JPH0824799A - Glass bottle sorter - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Be sure to sort the glass bottles by color,
Greatly improves the efficiency of sorting work. A discharge conveyor 11 that conveys the glass bottle G on a guide conveyor 38 provided with a camera 7 that detects an image of the glass bottle G to a discharge port 4 has a V-shaped holding surface whose upper surface side can hold the glass bottle G. And a plurality of conveying plates 18 having a narrow width smaller than the length dimension of the smallest glass bottle G, which are arranged so as to be rotatable in the direction perpendicular to the axis extending in the conveying direction.
It consists of. A winding spring for urging the transport plate 18 in the rotation direction toward the discharge port 4 is provided. A hook is provided to lock the carrier plate 18 against the biasing force of the coil spring. An unlocking mechanism 32 for unlocking the transport plate 18 by hooks is provided for each discharge port 4. An identification control unit is provided which identifies the color of the glass bottle G based on the image signal from the camera 7 and outputs a drive signal to the unlocking mechanism 32 in order to eject the glass bottle G to the ejection port 4 corresponding to the identified color. .

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a glass bottle sorting apparatus for sorting used glass bottles by color in order to reuse them as resources.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, from the viewpoint of resource saving and effective use, there is an opportunity to collect used glass bottles and reuse them as resources. By the way, about half of the glass bottles are colorless and transparent, but there are many glass bottles that are colored brown, black, green, blue, etc., and it is necessary to sort them by color in order to reuse them. Therefore, a device for selecting these glass bottles by color is being developed.

As a glass bottle selecting device of this type, there is one as shown in FIG. This sorting device includes a conveyor (conveyor) 1 for conveying a plurality of glass bottles G, and a glass bottle G sent by the conveyor 1.
For each color, a guide conveyor 2 for aligning and transporting, an identifying device 3 for identifying the color of the glass bottle G guided and transported on the guide conveyor 2, and a glass bottle G whose color is identified by the identifying device 3 are provided for each color. And a discharge conveyor 5 for discharging to a discharge port 4 provided corresponding to the above.
The identification device 3 has an illumination 6 provided below the guide conveyor 2 and a camera 7 for detecting transmitted light that has passed through the inside of the glass bottle G. The camera 7 has a glass bottle G that passes directly below. The transmitted light is sequentially detected one by one in the length direction.

Then, based on the image signal from the camera 7, an identification unit (not shown) identifies the color of the glass bottle G. After that, the glass bottles G are placed one by one on the tray 8 and conveyed by the discharge conveyor 5 having a plurality of trays 8 and discharged to the discharge port 4. That is, when the glass bottle G reaches the discharge port 4 of a predetermined color, the tray 8 tilts and the tray 8
The glass bottle G placed on is sent to the discharge port 4.

[0005]

By the way, in the tray type discharge conveyor 5, since the glass bottle G fed from the guide conveyor 2 must be surely placed on each tray 8, There is a problem that it is difficult to carry out the delivery from the conveyor 2 at a high speed, and therefore it is impossible to improve the sorting processing capacity. Moreover, since the glass bottles G to be sorted have different sizes, the width dimension of the tray 8 must be set in accordance with the maximum length of the glass bottle G,
In this case, there is a problem that it becomes inefficient when selecting the small glass bottle G. In addition to the method of tilting and discharging the tray, there is a damper method that pushes out the glass conveyed by the conveyor from the side, but in this case, it is extremely difficult to specify the position to push out large and small glass bottles. was there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a glass bottle selection device capable of extremely efficiently and reliably selecting a glass bottle by color.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a glass bottle sorting apparatus according to claim 1 is a guide conveyor for conveying glass bottles one by one, and an image for detecting an image of the glass bottle on the guide conveyor. A detection unit, an identification control unit that identifies the color of the glass bottle based on an image signal from the image detection unit, a discharge conveyor that conveys and discharges the glass bottle sent from the guide conveyor, and a side portion of the discharge conveyor. A plurality of discharge ports provided for each color, and the discharge conveyor has a V-shaped holding surface capable of holding the glass bottle on the upper surface side and has a width narrower than the length of the glass bottle. A plurality of transport plates that are formed and are arranged along the transport direction so as to be rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the transport direction, and the transport plates that rotate in the discharge port direction. Urging means for urging, locking means for locking these holding plates in a state in which the holding surface is directed upward against the urging force of the urging means, and each of the discharge ports are provided, It is characterized by having an engagement releasing means which is driven by the identification control section to release the locking of the conveying plate holding the glass bottle by the engaging means.

A glass bottle sorting apparatus according to a second aspect is the glass bottle sorting apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the width dimension of the carrier plate is smaller than the minimum length dimension of the glass bottle,
It is characterized in that the pitch of each carrier plate is slightly larger than the width dimension of the carrier plate. Claim 3
The glass bottle sorting apparatus described in the glass bottle sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the identification control unit detects the length of the glass bottle based on an image signal from the image detection unit. It is characterized in that a drive signal is outputted to the coupling releasing means to release the engagement of the conveying plate holding the glass bottle by the engaging means.

A glass bottle sorting apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the glass bottle sorting apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, in which the glass bottle is discharged from the detection position of the image detecting unit by the engagement releasing means. Each storage time is stored in advance by a storage unit, and the identification control unit selects the transport time stored in the storage unit based on the identification result, and selects the transport time from the detection position. After a lapse of time, the engagement releasing means is driven. The glass bottle sorting apparatus according to claim 5 is the glass bottle sorting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, from the glass bottle detection position by the image detection unit to the glass bottle discharge position by the engagement releasing means. Is provided in advance with the storage unit, and the identification control unit selects the transport distance stored in the storage unit based on the identification result, and selects the transport distance from the detection position by the selected transport distance. When the glass bottle is transported, the engagement releasing means is driven.

[0010]

According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the first aspect, the image of the glass bottle is detected by the image detection section on the guide conveyor and is output to the identification control section as an image signal.
The identification control unit identifies the color of the glass bottle. Then, the glass bottle is conveyed from the guide conveyor to the discharge conveyor, and is conveyed to the discharge port corresponding to the color identified by the discharge conveyor. When the glass bottle reaches the discharge port, the engagement releasing means is driven by the identification control unit to release the engagement of the narrow conveying plates holding the glass bottle by the engaging means, and the conveying plates are biased by the urging means. The glass bottle held on these transport plates is fed to the discharge port by being rotated in the direction of the discharge port by the urging force of.

According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the second aspect, the width of the carrier plate is smaller than the length of the minimum glass bottle, and the pitch of each carrier plate is slightly larger than the width of the carrier plate. Therefore, it is possible to hold any glass bottle. According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the third aspect, the engagement of only the conveying plate holding the glass bottle by the engaging means is released, and the glass bottle is discharged.

According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the fourth aspect, the data of the transportation time is extracted from the storage unit according to the color of the glass bottle, and when the extracted transportation time elapses, the identified color is displayed. The disengagement means of the corresponding discharge port is driven to discharge the glass bottle to the discharge port corresponding to the reliably identified color. According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of claim 5, the data of the transport distance is extracted from the storage unit according to the color of the glass bottle, and when the glass bottle is transported by the extracted transport distance, the color is identified. The disengagement means of the corresponding discharge port is driven to discharge the glass bottle to the discharge port corresponding to the reliably identified color.

[0013]

Embodiments of the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same structural portions as those in the above-mentioned conventional technique, and the description thereof will be omitted. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 11 is a discharge conveyor. The discharge conveyor 11 includes a pair of sprockets 12, a chain conveyor 14 wound around the sprockets 12 and horizontally supported by a horizontal guide plate 13, and a plurality of links 15 attached to the links 15 constituting the chain conveyor 14. The holding plate 16, the supporting plate 17 erected on the holding plate 16, and the transport plate 18 whose center is rotatably supported by the supporting plate 17.

The carrier plate 18 is formed in a narrow width having a V-shaped holding surface 18a, and is supported by the support plate 17 at a predetermined pitch, and holds the carrier plate 18. The glass bottle G is held on the surface 18a. The width of the carrier plate 18 is
The size is smaller than the length of the smallest glass bottle G to be selected, and the pitch between the carrier plates 18 is slightly larger than the width of the carrier plates 18.

These transport plates 18 are biased in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 by a winding spring (biasing means) 21 provided on the rotary shaft thereof. In addition, these carrier plates 1
A hook (engagement means) 23 rotatably supported by a support member 22 provided upright on the holding plate 16 is provided on one end side of the hook 8, and is formed at the tip of the hook 23. The locking portion 24 engages with one end of the transport plate 18 and resists the biasing force of the coil spring 21, and the holding surface 18a of the transport plate 18 is held in a state of facing upward. The hook 23 is also urged in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 by the winding spring 25 provided at the center of rotation.

In the discharge conveyor 11 having the above structure, an engagement releasing mechanism (engagement releasing means) 32 including a solenoid 31 is provided above the hook 23 in correspondence with the outlet 4. The engagement releasing mechanism 32 is provided with a releasing rod 33 having a conical tip portion so as to be able to move forward and backward. When the releasing rod 33 is extended, the releasing rod 33 is extended.
Of the hook 23 presses the pressing portion 23a of the hook 23,
The hook 23 is rotated against the urging force of the winding spring 25, and the engagement of the conveying plate 18 by the engaging portion 24 is released. Then, the engaging portion 24 of the hook 23
When the carrier plate 18 is disengaged by the carrier plate 1,
8 is rotated in the arrow A direction in FIG. 2 by the urging force of the winding spring 21.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the discharge conveyor 11 is provided with an engagement return plate 35 on the return side of the chain 14. The engagement return plate 35 is provided so as to face the rotation direction side of the transport plate 18.
Inclined portion 3 gradually inclined outward in the traveling direction of
Have six. That is, the transport plate 1 that has moved in a tilted state due to the disengagement of the hook 23 from the engaging portion 24.
When 8 comes in contact with the engagement return plate 35, the other end of the transport plate 18 is pressed outward along the inclined portion 36 of the engagement return plate 35, and rotates against the biasing force of the winding spring 21. It is moved, and one end thereof is again engaged with the engaging portion 24 of the hook 23. In addition, in this embodiment, the guide conveyor 3 including the pair of V-shaped belt conveyors 37.
8 glass bottles G are guided and conveyed one by one,
Glass bottle G illuminated by the illumination 6 during this transportation
The image of is taken by the camera 7.

Next, the control system of the above glass bottle sorting apparatus is
This will be described with reference to the functional block diagram shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 41 is an identification control unit. This identification control unit 4
An image signal from the camera 7 is input to the image data 1 and this image signal is input to the data storage unit (storage unit) 4
2 to identify the color of the glass bottle G by comparing it with the color information stored in advance, and further identify based on the transport time data or the transport distance data stored in the data storage unit 42 in advance. The timing to drive the solenoid 31 corresponding to the selected color is set, and a drive signal is output to the solenoid 31 to drive the solenoid 31 at the set timing.

The identification control section 41 also detects the length of the glass bottle G from the image signal and sets the drive time of the solenoid 31 based on the detection result. That is, the solenoid 31 corresponding to the identified color is driven at the set timing for the set driving time, and the predetermined conveying plate 18 is tilted toward the discharge port 4.

Here, as a method for setting the timing for driving the solenoid 31, the following method can be applied. (1) Timer method In addition to having a timer built in the identification control unit 41,
The transport time from the detection position of the camera 7 to each discharge port 4 is stored in the data storage unit 42 in advance, and the transport time to the discharge port 4 corresponding to the identified color of the glass bottle G is retrieved from the data storage unit 42. At the same time, the timer measures the time from the time when the glass bottle G is photographed by the camera 7, and the solenoid 31 corresponding to the identification color is driven at the time when the measured time and the conveyance time drawn from the data storage unit 42 match. Then, the method of sending the glass bottle G to the discharge port 4.

(2) Encoder method An encoder is provided on the sprocket 12 of the discharge conveyor 11, and the camera 7 is previously stored in the data storage section 42.
The transport distance from the detection position to the respective discharge port 4 is stored, and the discharge port 4 corresponding to the identified color of the glass bottle G is stored.
And the distance from the time when the glass bottle G is photographed by the camera 7 is measured by the encoder, and when the measured distance and the transportation distance drawn from the data storage unit 42 match. Then, the solenoid 31 corresponding to the identification color is driven to send the glass bottle G to the discharge port 4.

Next, the glass bottle selecting operation by the glass bottle selecting apparatus will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. Note that, here, a case will be described where the timing for driving the solenoid 31 is set by the above-described timer method.

Step S1 When the glass bottle G conveyed by the conveyer 1 is sent to the guide conveyer 38, the glass bottle G is illuminated by the light of the illumination 6 emitted from below, and its image is taken by the camera 7. . Step S2 The image signal is output from the camera 7 to the identification control unit 41, and the identification control unit 41 identifies the color of the glass bottle G and detects the length of the glass bottle G based on the image signal.

Step S3: The timing of driving the solenoid 31 by extracting the data of the transport time corresponding to the identified color of the glass bottle G from the data storage unit 42 is set, and the driving time of the solenoid 31 is determined from the detected length of the glass bottle G. To set.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the data storage unit 42 stores beforehand the transport time T0 from the position detected by the camera 7 to the end of the discharge conveyor 11, and the end of the discharge conveyor 11 is also stored. Each solenoid 31
Transport time T1, T2 to A, 31B, 31C, 31D,
T3 and T4 are stored, and the identification control unit 41 draws out one of the transport times T1, T2, T3, and T4 of the data storage unit 42 and sets the solenoids 31A, 31B, and 3 as follows.
The timing for driving 1C and 31D is set.

(A) When driving the solenoid 31A Based on the result of identifying the color of the glass bottle G, the data storage unit 4
The carrying times T0 and T1 stored in 2 are drawn out, and the solenoid 31A is driven after the total time of the carrying times T0 and T1. (B) When driving the solenoid 31B Based on the color identification result of the glass bottle G, the data storage unit 4
The transport times T0 and T2 stored in 2 are drawn out, and the solenoid 31B is driven after the total time of these transport times T0 and T2.

(C) When driving the solenoid 31C Based on the color identification result of the glass bottle G, the data storage unit 4
The carrying times T0 and T3 stored in 2 are drawn out, and the solenoid 31C is driven after the total time of these carrying times T0 and T3. (D) When driving the solenoid 31D Based on the result of identifying the color of the glass bottle G, the data storage unit 4
The transport times T0 and T4 stored in 2 are drawn out, and the solenoid 31D is driven after the total time of these transport times T0 and T4.

Step S4 When the glass bottle G conveyed by the discharge conveyor 11 reaches the discharge port 4 of the identified color, a drive signal is output from the identification control section 41 to the solenoid 31, and the drive time set in step S3 is reached. The solenoid 31 is driven. As a result, the release rod 33 of the solenoid 31 is extended, and the pressing portion 23a of the hook 23 that locks the transport plate 18 on which the glass bottle G is placed is moved in the transport direction by the tip of the release rod 33. It is pressed in order from the front side.

As a result, these hooks 23 are wound by the winding spring 2.
5 is rotated against the urging force of the hooks 5, the engaging portions 24 of the hooks 23 disengage the transport plate 18, and the transport plate 18 locked by the hooks 23 is wound.
By the urging force of 1, the discharge port 4 direction (direction of arrow A in FIG. 2)
The glass bottle G, which has been placed on the carrier plate 18 while being rotated, is sent to the discharge port 4. Then, the release rod 33 of the solenoid 31 is pulled in, and the pressing of the pressing portion 23a of the hook 23 by the release rod 33 is released.

As described above, according to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the above embodiment, the glass bottle G is placed and conveyed while being held by the plurality of narrow conveying plates 18.
Since the glass bottle G is discharged by sequentially inclining only the transport plate 18 holding the glass bottle G, the efficiency of transporting and discharging the glass bottle G can be significantly improved. That is, only the area where the glass bottle G is placed is the carrier plate 1.
Since the glass bottle G is discharged by inclining 8,
Compared with the conventional method in which the glass bottles G are placed one by one on the tray 8 formed in a size corresponding to the large bottle, there is almost no need to provide a conveyance interval between the glass bottles G, and regardless of whether the small bottle or the large bottle is used The efficiency at the time of selecting small bottles can be greatly improved.

Further, from the guide conveyor 2 to the discharge conveyor 5
Compared with the conventional sorting device that has to deliver one glass bottle G to one tray 8 of the above, there is no restriction when delivering from the guide conveyor 38 to the discharge conveyor 11, and therefore the delivery is extremely quick. Can be done.

When the timing for driving the solenoid 31 is set by the encoder method described above,
In step S3, the identification control unit 41 retrieves the data of the transport distance corresponding to the identified color of the glass bottle G from the data storage unit 42, and sets the timing based on the transport distance. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, in the data storage unit 42, the transport distance L0 from the position detected by the camera 7 to the end of the discharge conveyor 11 is stored in advance, and each solenoid from the end of the discharge conveyor 11 is stored. Three
Transport distances L1 and L to 1A, 31B, 31C and 31D
2, L3, L4 are stored in advance, and this data storage unit 42
Based on the transport distance of each solenoid 31,
The timing for driving A, 31B, 31C, 31D is set.

(A) When driving the solenoid 31A Based on the color identification result of the glass bottle G, the data storage unit 4
The transport distances L0 and L1 stored in 2 are drawn out, and the solenoid 31A is driven when the encoder 44 detects that the glass bottle G has been transported by the total distance of these transport distances L0 and L1. (B) When driving the solenoid 31B Based on the color identification result of the glass bottle G, the data storage unit 4
The transport distances L0 and L2 stored in 2 are drawn out, and the solenoid 31B is driven when the encoder 44 detects that the glass bottle G has been transported by the total distance of these transport distances L0 and L2.

(C) When driving the solenoid 31C Based on the color identification result of the glass bottle G, the data storage unit 4
The transport distances L0 and L3 stored in 2 are drawn out, and the solenoid 31C is driven when the encoder 44 detects that the glass bottle G has been transported by the total distance of these transport distances L0 and L3. (D) When driving the solenoid 31D Based on the result of identifying the color of the glass bottle G, the data storage unit 4
The transport distances L0 and L4 stored in 2 are drawn out, and the solenoid 31D is driven when the encoder 44 detects that the glass bottle G has been transported by the total distance of these transport distances L0 and L4. In the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the above embodiment, the guide conveyor 38 is composed of the pair of belt conveyors 37, but the guide conveyor 2 of the sorting apparatus described in the related art may be used. Further, regarding the width dimension of the carrier plates 18 and the specific dimension of the pitch between the carrier plates 18, the width dimension of the carrier plates 18 is about 10 mm, and the pitch between the carrier plates 18 is the width dimension of the carrier plates 18 + 2 mm. It is good to set it to about (about 12 mm). By doing so, the glass bottle G can be reliably transported by the discharge conveyor 11, and a reliable discharging operation can be performed even when the transport interval of these glass bottles G is narrowed.

[0035]

As described above, according to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
According to the glass bottle sorting device of claim 1, the glass bottle held and conveyed by a plurality of conveying plates formed with a width narrower than the length dimension of the glass bottle is held by the glass bottle. Since only the carrying plate is rotated by the urging force of the urging means toward the discharge port and discharged to the discharge port, the discharge efficiency of the glass bottle can be greatly improved. That is, since the glass bottles are ejected by rotating only the carrier plate in the range where the glass bottles are placed, the glass bottles are placed one by one on a tray formed in a size corresponding to the large bottle. Compared to the scheme,
It is almost unnecessary to provide a transfer interval between the glass bottles, and the efficiency can be significantly improved especially when selecting small bottles regardless of whether they are small bottles or large bottles.

Further, as compared with the conventional sorting apparatus which has to deliver one glass bottle from the guide conveyor to one tray of the discharge conveyor, there is no restriction when delivering from the guide conveyor to the discharge conveyor. Therefore, the glass bottle can be delivered extremely quickly.

According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the second aspect, the width dimension of each conveying plate of the discharge conveyor for holding and conveying the glass bottle is made smaller than the minimum length dimension of the glass bottle, and each conveying plate has Since the pitch is slightly larger than the width of the carrier plate, not only small bottles but also glass bottles of any size can be held. According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the third aspect, only the conveying plate holding the glass bottle can be reliably rotated in the direction of the discharge port to discharge the glass bottle. That is,
Since another transport plate that does not hold a glass bottle is not rotated, it is possible to prevent a decrease in sorting efficiency due to useless driving, and it is possible to eliminate the obstacle that another glass bottle is discharged. .

According to the glass bottle selecting device of the fourth aspect, when the glass bottle is conveyed to the discharge port corresponding to the identified color of the glass bottle, the engagement releasing means is driven to surely discharge the glass bottle. You can According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the fifth aspect, when the glass bottle is conveyed to the discharge port corresponding to the identified color of the glass bottle, the engagement releasing means can be driven to reliably discharge the glass bottle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a part of a glass bottle sorter for explaining a configuration and a structure of a glass bottle sorter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the discharge conveyor for explaining the configuration and structure of the discharge conveyor that constitutes the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a control system of the glass bottle sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a sorting operation of the glass bottle sorting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a part of the glass bottle sorter for explaining the method of setting the solenoid drive timing by the identification control unit constituting the glass bottle sorter of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a part of the glass bottle sorting apparatus for explaining another method for setting the solenoid drive timing by the identification control unit constituting the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a part of a glass bottle sorting apparatus for explaining a schematic configuration of a conventional glass bottle sorting apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Discharge Port 7 Camera (Image Detection Unit) 11 Discharge Conveyor 18 Conveyor Plate 18a Holding Surface 21 Winding Spring (Biasing Means) 23 Hook (Engagement Means) 32 Engagement Release Mechanism (Engagement Release Means) 38 Guide Conveyor 41 Identification Control unit 42 Data storage unit (storage unit) G Glass bottle

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 17, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Claims]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a glass bottle selecting device according to claim 1 is a guide conveyor for conveying glass bottles one by one, and an image for detecting an image of the glass bottle on the guide conveyor. A detection unit, an identification control unit that identifies the color of the glass bottle based on an image signal from the image detection unit, a discharge conveyor that conveys and discharges the glass bottle sent from the guide conveyor, and a side portion of the discharge conveyor. A plurality of discharge ports provided for each color, and the discharge conveyor has a V-shaped holding surface on the upper surface side capable of holding the glass bottle and a width dimension along the transport direction.
Is formed narrower than the length dimension of the glass bottle, and a plurality of transport plates arranged along the transport direction so as to be rotatable in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the transport direction, and these transport plates respectively. Urging means for urging to rotate in the direction of the discharge port, and locking means for locking the conveying plate against the urging force of the urging means with the holding surface facing upward. provided for each of the discharge port, the engagement of the carrier plate, wherein the driven by the identification control section holds the glass bottle
And a lock releasing means for releasing the lock by the stop means.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a glass bottle sorting apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the discharge container is
(A) The width dimension of each of the carrier plates constituting the (a) is made smaller than the length dimension of the minimum glass bottle, and the pitch of each carrier plate is made slightly larger than the width dimension of the carrier plate. Is characterized by. The glass bottle sorting apparatus according to claim 3 is the glass bottle sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the identification control unit detects the length of the glass bottle based on an image signal from the image detection unit. wherein outputs a drive signal to the unlocking means, characterized in that to release the locking by the locking means of the carrier plate holding the glass bottle Te.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0009

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

A glass bottle sorting apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the glass bottle sorting apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, in which the glass bottle is detected from the position where the image detecting section detects the glass bottle.
Storage unit for each of the transport time to the discharge position of the glass bottle by unlocking means is stored in advance is provided, the identification control section selects conveying time stored in the storage unit based on the identification result The locking release means is driven after the selected transport time has elapsed from the detection position. The glass bottle sorting device according to claim 5 is the glass bottle sorting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the glass bottle sorting device is located from a detection position of the glass bottle by the image detection unit to a discharge position of the glass bottle by the locking releasing means. Is provided in advance with the storage unit, and the identification control unit selects the transport distance stored in the storage unit based on the identification result, and selects the transport distance from the detection position by the selected transport distance. when a glass bottle is transported, it is characterized in that to drive the unlocking means.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0010]

According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the first aspect, the image of the glass bottle is detected by the image detection section on the guide conveyor and is output to the identification control section as an image signal.
The identification control unit identifies the color of the glass bottle. Then, the glass bottle is conveyed from the guide conveyor to the discharge conveyor, and is conveyed to the discharge port corresponding to the color identified by the discharge conveyor. When the glass bottle reaches the discharge port, the lock release means is driven by the identification control unit to release the lock of the narrow transport plate holding the glass bottle by the lock means, and the transport plate is biased by the biasing means. The glass bottle held on these transport plates is fed to the discharge port by being rotated in the direction of the discharge port by the urging force of.

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0011

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the second aspect, the width dimension of each conveying plate constituting the discharge conveyor is made smaller than the length dimension of the minimum glass bottle, and the pitch of each conveying plate is conveyed. Since it is slightly larger than the width of the plate, it can hold any glass bottle. According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus according to claim 3, the locking by the locking means only transfer plate holding the glass bottle is released, glass bottles discharged is performed.

[Procedure Amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0012

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the fourth aspect, the data of the transportation time is extracted from the storage unit according to the color of the glass bottle, and when the extracted transportation time elapses, the identified color is displayed. The lock releasing means of the corresponding discharge port is driven to discharge the glass bottle to the discharge port corresponding to the identified color. According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of claim 5, the data of the transport distance is extracted from the storage unit according to the color of the glass bottle, and when the glass bottle is transported by the extracted transport distance, the color is identified. The lock releasing means of the corresponding discharge port is driven to discharge the glass bottle to the discharge port corresponding to the identified color.

[Procedure Amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0015

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

These transport plates 18 are biased in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 by a winding spring (biasing means) 21 provided on the rotary shaft thereof. In addition, these carrier plates 1
A hook ( locking means) 23 rotatably supported by a support member 22 provided upright on the holding plate 16 is provided on one end side of the hook 8. The hook 23 is formed at the tip of the hook 23. locking portion 24, and engaging one end of the carrier plate 18, against the urging force of the coil spring 21, and is held in the holding surface 18a of the carrier plate 18 facing upward. The hook 23 is also urged in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 by the winding spring 25 provided at the center of rotation.

[Procedure Amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0016

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0016] the discharge conveyor 11 of the structure, the upper position of the hook 23, in correspondence with the outlet 4, unlocking mechanism (unlocking means) 32 is provided consisting of a solenoid 31. The lock releasing mechanism 32 is provided with a releasing rod 33 having a conical tip end so as to be able to move forward and backward. When the releasing rod 33 is extended, the releasing rod 33 is extended.
Of the hook 23 presses the pressing portion 23a of the hook 23,
The hook 23 is rotated against the biasing force of the coil spring 25, so as to release the locking of the carrier plate 18 by the engaging portion 24. Then, the locking portion 24 of the hook 23
When the locking of the carrier plate 18 by the
8 is rotated in the arrow A direction in FIG. 2 by the urging force of the winding spring 21.

[Procedure Amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0017

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As shown in FIG. 1, the discharge conveyor 11 is provided with a locking return plate 35 on the return side of the chain 14. The locking return plate 35 is provided so as to face the rotation direction side of the transport plate 18, and the transport plate 18 is provided.
Inclined portion 3 gradually inclined outward in the traveling direction of
Have six. That is, carrier plate 1 which has moved in a state in which locking by the locking portion 24 of the hook 23 is tilted is released
8, when reaches the locking return plate 35, is pushed the other end outwardly along the inclined portion 36 of the locking return plate 35 of the carrier plate 18, rotating against the urging force of the coil spring 21 is dynamic, one end thereof adapted to be engaging again the locking portion 24 of the hook 23. In addition, in this embodiment, the guide conveyor 3 including the pair of V-shaped belt conveyors 37.
8 glass bottles G are guided and conveyed one by one,
Glass bottle G illuminated by the illumination 6 during this transportation
The image of is taken by the camera 7.

[Procedure Amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0029

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

As a result, these hooks 23 are wound by the winding spring 2.
Is rotated against the 5 biasing force of the engagement is released carrier plate 18 by the locking portion 24 of the hooks 23, the transport plate 18 by the hooks 23 have engaged the winding spring 2
By the urging force of 1, the discharge port 4 direction (direction of arrow A in FIG. 2)
The glass bottle G, which has been placed on the carrier plate 18 while being rotated, is sent to the discharge port 4. Then, the release rod 33 of the solenoid 31 is pulled in, and the pressing of the pressing portion 23a of the hook 23 by the release rod 33 is released.

[Procedure Amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0038

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

According to the glass bottle sorting apparatus of the fourth aspect, when the glass bottle is conveyed to the discharge port corresponding to the identified color of the glass bottle, the locking releasing means is driven to surely discharge the glass bottle. You can According to the glass bottle sorting device of claim 5, when the glass bottle is conveyed to the discharge port corresponding to the identified color of the glass bottle,
The unlocking means can be driven to eject the glass bottle.

[Procedure Amendment 13]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Explanation of code

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Explanation of Codes] 4 Discharge Port 7 Camera (Image Detection Unit) 11 Discharge Conveyor 18 Conveying Plate 18a Holding Surface 21 Winding Spring (Biasing Means) 23 Hook ( Locking Means) 32 Lock Release Mechanism ( Lock Release Means) 38 Guide Conveyor 41 Identification Control Unit 42 Data Storage Unit (Storage Unit) G Glass Bottle

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shuji Hoshino 3-15-1 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries Toji Technical Center

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A guide conveyor that conveys glass bottles one by one, an image detection unit that detects an image of the glass bottle on the guide conveyor, and a color of the glass bottle is identified based on an image signal from the image detection unit. An identification control unit, a discharge conveyor that conveys and discharges the glass bottle sent from the guide conveyor, and a plurality of discharge ports provided for each color on the side portion of the discharge conveyor, the discharge conveyor, The upper surface side is a V-shaped holding surface capable of holding the glass bottle, is formed narrower than the length dimension of the glass bottle, and is rotatable in a direction perpendicular to an axis line extending in the carrying direction, in the carrying direction. A plurality of transport plates arranged along the line, biasing means for biasing the transport plates to rotate in the discharge port direction, and the transport plates against the biasing force of the biasing means. Retention Locking means for locking the glass bottle upward, and unlocking by the engaging means of the conveying plate provided for each of the discharge ports and holding the glass bottle driven by the identification control unit. And a disengagement means for causing the disengagement. 2. The carrier plate has a width dimension smaller than the minimum glass bottle length dimension, and the pitch of each carrier plate is slightly larger than the carrier plate width dimension. The glass bottle sorting device according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. The identification control unit detects the length of the glass bottle based on the image signal from the image detection unit and outputs a drive signal to the disengagement means to hold the glass bottle. The glass bottle sorting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the engagement of the existing transport plate by the engagement means is released. 4. A storage unit is provided in which each transport time from the detection position of the glass bottle by the image detection unit to the discharge position of the glass bottle by the engagement releasing unit is stored in advance, and the identification control unit is configured to identify the result. 4. The carrying time stored in the storage unit is selected based on the above, and the engagement releasing means is driven after the selected carrying time has elapsed from the detection position. The glass bottle sorting device according to item 1. 5. A storage unit is provided in which the respective transport distances from the detection position of the glass bottle by the image detection unit to the discharge position of the glass bottle by the engagement releasing unit are stored in advance, and the identification control unit is provided with the identification result. The transporting distance stored in the storage unit is selected based on the above, and when the glass bottle is transported from the detection position by the selected transporting distance, the engagement releasing means is driven. Item 1. The glass bottle sorting device according to any one of Items 1 to 3.