JPH045778A - Baggage detecting device of carrier device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read a body to be detected attached to the face of the approaching or separating side of baggage by positional-controlling a data reader to a reading position and a non-reading position based on the detected result of a baggage passing detecting means. CONSTITUTION:A baggage detecting controller inputs a detecting signal from an approaching detecting sensor 22 and a separating detecting sensor 23 and executes the reading action of a bar code 19 by a bar code reader 18 connected with the reader 18, outputs a control signal for reading indication, transfers data read by the reader 18 to an external device, outputs a driving control signal to an actuator driving circuit and drive-controls and actuator to make an elevating member 16 vertical-move. Thus, baggage can by placed on a conveyor without being conscious of a direction in which the baggage are placed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a load detection device for a conveyance device, and more specifically, for detecting a detected object such as a bar code attached to a load conveyed by a conveyance device such as a roller conveyor. The present invention relates to a load detection device.

[Prior Art] In recent years, barcodes have been attached to packages in logistics systems to streamline package management. For example, in a conveyance system in which a load 2 is conveyed by a roller conveyor 1 as shown in FIG. There was one that read the barcode 4 attached to 2 and managed luggage.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conveyance system in which the baggage 2 is conveyed by the roller conveyor 1, when the baggage 2 is placed on the conveyor 1, the surface with the barcode 4 is always placed on the barcode reader. It is necessary to place it facing the side where 3 is installed,
It was extremely troublesome as I was confused as to which side to face with the barcode 4 on it. In addition, if the roller conveyors 1 are connected together or irregularly and the side of the baggage 2 with the barcode 4 is turned to the direction of travel, the barcode 4 cannot be read by the barcode reader 3. There wasn't. Furthermore, since the barcode reader 3 is installed on the side adjacent to the conveyor 1, it is necessary to secure an installation space for it, which poses a problem in terms of effective use of space.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to be able to load loads onto a conveyor without having to be particularly aware of the direction in which the loads are loaded, thereby improving work efficiency. In addition, to provide a load detection device for a conveyance device that can reliably read even if the surface on which the bar code of the load is attached changes to the direction of travel, and that does not take up space and contributes to the effective use of space. There is a particular thing.

1. Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides load detection using a conveyance device that reads objects to be detected attached to the load being conveyed by rolling rollers installed together at predetermined intervals. In the apparatus, a data reading device is arranged between the rollers and reads a detected object attached to a surface on the approaching or separating side of the baggage that is approaching or separating;
A guide means for guiding the data reading device between a detected object reading position and a non-reading position that does not interfere with the conveyance of the baggage, and a position that is at least on the side where the baggage approaches the data reading device and does not interfere with the conveyance of the baggage. Load detection means for a conveying device, which is comprised of a load passage detection means installed in the load detection means, and a control means that controls the operation of the data reading device based on the detection of the load detection means and controls the position of the data reading device via the guide means. The gist is the device.

[Operation] The operation of the data reading device is controlled based on the detection result of the baggage passage detection means. On the other hand, based on the same detection result, the control means controls the position of the data reading device via the guide means to a reading position and a non-reading position, so that the surface of the approaching or separating side of the baggage is controlled so as not to interfere with the conveyance of the baggage. It is possible to reliably read the object to be detected attached to the sensor.

[Embodiment 1] An embodiment of a baggage detection device embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a pair of left and right side frames 1 supported by legs 11
A large number of rod-shaped rollers 13 are rotatably supported between the two to form a roller conveyor.

The cargo 14 is then conveyed on the roller conveyor in the direction of the arrow. The control box 15 is installed below the roller conveyor, and contains various control devices and operating devices. An elevating member 16 constituting a guide means projecting upward is provided on the upper surface of the control box 15 so as to be movable up and down, and is moved up and down by an operating device provided inside the box 15 . An installation stand 17 is provided at the tip of the elevating member 16, and a barcode reader 18 as a data reading device is fixedly installed on the installation stand 17. Then, when the lifting member 16 moves upward, the barcode reader 1
8 projects from the space between the rollers 13 onto the baggage conveyance path above, and is attached to the same surface as the surface (front surface) in the traveling direction of the baggage 14 being conveyed, as a barcode 1 to be detected.
9 will be guided to a position where it can be read (reading position). Conversely, when the elevating member 16 moves downward, the
The J-taper 18 is guided from the space between the rows 513 to a position (non-reading position) where it does not interfere with the conveyance of the cargo below.

L-shaped support arms 20 and 21 are attached to the front and rear surfaces of the control box 15, and passage detection sensors 22 and 23 as baggage passage detection means are attached to the tips of the support arms 20 and 21, which are photoelectric elements. are arranged below the space between the rollers 13 so as not to interfere with the conveyance of the cargo.

Then, a passage detection sensor (hereinafter referred to as an approach detection sensor) 22 on the side where the baggage 14 approaches the barcode reader 18 detects the approaching baggage 14 and detects the barcode 14.
A passage detection sensor (hereinafter referred to as a separation detection sensor) 23 on the side where the baggage 14 is moving away from the node 18 detects the baggage 14 moving away.

Incidentally, an auxiliary frame 12a is attached to the side frame 12 between the rollers 13 where the barcode reader 18 is arranged, and both frames 12,1
2a supports the auxiliary rollers 13a, so that the distance between the rollers 13 is large so that conveyance of the cargo 14 is not hindered.

Next, the electrical configuration of the baggage detection device configured as described above will be explained with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, a baggage detection controller 31 as a control means includes the approach detection sensor 22 and separation detection sensor 23.
The barcode reader 18 executes an operation for reading the barcode 19 according to a predetermined program based on the detection signal. The controller 31 is connected to the barcode reader 18, outputs a control signal for reading instructions, and also transfers data read by the barcode reader 18 to an external device (for example, a host computer). Further, the controller 31 is connected to an actuator drive circuit 32 and outputs a drive control signal to the drive circuit 32 to drive and control an actuator 33 that constitutes a guide means for moving the elevating member 16 up and down.

Next, the operation of the baggage detection device configured as described above will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

Now, while the barcode reader 18 is waiting at the reading position, when the baggage 14 is conveyed from the upstream side of the roller conveyor and approaches the reader 18, the approach detection sensor 22 detects the passage of the baggage 14 in advance. To detect. When the approach detection sensor 22 detects the passage of the baggage 14 and turns on, the baggage detection controller 31 responds to this on signal in step 1, moves to step 2, and outputs a reading instruction control signal to the barcode reader 18. Barcode reader 18
In response to this instruction control signal, the robot immediately approaches the baggage 14, reads the barcode 19 attached to the front side of the baggage 14, and transfers the data to an external device via the baggage detection controller 31.

When the reading of the barcode 19 is completed, the baggage detection controller 31 outputs a control signal to the actuator drive circuit 32 in step 3 to activate the actuator 33 and deactivate the barcode reader I8 at the reading position via the elevating member 16. to avoid colliding with the approaching cargo 14. Therefore, the package 14 passes over the barcode reader 18 without colliding with it.

Then, baggage I4 passed over the barcode reader 18.
completely passes the separation detection sensor 23, the sensor 2
3 goes from on to off. The baggage detection controller 31 determines in step 4 that the baggage 14, which has been turned from on to off, has completely passed through the distance detection sensor 23, and moves to step 5. The baggage detection controller 31 outputs a control signal to the actuator drive circuit 32 to actuate the actuator 33 to move the barcode reader 18 from the non-reading position to the reading position via the lifting member 16 to detect the next baggage 14. Be prepared and stand by.

In this way, in the baggage detection device of this embodiment, the main body such as the control box is installed below the roller conveyor, which solves the problem of securing installation space and is very advantageous in terms of effective use of space. Become.

Further, in this embodiment, since the barcode reader 18 is located in the conveyance path, the barcode reader 18 is recognized so that the baggage 14 is placed on the roller conveyor with the side with the barcode I9 attached to the baggage 14 facing the conveyance direction. Unlike conventional methods, there is no need to recognize which side the barcode reader is installed on and worry about which side the barcode side should face. As a result, the efficiency of conveyance work is improved.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may be implemented as follows.

(2) In the above embodiment, the barcode reader 18 was moved upward from the non-reading position to the reading position based on the separation detection sensor 23, but this was done by moving the barcode reader 18 upward based on the detection operation of the approach detection sensor 22. The passage time for the baggage 14 to completely pass may be determined in advance through tests, experiments, etc., and the movement may be made from the non-reading position to the reading position based on the determined passage time.

■ In the above embodiment, the barcode 19 attached to the approaching baggage 14 is read, or when the baggage 14 completely passes over the barcode reader 18, the barcode 19 attached to the baggage 14 that passes and moves away is read. The barcode 19 may be read. In this case, it is necessary to orient the barcode reader 18 in the direction of conveyance, and provide the barcode 19 on the surface opposite to the direction of conveyance. At this time, the reading timing of the barcode reader 18 may be based on the detection time of the approach detection sensor 22, or may be performed in response to the detection operation of the separation detection sensor 23.

(2) Also, in the above embodiment, the actuator 33 that moves the barcode reader 18 up and down is not described in detail.
For example, any mechanism that can move up and down may be used, such as using a hydraulic cylinder to move it up and down, or using an electric motor to move it up and down.

(2) Further, in the above embodiments, the object to be detected is a bar code, but the object is not limited to this, and may be implemented using, for example, numbers, symbols, marks, or magnetic recording bodies. In this case, the data reading device must be an image recognition device, a magnetic data reading device, or the like.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to place a load on a conveyor without being particularly conscious of the direction in which the load is placed, and it is possible to improve work efficiency, and
It has an excellent effect of contributing to effective use of space without taking up much space.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a baggage detection device embodying the present invention, FIG. 2 is an electric block circuit diagram of the baggage detection device, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the baggage detection controller, and FIG. 4 is a conventional baggage detection device. It is a figure showing a baggage detection device. Roller 13, cargo 14, lifting member 1 constituting a guide means
6. Consists of a barcode reader 18 as a data reading device, a barcode 19 as a detected object, a passage (approach) detection sensor 22 as a means for detecting the pressure of the passage of luggage, a luggage detection controller 31 as a control means, and a guide member. Actuator 33° Patent Applicant Toyota Industries Corporation Representative Patent Attorney Hironobu Onda (and 1 other person) Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] In a load detection device of a conveyance device that reads a detected object attached to a load being conveyed by rolling rollers arranged at a predetermined interval, a data reading device that reads a detected object attached to a surface on the approach or separation side of the baggage; and a guide means that guides the data reading device to a detected object reading position and a non-reading position that does not interfere with the conveyance of the baggage. , baggage passage detection means installed at least on the side where the baggage approaches the data reading device and at a position that does not pose an obstacle to the transportation of the baggage; and operating data reading measures based on the detection by the baggage detection means. A load detection device for a conveying device, comprising a control means for controlling the position of the data reading device via the actuating member.