Patent Description:
In the related art, conveyor systems for conveying articles such as small goods include a conveyor system for conveying articles by means of a conveyor installed on a floor, e.g., a roller conveyor or a belt conveyor and a conveyor system for conveying articles with suspending devices such as hanger sorters.

In a conveyor system including a suspending device, an article is stored in a suspended storage that is suspended from the rail of a suspending device. The suspended storage with the stored article is conveyed while being suspended from the rail.

The specification of <CIT> describes a conveyor system including suspending devices according to the related art. The conveyor system conveys articles stored in suspended storages, each including a pocket main unit (storage body) that stores an article, a frame that suspends the pocket main unit, and a hook-shaped suspended element that is suspended from the suspending device and fixes the frame. In the conveyor system including the suspended storage described in the specification of <CIT>, the pocket main unit of the suspended storage is made up of a rear wall part, a front wall part, and a base part connecting the rear wall part and the front wall part. The front wall part has an opening for discharging an article stored in the pocket main unit. The inclination of the frame is changed relative to the suspended element, so that the relative positions of the rear wall part and the front wall part are vertically changed and the article in the pocket main unit is discharged from the opening.

In the suspended storage described in the specification of <CIT>, however, the parts (the rear wall part, the front wall part, and the base part) constituting the pocket main unit (storage body) are different members (parts), and the base part pivots to discharge the article, which is stored in the pocket main unit (storage body), from the opening. Thus, the configuration of the pocket main unit (storage body) may be disadvantageously complicated. For this reason, in a conveyor system according to the related art, when an article is to be conveyed while being stored in a suspended storage, a storage body having a complicated configuration such as the one described in the specification of <CIT> must be used. Furthermore, <CIT> discloses a conveyor system according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor system where a suspended storage is usable with a storage body storing an article with a simple configuration.

According to the invention, a conveyor system as stated in claim <NUM> is provided.

With this configuration, the engaging member of the reorienting device is engaged with the interior of the storage body, so that the storage body is lifted by the engaging member or is suspended by its own weight. In other words, the engaging member is engaged with the interior of the storage body so as to change the state of the storage body with respect to the suspending member and the suspended storage is reoriented. If the storage body is composed of a belt-like member (fabric band), the engaging member is engaged with the belt-like member, so that the belt-like member suspended from the suspending member is lifted by the engaging member or the belt-like member lifted with respect to the suspending member is suspended by its own weight. In other words, the engaging member is engaged with the belt-like member, so that the state of the belt-like member changes with respect to the suspending member and the storage body composed of the belt-like member is reoriented.

According to a conveyor system of the present invention, in the conveyor system, the storage body includes a loop-shaped bag having an internal storage space for the article, and the reorienting device reorients the storage body by engaging the engaging member from an opening laterally formed on the loop-shaped bag.

With this configuration, the reorienting device reorients the storage body by engaging the engaging member from the opening laterally formed on the storage body configured by the loop-shaped bag. If the storage body is composed of a belt-like member (fabric band), the loop-shaped bag is formed by connecting both ends of the belt-like member into a loop shape in the longitudinal direction. If the storage body is composed of the belt-like member (fabric band), an article storage space is formed in a space (clearance) formed between the opposed internal surfaces of the belt-like member when the belt-like member is formed in a loop shape. If the storage body is composed of the belt-like member (fabric band), an opening is laterally formed in the storage space of the bag composed of the loop-shaped belt-like member.

According to a conveyor system of the present invention, in the conveyor system, the reorienting device reorients the storage body by engaging the engaging member from the opening of the storage body.

With this configuration, the storage body is reoriented by engaging the engaging member of the reorienting device from the opening of the storage body.

According to a conveyor system of the present invention, in the conveyor system, the reorienting device includes an article support member that drops the article from the opening of the storage body while supporting the article, and the article support member drops the article into the storage body and internally presses the storage body so as to reorient the storage body.

With this configuration, the storage body is reoriented by pressing the interior of the storage body by means of the article support member for dropping the article from the opening of the storage body. If the storage body includes the loop-shaped bag composed of the belt-like member (fabric band), the storage body is reoriented by externally pressing the inner surface of the loop-shaped belt-like member.

According to a conveyor system of the present invention, in the conveyor system, the storage body has a first surface suspended from the suspending member and a second surface suspended from the suspending member so as to be opposed to the first surface, the first and second surfaces being formed on an integrated member, the opening is formed on the first surface, the second surface is internally pressed by the engaging member so as to move the opening to a position where the article is allowed to be dropped into the storage body, and the second surface is further internally pressed by the engaging member so as to move the opening to a position where the article stored in the storage body is allowed to be discharged.

With this configuration, the second surface is internally pressed by the engaging member so as to move the opening to the position where the article is allowed to be dropped, and the second surface is further internally pressed by the engaging member so as to move the opening to the position where the article is allowed to be discharged.

According to a conveyor system of the present invention, in the conveyor system, the storage body has a first surface suspended from the suspending member and a second surface suspended from the suspending member so as to be opposed to the first surface, the first and second surfaces being formed on an integrated member, the opening is formed on the first surface, the first surface is internally pressed by the engaging member so as to move the opening to a position where the article is allowed to be dropped into the storage body, and the second surface is internally pressed by the engaging member so as to move the opening to a position where the article stored in the storage body is allowed to be discharged.

With this configuration, the first surface is internally pressed by the engaging member so as to move the opening to the position where the article is allowed to be dropped, and the second surface is internally pressed by the engaging member so as to move the opening to the position where the article is allowed to be discharged.

According to the conveyor system of the present invention, the reorienting device reorients the storage body by engaging the engaging member with the interior of the storage body of the suspended storage, thereby simplifying the configuration of the storage body. Thus, in the conveyor system for conveying articles stored in the suspended storages, the suspended storage can have the storage body with a simple configuration.

A conveyor system <NUM> according to the present invention will be described below. The present invention is not limited to the conveyor system <NUM> which will be described below.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the conveyor system <NUM> is a system where articles <NUM> ordered (requested) by registered individual users (customers) are collectively delivered to a user-allocated collection container <NUM>.

In the conveyor system <NUM>, the article <NUM> ordered by a user is dropped and stored into a bag <NUM> (an example of "suspended storage"), which will be discussed later, and then the bag <NUM> containing the article <NUM> is conveyed to the collection container <NUM> by a hanger sorter <NUM>, so that the article <NUM> in the bag <NUM> is collected into the collection container <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the bag <NUM> used in the conveyor system <NUM> includes a body <NUM> (an example of "storage body") that stores the article <NUM>, a suspending member <NUM> that suspends the bag <NUM> from a rail <NUM> (the support <NUM> of the hanger sorter <NUM>), and a support member <NUM> for supporting the suspended body <NUM>.

The body <NUM> is composed of a fabric band. The body <NUM> is formed into a bag (bag-shaped) by connecting both ends of the fabric band into a loop shape in the longitudinal direction. The body <NUM> includes a front surface <NUM> (an example of "first surface") that is formed so as to be suspended from the support member <NUM> and a rear surface <NUM> (an example of "second surface") that is formed so as to be suspended from the support member <NUM> so as to be opposed to the front surface <NUM>. The body <NUM> is supported by the support member <NUM> while being suspended substantially like a letter O in side view. The body <NUM> has an engaged part <NUM> that is engaged with the support member <NUM> on a part of the loop-shaped bag. The body <NUM> has a storage part <NUM> (an example of "article storage space") that is an internal space (a space between the front surface <NUM> and the rear surface <NUM>) of a bag suspended from the support member <NUM>. The article <NUM> is stored in the suspended lower part of the bag. The body <NUM> has an opening <NUM> for dropping and discharging the article <NUM> into and from the body <NUM>, in the upper part of the front surface <NUM>.

The suspending member <NUM> includes a hook <NUM> engaged with the support <NUM> of the hanger sorter <NUM> and a block <NUM> that supports the support member <NUM> while being fixed to the hook <NUM>. The hook <NUM> can be suspended from the support <NUM>. The hook <NUM> is engaged with the support <NUM>, suspending the bag <NUM> from the hanger sorter <NUM>. The support member <NUM> is fixed to both ends of the block <NUM>.

The support member <NUM> includes a rod-shaped member extended from both sides of the block <NUM> of the suspending member <NUM>. The support member <NUM> is engaged with the engaged part <NUM> of the body <NUM> so as to support the body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the conveyor system <NUM> includes a drop area <NUM> for dropping the article <NUM> into the bag <NUM>, a discharge area <NUM> for discharging the article <NUM> from the bag <NUM>, hanger sorters <NUM> that convey the suspended bags <NUM> with the stored articles <NUM> between the areas of the conveyor system <NUM>, and a rail <NUM> that is provided on the ceiling above the floor between the areas of the conveyor system <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the drop area <NUM> includes a first conveyor <NUM> for conveying, to the bags <NUM>, the articles <NUM> to be stored in the bags <NUM>, and a first reorienting device <NUM> for reorienting the bags <NUM>.

The first conveyor <NUM> is a known conveyor capable of conveying the articles <NUM> at regular intervals. The first conveyor <NUM> conveys the articles <NUM> to a position for dropping the articles <NUM> into the bags <NUM>. When the articles <NUM> are conveyed to the dropping position, the first conveyor <NUM> automatically drops the articles <NUM> into the bags <NUM>.

The first reorienting device <NUM> is a device for reorienting the bag <NUM> (body <NUM>) from an orientation for conveying the article <NUM> to an orientation for dropping the article <NUM> into the opening <NUM> of the bag <NUM>. The first reorienting device <NUM> is mainly composed of a pair of first engaging members 84A that are engaged with the body <NUM> and a drive unit (not shown) that drives the first engaging members 84A.

The first engaging members 84A are rod-shaped members insertable from a loop-shaped opening <NUM> formed on both sides of the body <NUM> (both ends in the width direction of the fabric band constituting the body <NUM>) that is a loop-shaped bag. The first engaging members 84A are disposed on both ends of the conveying path of the bag <NUM> to be conveyed by the hanger sorter <NUM>. When the bag <NUM> is conveyed to the position for dropping the article <NUM>, the first engaging members 84A move into the body <NUM> in a direction horizontally crossing a conveying direction H of the bag <NUM>. The first engaging members 84A engage into the body <NUM> from the opening <NUM> of the body <NUM> and are horizontally moved in the body <NUM> by the driving of the drive unit, which is not shown, thereby reorienting the body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the discharge area <NUM> includes a second reorienting device <NUM> for reorienting the bags <NUM>, and a conveyor <NUM> for receiving the articles <NUM> discharged from the bags <NUM>.

The second reorienting device <NUM> is a device for reorienting the bag <NUM> (body <NUM>) from the orientation for conveying the article <NUM> to an orientation for dropping the article <NUM> from the opening <NUM> of the bag <NUM>. The second reorienting device <NUM> is mainly composed of, like the first reorienting device <NUM>, a pair of second engaging members 85A that are engaged with the body <NUM> and a drive unit (not shown) that drives the second engaging members 85A.

The conveyor <NUM> is a known conveyor capable of conveying the articles <NUM>, which are discharged from the bags <NUM>, at regular intervals. The conveyor <NUM> is disposed below a discharge position for discharging the articles <NUM> from the bags <NUM>. The conveyor <NUM> conveys the articles <NUM>, which are received from the bags <NUM>, to the collection container <NUM> disposed downstream of the conveyor <NUM>.

The hanger sorter <NUM> is a hanging device that conveys the suspended bags <NUM>. The hanger sorter <NUM> includes a support <NUM> that supports the suspended bag <NUM> and a carrier <NUM> that is engaged with the rail <NUM> so as to move the support <NUM>.

The orientations of the bag <NUM> will be discussed below, during the conveyance of the article <NUM> in the bag <NUM>, the dropping of the article <NUM> into the bag <NUM>, and the discharge of the article <NUM> from the bag <NUM>. In the following explanation, the conveying direction H of the bag <NUM> will be described as the longitudinal direction of the bag <NUM>, whereas a horizontal direction crossing the conveying direction H of the bag <NUM> will be described as the lateral direction of the bag <NUM>.

When the article <NUM> is dropped into the bag <NUM> (body <NUM>), the first engaging members 84A of the first reorienting device <NUM> are inserted from the opening <NUM> on both sides of the body <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, for the bag <NUM> suspended from the suspending member <NUM> (block <NUM>) shown in <FIG>, and the inserted first engaging members 84A are horizontally moved in the same direction (from the rear to the front of the bag <NUM>) as the conveying direction H of the bag <NUM> in the body <NUM>, so that the orientation of the body <NUM> is reoriented from the orientation for conveying the article <NUM> to the orientation for dropping the article <NUM> into the opening <NUM> of the bag <NUM>. Specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the bag <NUM> is conveyed to the dropping position of the article <NUM>, and then the pair of first engaging members 84A of the first reorienting device <NUM> is inserted from the opening <NUM> on both ends of the body <NUM> into an upper part in the body <NUM> of the conveyed bag <NUM> (near the engaged part <NUM> of the body <NUM>). Furthermore, the inserted first engaging members 84A are horizontally moved forward while being engaged with the body <NUM>. Thus, the interior of the front surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> suspended from the block <NUM> is pressed and lifted by the first engaging members 84A. Moreover, the horizontal movement of the first engaging members 84A moves the opening <NUM> of the front surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> to a position where the opening is directed upward in the horizontal direction (a position where the article <NUM> can be dropped into the body <NUM>) and longitudinally extends a space between the front surface <NUM> and the rear surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>. Thus, the bag <NUM> is oriented to receive the article <NUM> to be dropped into the opening <NUM> of the bag <NUM>.

When the article <NUM> is stored and conveyed in the bag <NUM> (body <NUM>), from a state where the first engaging members 84A of the first reorienting device <NUM> are engaged with the body <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the first engaging members 84A are disengaged from the body <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, so that the orientation of the body <NUM> is reoriented from the orientation for dropping the article <NUM> into the opening <NUM> of the bag <NUM> to the orientation for conveying the article <NUM>. Specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first engaging members 84A inserted into the body <NUM> are removed from the body <NUM>, so that the first engaging members 84A are disengaged from the body <NUM>, the front surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> is suspended from the block <NUM> by the weight of the body <NUM>, and a space is reduced between the front surface <NUM> and the rear surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>. Thus, the bag <NUM> is oriented to convey the article <NUM>.

When the article <NUM> is discharged from the bag <NUM> (body <NUM>), the second engaging members 85A of the second reorienting device <NUM> are inserted from the opening <NUM> on both sides of the body <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, for the bag <NUM> suspended from the suspending member <NUM> (block <NUM>) shown in <FIG>, and the inserted second engaging members 85A are horizontally moved in the opposite direction (from the front to the rear of the bag <NUM>) from the conveying direction H of the bag <NUM> in the body <NUM>, so that the orientation of the body <NUM> is reoriented from the orientation for conveying the article <NUM> to the orientation for discharging the article <NUM> from the opening <NUM> of the bag <NUM>. Specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the bag <NUM> is conveyed to the discharge position of the article <NUM>, and then the pair of second engaging members 85A of the second reorienting device <NUM> is inserted from the opening <NUM> on both ends of the body <NUM> into an upper part in the body <NUM> of the conveyed bag <NUM> (near the engaged part <NUM> of the body <NUM>).

Furthermore, the inserted second engaging members 85A are horizontally moved rearward while being engaged with the body <NUM>. Thus, the interior of the rear surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> suspended from the block <NUM> is pressed and lifted by the second engaging members 85A. Moreover, the horizontal movement of the second engaging members 85A moves the opening <NUM> of the front surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> to a position where the opening is directed downward (a position where the article <NUM> can be discharged from the body <NUM>) and longitudinally extends a space between the front surface <NUM> and the rear surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>. Hence, the bag <NUM> is oriented to discharge the article <NUM> from the opening <NUM> of the bag <NUM>, so that the article <NUM> stored in the storage part <NUM> of the bag <NUM> is discharged from the opening <NUM>.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first and second reorienting devices <NUM> and <NUM> allow the engagement of the first and second engaging members 84A and 85A with the interior of the body <NUM> of the bag <NUM> so as to reorient the body <NUM>, achieving the body <NUM> with a simple configuration. Thus, in the conveyor system for conveying articles stored in the suspended storages, the bag <NUM> is usable with the body <NUM> having a simple configuration.

In the present embodiment, the first and second engaging members 84A and 85A of the first and second reorienting devices <NUM> and <NUM> include rod-shaped members but are not limited thereto. As shown in <FIG>, the reorienting device may include an engaging member <NUM> composed of a frame member. The engaging member <NUM> includes a rectangular loop-shaped frame having no faces. The engaging member <NUM> is configured such that a lower frame member 87B pivots about an upper frame member 87A in the conveying direction H of the bag <NUM> (the longitudinal direction of the bag <NUM>). The engaging member <NUM> has an input opening 87C for the article <NUM>, a part surrounded by the loop-shaped frame member. The engaging member <NUM> is configured such that the width of the input opening 87C (the width of the upper frame member 87A and the lower frame member 87B) is larger than the opening width of the opening <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the article <NUM> is dropped into the bag <NUM> (body <NUM>) with the engaging member <NUM>, the engaging member <NUM>, which is vertically raised, is inserted from the opening <NUM> on one side of the body <NUM> in the bag <NUM> suspended from the suspending member <NUM> (block <NUM>), and the lower frame member 87B in the body <NUM> is pivoted forward about the upper frame member 87A of the inserted engaging member <NUM>, so that the engaging member <NUM> is placed in a horizontal position. Thus, the inside of the front surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> is lifted and moved to a position where the opening <NUM> of the body <NUM> is placed face up in a horizontal position (a position where the article <NUM> can be dropped into the body <NUM>). In other words, the body <NUM> is reoriented from the orientation for conveying the article <NUM> to the orientation for dropping the article <NUM> into the opening <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the article <NUM> is discharged from the bag <NUM> (body <NUM>) with the engaging member <NUM>, the engaging member <NUM>, which is vertically raised, is inserted from the opening <NUM> on one side of the body <NUM> in the bag <NUM> suspended from the suspending member <NUM> (block <NUM>), and the lower frame member 87B in the body <NUM> is pivoted rearward about the upper frame member 87A of the inserted engaging member <NUM>, so that the engaging member <NUM> is placed in a horizontal position. Thus, the inside of the rear surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> is lifted and moved to a position where the opening <NUM> of the body <NUM> is placed face down (a position where the article <NUM> can be discharged from the body <NUM>). In other words, the body <NUM> is reoriented from the orientation for conveying the article <NUM> to the orientation for discharging the article <NUM> from the opening <NUM>.

In the foregoing embodiment, the engaging member <NUM> is inserted from the opening <NUM> on one side of the body <NUM>. The present invention is not limited to this configuration. A pair of engaging members <NUM> may be inserted from the opening <NUM> on both sides of the body <NUM> so as to hold the body <NUM> between the engaging members <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the body <NUM> is reoriented by the first and second engaging members 84A and 85A of the first and second reorienting devices <NUM> and <NUM>. The present invention is not limited to this configuration. As shown in <FIG>, the body <NUM> may be reoriented by an article support member <NUM> for dropping the article <NUM> from the opening <NUM> of the body <NUM> while supporting the article <NUM>.

The article support member <NUM> includes a long plate member where the article <NUM> can be placed. The article support member <NUM> can be inserted into the opening <NUM> from the front surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>. On the article support member <NUM>, a press member <NUM> is provided to press the article <NUM>, which is placed on the article support member <NUM>, along the longitudinal direction of the article support member <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the article <NUM> is dropped into the bag <NUM> (body <NUM>) with the article support member <NUM>, the article support member <NUM> is inserted into the opening <NUM> from the front surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>. At this point, the article support member <NUM> is inserted into the body <NUM> while being in contact with the lower edge of the opening <NUM> of the body <NUM>. The rear surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> is pressed by one end of the article support member <NUM>, allowing the article <NUM> to be dropped from the opening <NUM> into the body <NUM> and longitudinally extending a space between the front surface <NUM> and the rear surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>. Moreover, the article <NUM> placed on the article support member <NUM> is pressed by the press member <NUM> into the body <NUM>, so that the article <NUM> is dropped into the body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, when the article <NUM> is discharged from the bag <NUM> (body <NUM>) with the article support member <NUM>, the article support member <NUM> is inserted into the opening <NUM> from the front surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>. At this point, the article support member <NUM> is inserted into the body <NUM> while being in contact with the upper edge of the opening <NUM> of the body <NUM>. Unlike in the dropping of the article <NUM> into the body <NUM>, the article support member <NUM> is inserted to the back side (the rear surface <NUM>) of the body <NUM> (the insertion distance of the article support member <NUM> to be inserted into the body <NUM> is increased) and the rear surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> is pressed by one end of the article support member <NUM>. Thus, the opening <NUM> of the body <NUM> is placed facedown and is moved to a position where the article <NUM> can be discharged in the body <NUM>, and a space is longitudinally extended between the front surface <NUM> and the rear surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the article <NUM> conveyed to the dropping position by the first conveyor <NUM> is automatically dropped into the bag <NUM>. The present invention is not limited to this configuration. The article <NUM> may be dropped into the bag <NUM> by, for example, an operator or a robot arm.

Claim 1:
A conveyor system (<NUM>) including a drop area (<NUM>) and a discharge area (<NUM>) for conveying an article (<NUM>) from said drop area (<NUM>) to said discharge area (<NUM>),
the conveyor system (<NUM>) comprising:
a suspended storage (<NUM>) having a storage body (<NUM>) for storing the article (<NUM>) and a suspending member (<NUM>) adapted to suspend the storage body (<NUM>) from a rail (<NUM>) provided on a ceiling above a floor and disposed between the drop area (<NUM>) and the discharge area (<NUM>);
wherein the suspended storage (<NUM>) has an opening (<NUM>) on the storage body (<NUM>) through which an article (<NUM>) can be dropped into and discharged from the storage body (<NUM>),
hanger sorters (<NUM>) that convey the suspended storages (<NUM>) with the stored articles (<NUM>) between the areas (<NUM>,<NUM>) of the conveyor system (<NUM>),
a reorienting device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) including an engaging member (84A, 85A, 87A, 87B, <NUM>) adapted to be engaged with the storage body (<NUM>) at the drop area (<NUM>) and the discharge area (<NUM>) so as to reorient the suspended storage (<NUM>) in order to permit dropping and/or discharging of the article (<NUM>) in/from the storage body (<NUM>),
characterized in that the engaging member (84A, 85A, 87A, 87B, <NUM>) is adapted to move into the storage body (<NUM>) so as to move within an interior (<NUM>) of the storage body (<NUM>) so as to press an interior surface of the storage body (<NUM>) and thereby to reorient the suspended storage (<NUM>) from at least one of an orientation for conveying the article (<NUM>) to an orientation for dropping the article (<NUM>) into the opening (<NUM>) at the drop area (<NUM>) or from the orientation for conveying the article (<NUM>) to an orientation for discharging the article (<NUM>) from the opening (<NUM>) at the discharge area (<NUM>).