (both actual cassettes) in which cartons are stored in both the above-described two cutting lines 1 and 2 The carton group CG is taken out from the transport line 3 for transporting by joining the same transport means and the actual cassette transported by the transport line 3 An automatic boxing line 4 that automatically packs the empty box B that is sent, and an extra space portion of a box that is arranged downstream (following stage) of the automatic boxing line 4 and boxed by the automatic boxing line 4 A manual boxing line 5 is further provided for manually packing the carton into the remaining space.
[0018]
Due to the installation space, the first and second cut lines 1 and 2 and the manual boxing line 5 are arranged on the first floor, and the automatic boxing line 4 is arranged on the second floor. Correspondingly, the downstream part of the transport path in the transport line 3 is arranged on the second floor, and the downstream part of the transport path for transporting the box packed in the automatic boxing line 4 to the manual boxing line 4 is 1 It is provided inclined on the floor side (of course, if there is sufficient space, it is not necessary to use the second floor). FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the first floor portion, and FIG. 2 mainly shows a plan view of the second floor portion. However, FIG. 2 shows a manual boxing line 5 disposed downstream of the automatic boxing line 4. FIG. 3 is a flow chart obtained by simplifying FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram functionally illustrating the configuration.
[0019]
The first cutting line 1 includes a cutting means 12 for cutting the cartons C stacked in a plurality of stages at the storage locations one by one on the first conveying conveyor 11, and on the first conveying conveyor 11. The stacking means 13 for stacking the cut out cartons 5 by 5 and the cartons CG stacked 5 by 5 are guided by the second transport conveyor 14 and are transported on the transport line 3 side. Storage means 15 for storing the carton group in the cassette K. For example, a belt conveyor is used as the first and second conveyors 11 and 14.
[0020]
A large number of the cutting means 12 are arranged in a line above the first transport conveyor 11 and over a predetermined range in the transport direction, and each can store a large number of cartons C in a stacked state in the vertical direction. And a carton C stored in the storage rack 21 is cut out one by one from the outlet. This carving machine cuts out cartons one by one on the first transport conveyor 11 in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction.
[0021]
The stacking means 13 includes at least five cartons C that are transported by the first transport conveyor 11 and discharged from the end thereof (of course, when the number of orders is small, four or less). In some cases, after receiving in the form of a stack, a receiving plate (not shown) adapted to be transferred onto the support base and the cartons CG stacked on the support base on the second conveyor 14 And an extruder (not shown) for extrusion.
[0022]
The storage means 15 includes at least an empty cassette K that is disposed at the downstream end of the second transport conveyor 14 and transports the carton group CG on the second transport conveyor 14 on the transport line 3 side. Inside, there is provided an extruder 23 that retracts and retracts the contact plate 22 having a shape slightly smaller than the side surface of the carton group and pushes in and stores the carton group CG.
[0023]
Therefore, in the first cutting line 1, a predetermined number of cartons C are cut out from the first storage rack 21 one by one from the first storage rack 21 according to a command from the control device. It is conveyed to the stacking means 13, where it is stacked five by five on the receiving plate and then moved onto the second conveyor 14. The carton group CG moved on the second transport conveyor 14 is transported to the storage means 15, and the abutting plate 22 is projected by the extruder 23 and transported on the transport line 3 side. It is pushed out and stored.
[0024]
In the second cutting line 2, the carton groups CG stored in a stack of five are automatically cut out to the transfer line 3 side, and the cut out carton groups are stored in the cassettes K, respectively. Cutout storage means 31 is provided.
[0025]
The cut-out storage means 31 includes a plurality of second storage racks (storage locations, storage portions) 32 that store a plurality of carton groups CG stacked in groups of 5 in parallel, and each of these second storage racks. And an extruder 34 which is disposed at the end of 32 and moves the carton group in the rack into and out of the abutting plate 33 having a shape slightly smaller than its side surface to push in and store the carton group CG. .
[0026]
Therefore, when the empty cassette K transported on the transport line 3 side reaches the storage position (extruder position), the abutment plate 33 is projected by the extruder 34 and stored in the second storage rack 32. One carton group CG that has been pushed is pushed out (cut out) into the cassette K and stored.
[0027]
Next, the transfer line 3 was cut by the first cassette transfer conveyor 41 and the second cut line 2 for transferring the actual cassette K in which the carton group CG cut by the first cut line 1 was stored. A second cassette transport conveyor 42 that transports the actual cassette K in which the carton group CG is housed and has a leading end portion that can be joined to the first cassette transport conveyor 41; and the first cassette transport conveyor 41 A juxtaposing means 43 for arranging a predetermined number of actual cassettes K, which are arranged and transported at the downstream end of each of them, for example, five at a time and raising them up to the second floor, and the actual cassettes gathered together by the juxtaposing means 43 A third cassette conveying conveyor (corresponding to the downstream side of the conveying line) 44 for conveying the cassette group KG to the take-out position (a); And a take-out means 45 for taking out to the automatic boxing line 4 side by simultaneously pushing out the five carton groups CG disposed at the downstream end of the transport conveyor 44 and housed in the actual cassette group KG. Has been. In addition, as each said cassette conveyance conveyor 41,42,44, a roller conveyor is used, for example.
[0028]
The juxtaposition means 43 is provided on the downstream end of the first cassette transport conveyor 41 so as to be movable up and down, and can mount the five actual cassette groups KG transported from the conveyor in five rows. And an elevator (not shown) for raising and lowering the mounting table 46.
[0029]
The take-out means 45 includes a mounting table 47 on which the actual cassette group KG arranged at the downstream end of the second cassette conveying conveyor 42 and arranged in five rows is mounted, and each of the mounting tables 47 positioned on the mounting table 47. The carton group CG in the actual cassette K is equipped with an extruder 49 for extruding the carton group CG together by simultaneously withdrawing and withdrawing the five contact plates 48 having a shape slightly smaller than the side surface thereof. Has been.
[0030]
Accordingly, five cartons C cut out from the two cut-out lines 1 and 2 are respectively stored in the cassette K and finally moved onto the first cassette conveyor 41. In addition, a predetermined length is secured for the downstream portion of the first cassette transport conveyor 41 from the junction G with the second cassette transport conveyor 42 so that the actual cassette K can be temporarily stored. Has been.
[0031]
And the real cassette group KG from the 1st cassette conveyance conveyor 41 is juxtaposed every 5 on the mounting base 46 of the juxtaposition means 43, and is then raised to the second floor.
The raised real cassette group KG is transported to the take-out position (ii) by the third cassette transport conveyor 44, moved onto the mounting table 47 of the take-out means 45, and then moved to the automatic boxing line 4 side by the extruder 49. Extruded.
[0032]
The automatic boxing line 4 has a box transfer conveyor (box transfer means) for transferring the empty box B to the boxing position (b) and transferring the box packed with the carton group CG to the manual boxing line 5. In one example, for example, a roller conveyor is used) and by pushing the five rows of carton groups CG taken out by the take-out means 45 into the empty boxes B conveyed by the receiving box-conveying conveyor 51, automatic And automatic boxing means 52 for boxing.
[0033]
The automatic boxing means 52 is arranged between the third cassette conveying conveyor 44 and the box conveying conveyor 51 and in parallel with both the conveyors so as to collect five rows of carton groups CG as a group. ) From the side of the carton transfer conveyor 53 (for example, a belt conveyor is used) and the five rows of carton groups CG on the carton transfer conveyor 53 at the boxing position (b). The abutment plate 54 having a slightly smaller shape is moved in and out to push the box 54 into the empty box B, and the box 54 is disposed on the side of the box transport conveyor 51 and the empty box B at the packing position (b) And a lid opening machine (not shown) for forcibly opening the lid portion.
[0034]
Therefore, when the actual cassette group KG is transported to the take-out position (A) by the third cassette transport conveyor 44, the contact plate 48 is projected by the extruder 49, and the carton group CG in each cassette K is transported to the carton transport conveyor. 53 is taken out.
[0035]
When the taken out carton group CG is transferred to the boxing position (b), the contact plate 54 is projected by the extruder 55 of the automatic boxing means 52, and each carton group CG is pushed into the empty box B. Automatically boxed. In addition, about the boxing operation | movement here, boxing is performed in two steps (it is a back | inner side and a near side in the laid state) according to the order quantity. Of course, if the number of orders is not five, but an odd number, there will naturally be an extra space in the box.
[0036]
Further, the manual boxing line 5 includes a first manual boxing for manually packing a few cartons of few brands with small orders by hand in the extra space of the box B boxed by the automatic boxing line 4. Part 61 and a second manual boxing part which is arranged downstream of the first manual boxing part 61 and for packing special brand cigarettes (or their cartons) having a special shape, for example, also by manual work 62.
[0037]
As the first manual boxing unit 61, for example, a digital picking system is used.
The first manual boxing unit 61 is connected to the box transfer conveyor 51 and also transfers a box B that has been boxed in the automatic boxing line 4 (an example of transfer means, such as a roller conveyor). 63), storage shelves (storage means) 64 for storing cartons C related to special brands arranged on both sides of the manual boxing conveyor 63, and these storage shelves 64 provided from the control device. A display device (display means) 65 on which a display device for displaying picking information (for example, a box number and the number of pickings) and a completion button (not shown) for notifying completion of picking work are arranged.
[0038]
Also, the second manual boxing unit 62 has the same configuration as the first manual boxing unit 61, although not shown.
Note that first and second empty cassette return conveyors (return lines) 71 and 72 for returning empty cassettes generated by the automatic boxing means 52 to the cutting lines 1 and 2 are provided.
[0039]
By the way, the cassette buffer unit KB is provided with two automatic cutting lines 1 and 2 to increase the efficiency of the cutting operation. For example, when the number of orders per dealer is small, the box to be packed This is to cope with the case where the number increases and the boxing operation cannot be caught up. Of course, the length of the cassette buffer unit KB is obtained in advance assuming that an order with a small number of orders continues.
[0040]
Next, in the above configuration, a sorting operation for sorting cigarettes according to orders from a dealer will be described.
In this configuration, there are two lines for automatically cutting out the carton. As described above, one of the first cutting lines 1 cuts out one carton at a time. The second cutting line 2 cuts out five cartons at a time.
[0041]
For example, if the contents of the order are automatically boxed, the A brand is 8 cartons, the B brand is 5 cartons, the C brand is 6 cartons, the D brand is 12 cartons, the E brand is 7 cartons, and the F brand is 3 Assume that the carton and G brands are 2 cartons, the H brand is 2 cartons and the I brand is 1 carton as a special brand for manual boxing.
[0042]
Among the brands for which automatic boxing is performed, the specific brands A to E having a particularly large number of orders are also cut out from the second cut-out line 2. Of course, when the second cut line 2 is used, it is a condition that the number of orders of each brand is 5 or more.
[0043]
In the case of the order contents as described above, if the number of orders for the A to E brands exceeds the multiple of 5 in the second cut line 2 by the cut command from the control device, the number of the multiple The carton group CG corresponding to only this is housed in the cassette K transported on the second cassette transport conveyor 42 and transported to the junction G side.
[0044]
On the other hand, in the first cut-out line 1, cut-out operations are performed for the number of residuals for A to E brands (the remainder after subtracting a multiple of 5) and for the number of F brands and G brands other than the specific brands. .
[0045]
FIG. 5 shows the brands in the cassette carried out from both the cutting lines 1 and 2.
Then, the cassette from the second cutting line 2 is moved to the downstream side (which is the cassette buffer unit KB) of the first cassette conveying conveyor 41 from the first cutting line 1 through the junction G, and from the same store. Are collected as an order, and conveyed in a lump.
[0046]
These one lump-like cassette groups KG are moved up to the second floor by 5 by the juxtaposing means 43 and transferred onto the third cassette conveying conveyor 44.
The five cassette groups KG transferred onto the third cassette conveying conveyor 44 are conveyed to the take-out position (a). Here, the carton group CG in each cassette K is automatically boxed by the take-out means 45. After being pushed out onto the carton transfer conveyor 53, it is moved to the boxing position (b).
[0047]
The five rows of carton groups KG moved to the boxing position (b) are pushed out into the empty boxes B transported by the box transporting conveyor 51 by the automatic boxing means 52, and boxed. If there are five or more carton groups, boxing is performed in two stages.
[0048]
Then, the boxed box is conveyed to the manual boxing line 5 by the box conveying conveyor 51.
In this manual boxing line 5, the box number for identifying the box B to be packed and the number of H brand cartons (two) are displayed on the display device 65 provided on the storage shelf 64 according to a command from the control device. In accordance with this display, the worker packs H brand cartons in the extra space of the box B by that number.
[0049]
Furthermore, since the I brand which is a special brand is included in the order contents, the second manual boxing unit 62 further adds a box according to the contents displayed on the display unit based on the instruction from the control unit. Boxing is performed in the extra space of B.
[0050]
Finally, the box is sealed and unloaded.
As described above, since the manual boxing line 5 for manually packing the articles is arranged in the extra space portion of the box packed in the automatic boxing line 4, the automatic boxing line 4 and the manual boxing line 5 are separately empty. Compared to the case where boxes are supplied and boxed, the number of boxes used for the same store (orderer) can be saved. That is, it is possible to reduce the loading and unloading work on a truck and the like and the sealing work.
[0051]
In addition, a first cutting line 1 for cutting out one carton at a time and a second cutting line 2 for cutting out five cartons at a time are provided, and specific brands with a large number of orders are collected from the second cutting line 2 at a time. Therefore, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the cutting operation, that is, the boxing operation, as compared with the case of cutting out all the brands from the first cutting line 1 one by one.
[0052]
Furthermore, since the cassette buffer unit KB that can store at least a predetermined number of actual cassettes K on the first cassette transfer conveyor 41 of the transfer line 3 is provided, two automatic cutting lines 1 and 2 are provided for cutting out. When the work efficiency is improved, for example, when the number of orders per store is small, even if the number of boxes to be boxed increases and the boxing operation cannot catch up, it can be handled without any trouble.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the configuration of the article sorting equipment of the present invention, the manual boxing line for manually packing the articles is arranged in the extra space portion of the box packed by the automatic boxing line. Compared to supplying empty boxes separately to the packing line and packing them, the number of boxes used for the same orderer can be saved, and the work of loading and unloading to trucks can be reduced and sealed. The box work can be reduced.
[0054]
Moreover, since the first cutting line for cutting out one by one and the second cutting line for cutting out a predetermined number of pieces are provided in the article cutting line, it is possible to improve the efficiency of the cutting of the articles, that is, the efficiency of the boxing operation. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a first floor portion in an article sorting facility according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a second floor portion in the article sorting facility.
FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of a configuration in the article sorting facility.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram functionally showing the configuration of the article sorting facility.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a sorting operation in the article sorting facility.
[Explanation of symbols]
B Box C Carton CG Carton group K Cassette KG Cassette group 1 First cutting line 2 Second cutting line 3 Conveying line 4 Automatic boxing line 5 Manual boxing line 11 First conveying conveyor 12 Cutting means 13 Stacking means 14 Second conveying Conveyor 15 Storage means 21 First storage rack 31 Cut storage means 32 Second storage rack 41 First cassette transport conveyor 42 Second cassette transport conveyor 43 Parallel means 44 Third cassette transport conveyor 45 Extraction means 51 Box transport conveyor 52 Automatic boxing Means 53 Carton transfer conveyor 61 First manual boxing unit 62 Second manual boxing unit 63 Conveyor for manual boxing

Claims (2)

An article cutting line that automatically takes out a predetermined number of articles stacked in the storage unit and then stacks and stores them in a transport cassette;
An automatic boxing line that automatically packs empty boxes after taking out articles from the cassette for transportation obtained in the article cutting line,
In the extra space portion of the box boxed in the automatic boxing line, a manual boxing line for boxing articles manually is provided ,
Further, the article cutting line is constituted by the first and second cutting lines,
A cutting means for automatically cutting out the articles stored in the storage section one by one in the first cutting line; a stacking means for stacking a predetermined number of articles cut out by the cutting means; and A storage means for storing the group of articles stacked by the stacking means in a transport cassette;
A cut-out storage that automatically cuts a predetermined number of articles stored in the storage unit in a stacked state by a predetermined number in the second cut-out line and stores the cut-out predetermined number of articles in a transport cassette. Article sorting equipment characterized by comprising means . The manual boxing line should be provided with a conveying means for conveying a box in which a group of articles is packed, and an article storage means arranged in the vicinity of the conveying means, and should be packed in a box conveyed by the conveying means. 2. The article sorting equipment according to claim 1 , further comprising display means for displaying the type and number of articles.

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