FR2533539A1 - MOBILE SHELF STORAGE SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

THE MOBILE STORAGE SYSTEM ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT INVENTION INCLUDES MOBILE SHELVES 13A, 13B AND A FIXED SHELVING 12. THE FIXED SHELVING INCLUDES A PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH 15 AND A CONTROL CIRCUIT WHILE THE SHELVES 16, 16 INTERRUPTERS CONTAIN , PUSH BUTTON AND CONTROL CIRCUITS. THE REVERSIBLE MOTORS DRIVE THE MOBILE SHELVES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND CONTROL CIRCUITS CONTAIN MEMORIES, THE LAYOUT BEING SUCH AS WHEN THE USER DESIRES TO ACCESS A SHELVING, IT IS ENOUGH TO PRESS THE PUSH BUTTON, THE SHELVES CONCERNED MOBILES BEING MOVED BY THE MOTORS IN THE DIRECTION APPROPRIATE TO OPEN AN ACCESS PASSAGE.

Description

Mobile shelving storage system.

  The present invention relates to a storage system

  mobile tiling The mobile storage system includes a

  structure in which a multiplicity of mobile shelving

  are arranged on guide rails and can be moved horizontally perpendicular to a

  corridor or access passage used to access an item.

  When a user pushes the button of an inter-

  breaker, groups of shelving units can move away or approach each other so as to open a desired corridor. A multiplicity of shelves are arranged on guide rails anchored to a floor and can be moved freely on these rails-either to the right or to the left, so that a corridor is formed to allow the user to access the desired departments In this way, the mobile storage system is recognized as

  being a device allowing efficient use of the over-

facing a floor -

  As described in U.S. Patent No. 3,865,446, by

  example, a motor is placed on each rack of a multiple

  number of shelving units Shelving units can be moved independently by the motors so as to form a desired corridor The motors are actuated respectively using push button switches If the user wishes to store an article or document or have access to a article or document, he presses the push button of a switch to move the shelving and therefore

open a hallway.

  In the mobile storage system of the type described above, a separate control circuit is required

  to detect a lane position by detecting the

  of the push button of the switch and to

  place the shelves in such a way as to open a desired corridor by sending control signals to the corresponding motors. Only one control circuit is used for one

  multiplicity of shelving constituting the storage system

  mobile ge The control circuit includes a means for

  tect the depression of the switch push button

  of each rack, a means for providing a signal of com-

  requires a reversible motor which is then rotated

  tion in order to move the shelving to the right or to the left, a means for detecting a corridor which is

  currently open, and a means to determine and order

  ner the direction of movement of the shelving according to the relation between the detected position of the corridor and a

  aisle position to be updated accordingly

  dance with the push of the switch button.

  Signal transmission lines are connected

  tees by means of push button depression detection, by means of aisle position detection and by means

  motor control between each racking of the multipli-

  shelving unit and the control circuit.

  This is why the subject of the present invention is

  a mobile storage system for controlling the

  placement of a multiplicity of shelving, system in the-

  the number of signal transmission lines for the multiplicity of racks is reduced, and the multiplicity of racks are controlled so as to open a desired corridor corresponding to the push-button switch, the push-button of which has been pressed, among a large number of push button switches arranged respectively

  in the multiplicity of shelving.

  The present invention further relates to a mobile storage system which eliminates the separate control circuit intended for the multiplicity of shelves constituting

  the mobile storage system, whereby the shelves

  ges are independently controlled.

  The present invention also relates to a mobile storage system in which a common data bus 5 is used to connect the multiplicity of shelving, this simplifying the configuration of the control system, particularly the connections of the transmission lines.

of signals.

  In the mobile storage system according to the pre-

  invention, we use a common data bus

  multiple shelving units that are ordered and moved.

  In addition, the memories are arranged respectively in the multiplicity of shelves for storing data.

  indicating the order of the multiplicity of shelving, i.e.

  say a shelving number Button switches-

  pusher are also arranged respectively in the mul-

  multiple shelving units to open a desired corridor

  for storage or access When the user

  actuator activates one of the push-button switches, the data relating to the number of the racking is extracted from the

  corresponding shelving memory This data is trans-

  other shelving via the common bus

  Each of the racks receiving the related data

  tive with a shelving number compares it with its own data relating to the shelving number The shelving then determines the required direction of movement to open the

  specified coat and provides a control signal to its circ

  motor control cooked according to the above determination. In the mobile storage system of the type described above, each shelving unit to be controlled has a memory for storing the data indicating its order, that is to say the data relating to its shelving number, a means of comparison to compare the data relating to the number of

  shelving transmitted via the common bus from -

  given with its own data relating to the shelving number, and a motor control means for controlling its motor

  depending on the result of the comparison All available

  control units have the same design and simple structure, which simplifies the mobile storage system

  as a whole and removes the separate control circuit.

  We will now describe the present invention -

  with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the general configuration of a mobile storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view showing, in a tight state against each other, the shelving of the mobile storage system shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a block diagram of the control circuits of the mobile storage system shown in Figure 1; and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control circuits of a mobile storage system according to another

  embodiment of the present invention.

  As can be seen in Figuresi and 2, three guide rails 11a, 1b and lic are fixed parallel to each other to the floor of a store, library or

  similar room A fixed shelf 12 is placed at one of the

  mites of each of the guide rails 11a, 11b and 11c and has spokes perpendicular to the guide rails 11a, 11b and 11c A multiplicity of mobile shelves (six mobile shelves 13a to 13f in the present embodiment) are arranged on the guide rails lia, llb

  and lic so as to be parallel to the fixed shelving 12.

  The mobile shelves 13a, 13f have driving wheels respectively which correspond to the guide rails 11a, 11b and 11c, whereby the mobile shelves i 3a and 13f can be moved on the guide rails 11a, 11 b

and lic.

  The mobile shelving units 13 a to 13 f comprise reversible motors 14 a to 14 f respectively The motors 14 a to 14 f are rotated to drive the wheels of the corresponding shelving units The mobile shelving units 13 a to 13 f are therefore moved independently towards the right or left on the guide rails 11a, 11b and 11c depending on the direction of rotation of the corresponding motors

14 a to 14 f.

  The fixed shelving 12 has accessible shelves, this only on the side facing the adjacent mobile shelving 13a, The mobile shelving 13a to 13f have

  respectivmenet two sides d Storage / extraction of

  ticles If the user wishes to store or retrieve a desired item or document on a desired shelf

  of the latter, it selectively displaces the shelving

  biles 13 a to 13 f so as to form a desired access corridor -

  using switches: 15 and 16 a to 16 f with push button.

  Limit switches 17 a to 17 f and 18 a to 18 f are arranged at the two ends of the shelves 13 a to 13 f, respectively, along the direction of movement. The actuating part of a switch The limit switch of a given rack is moved so as to open the limit switch when an adjacent rack is brought into contact with the given rack However, the limit switch of the given rack closes when the adjacent shelving separates from this given shelving A stop 19 determines the distance of movement

  of mobile terminal shelving 13 f When the shelving

  bile 13 f comes to bear against the stop 19, the switch 18 f

  end of travel is activated so as to stop the spoke

mobile swimming 13 f.

  In the mobile storage system designed c Omme described above, a control circuit 20 is arranged in the fixed shelving 12 and control circuits 21 a, 21 b, are disposed respectively in the mobile shelving 13 a to 13 f Although the figure shown in Figure 3

  control circuits 20, 21 a and 21 b which correspond respec-

  With fixed shelving 12 and mobile shelving 13a and 13b, control circuits identical to the

  command 21 a and 21 b are also arranged in the shelves-

  movable strokes 13 c to 13 f The control circuits 20, 21 a,

  22 b ,, are connected to a common data bus 22.

  The memories 23, 24 a and 24 b are arranged respectively

  tively in the control circuits 20, 21 a and 21 b, as can be seen in FIG. 3 The memories 23, 24 a and 24 b

  store the data indicating the number of the racking

  respondent For example, when the data "O" is stored -

  born in memory 23, the datum "1" and the datum "2" are

  stored respectively in memories 24 a and 24 b.

  The data elements stored in the memories 23, 24 a and 24 b are extracted respectively via the gate circuits 25, 26 a and 26 b and are transmitted to the common data bus 22 via the amplifiers 27, 27 a and 27 b respectively The gate circuits 25, 26 a and 26 b are controlled respectively by pulses of waveformers 28, 29 a and 29 b comprising circuits

  monostable or other similar circuits, which are set in.

  function when the push-buttons of the switches 15,

  16 a and 16 b are pressed more specifically, respectively

  The circuits 25, 25 a and 26 b open for

  interval 5 of predetermined time when the push buttons

  evenings switches 15, 16 a and 16 b are pressed respectively

  It follows that the data corresponding to the number

  Shelving ro is supplied to the common data bus 22.

  The data A 2 and A 3 extracted from the memories 24 a and 24 b of the mobile shelves 13 a and 13 b are supplied to

  comparators 30 a and 30 b, respectively A comparison data

  reason D transmitted via the common data bus 22 is sent to the comparators 30 a and 30 b, so that the comparators 30 a and 30 b compare the data extracted A 2 and the comparison data D and the data extracted

  A 3 and the comparison data D, respectively The comparison

  rator 30 a generates output signals corresponding to

  comparison results "A 2> D" 'and "A 2 4 D" Similarly

  the comparator 30 b generates output signals corresponding to the comparison results "A 3> D" and

"A 3 'D".

  We will assume that the mobile shelves 13a, 13f are tight against each other so as to be in successive contact, this starting from the fixed shelving 12, as can be seen in FIG. 2 We will further assume that the user wishes to open an access corridor between the mobile shelves 13 a and 13 b The user must

  press the switch 16a push button on the spoke-

  movable swim 13 a which is arranged near the mobile shelving 13 b When the push button of the switch 16 a is

  pressed, a coincidence signal is provided by the conform

  wave mater 29 a at the gate circuit 26 a, so that the data which corresponds to the mobile shelving 13 a and which is

  stored in memory 24 a is extracted via

  diary of the gate circuit 26 a and is transmitted to the common data bus 22 The data present on the common data bus 22 is supplied as comparison data D to the remaining comparators These cormparators compare the comparison data D with their own given, respectively, and determines whether the actuated switch is on the

right or left.

  For example, when the user presses the button

  push-button switch 16 a, the comparator 30 b of the mobile shelving 13 b adjacent to the mobile shelving 13 a generates a comparison output "A 3> D" The comparator 30 b determines that an access corridor must be open on the left side of the movable rack 13 b In this case, the comparator 30 a of the control circuit 2 Ia corresponding to the switch 16 a whose push button has been pressed generates an output "A 2 = D" of so as to indicate that the

  access corridor must be open on the right side of the aisle-

mobile swimming 13 a.

  The comparison output emitted by the comparator a of the control circuit 21 a is supplied to the AND gates 31 a and 32 a Similarly, the comparison output emitted by the comparator 30 b of the control circuit 21 b is supplied to the LV gates 31 b and 32 b AND gates 31 a and 32 a receive respectively the coincidence signals emitted by the circuits 33 a and 34 a of the door control AND gates 31 b and 32 b receive respectively the coincidence signals emitted by the circuits 33 b and 34 b for door control When the limit switches 18 a and 18 b close, the circuits 33 a and 33 b for door control receive timing signals to generate the comparison signals Similarly, when the limit switches 17 a and 17 b close, the

  door control circuits 34 a and 34 b receive signals

  rhythm signals to generate coincidence signals.

  The output signals of the AND gates 151 a and 32 a of the control circuit 21 a are supplied to a control amplifier 35 a, and the

  output signals from AND gates 31 b and 32 b of the control circuit

  21 b are supplied to a 35 b control amplifier.

  The control amplifiers 35 a and 35 b control the

  pectively the drive of motors 24 a and 14 b to the right or to the left depending on the outputs of the AND gates,

  thanks to which the mobile shelves move selectively-

  to the right or to the left.

  We will assume that the mobile shelves 13 a and 13 b are placed as shown in Figure 2

  and that the user pushes the push-button of the inter-

  breaker 16 a The data corresponding to the mobile shelving 13 a is supplied to the comparators 30 a and 30 b of the control circuits 21 a and 21 b via the common bus 22

  The comparator 30 a generates the output of comparison

  reason "A 2 D" while the comparator 30 b generates the

comparison output "'A 3> D".

  In these conditions, all the limit switches, except for the limit switch 18 f,

  are open so that the mobile shelving 13 f is fully

  born by the engine 14 f to the right until it comes

  bear against the stop 19, that is to say until the

  13 f mobile shelving limit switch opens.

  In this way, when the mobile shelving unit 13 f separates from the mobile shelving unit 13 e and the limit switch 18 e is then closed, the mobile shelving unit 13 e also moves to the right until it come and wear the mobile shelving unit 13 f Then, the mobile shelving units 13 d, 13 c and 13 b move successively in the same manner as that described above The mobile shelving units 13 b to 13 f come together in this way against the others to the right, the mobile shelving 13 f bearing against the

stop 19.

  Comparator 30 has movable shelving 13 has

  as the push button switch 16 a generates the output

  Comparison "A 2 _ D" However, because the interrup-

  tor 17 at the end of the race is kept open by the fixed shelving 12, the AND gate 32 a does not generate any output, so

  that the mobile shelving unit 13a is kept stationary.

  sulte that an access corridor is formed between the mobile shelving 13 b and the mobile shelving 13 a including the push button

  switch 16 has been pressed.

  In the above embodiment, the shelves

  ges are moved after sufficient space has been formed between adjacent racks However, the moving operation is time consuming - when a large number of racks are moved To shorten the time interval of the moving operation, an arrangement can be used in which the shelving start signal immediately before is detected to provide

  after 0.5 seconds another start signal to the shelves

  immediately following, a large number of racks being thus moved in a regular manner in a short period of time FIG. 4 is a block diagram of control circuits intended for a mobile storage system according to another embodiment of the present inventions in which the mobile storage system is controlled using a trip device. FIG. 4 shows only the control circuits 21 a, 21 b and 21 c of the mobile shelves 13 a, 13 b and 13 c respectively. In this arrangement, the output signals of the limit switches 17 a and 18 a are supplied to a time trigger a, the output signals of the end switches 17 b and 18 b are supplied to a time trigger 40 b, and so immediately When the predetermined time intervals

  established in advance respectively in the chronodeclen-

  40 a, 40 bh, have elapsed after the interruptions

  17 a, 17 b limit switches have been closed, the gates

  your ET 32 a, 32 b receive coincidence signals while the limit switches 17 a, 17 b are closed Similarly, when the predetermined time intervals established in advance respectively in timers-40 a, 40 b, have elapsed after the limit switches 18 a, 18 b, have been closed,

  ET gates 31a, 3-lb, receive jamming signals

  dence while the switches 18 a, 18 b, end of

race are closed.

  The output signals of the AND gates 31 b, 31 c, are

  supplied together with the output signals of the interrup-

  timers 18 a, 18 b, end of stroke at the Kch trigger a, 40 b, respectively Similarly, the signals

  output doors AND 32 a, 32 b, are supplied, joint-

  ment with the output signals of the switches 17 b, 17 c, limit switches, aux triggers 40 b, 40 c, We will assume that the output of the gate AND 31 c

  is applied to a 14 c motor via an amplifier

  35 c control window so as to move the shelving

  moving 13 c-to the right When a time interval pre-

  determined previously established in the trip timer 40a has elapsed after the movable rack 13 c s; is moved to the right, the AND gate 31 b receives the signal

  coincidence, so that the mobile shelving 13 b is out-

  placed to the right Note that the same references

  used in figure 3 designate the same parts illus-

  shown in Figure 4 and a detailed description of

these parts were not given.

1-1

Claims (7)

  1 A mobile storage system comprising a multiplicity of mobile shelving units (13a, 13b,) which are arranged parallel to each other and which can be freely moved in a direction perpendicular to a side of storage / extraction of articles, reversible motors (14 a, 14 b,) arranged respectively in the   multiplicity of mobile shelving to move this multi-   plicity of mobile shelving to the right and to the left   che, and button switches (15, 16 a, 16 b,)   pusher disposed respectively in the multiplicity of mobile shelving units to open an access corridor in front of the storage / extraction side of articles by displacement   and grouping of the plurality of mobile shelving in function   tion of a signal from that of the push button switches whose push button has been pressed, characterized in that it comprises:   memories (23, 24 a, 24 b,) arranged respectively   in the multiplicity of mobile shelving units to store data indicating mobile shelving numbers;   a common data bus (22) connecting the multiplic mobile racking tee;   a means for detecting the pressing of the button-   push button of one of said switches (15, 16 a, 16 b,) to successively extract the data from that of said switches   memories which corresponds to the switch including the button-   push button has been pressed and to transmit this data to said common data bus; -and comparison means (30a, 30b,) disposed respectively in the multiplicity of mobile shelving, said comparison means being adapted to compare the data transmitted to said common data bus with the data which indicate the numbers of mobile shelving   corresponding and which are stored in the cor-   responsible for controlling and operating the motors   based on the results of the comparison.   2 System according to claim 1, characterized   by the fact that at least at one end of the multipli-   city of mobile shelving is a fixed shelving (12).   3 System according to claim 1, characterized in that the multiplicity of mobile shelving is arranged so as to be moved along rails (11 a, llb,) anchored to a floor.   4 System according to claims 1 or 2, charac-   terrified by the fact that mobile shelving includes   pectively limit switches (17a, 17b,) on the right and left along the direction of travel, said limit switches on the right and left being actuated when two adjacent movable racks   come into contact with each other.   -5 System according to claim 4, characterized in that each of said right and left limit switches has a function which detects a   condition determining whether the two mobile shelving units are already   cents separate from each other or come into contact -   with each other and which determines whether mobile shelving   corresponding is an initial rack to be moved.   6 System according to claim-S, characterized in that said function causes displacement corresponding mobile shelving -   7 System according to claim 1, characterized in that the multiplicity of mobile shelving comprises respective time-trigger mechanisms (40 a, 40 b,) each of which is actuated by the detection of the displacements of one of two adjacent mobile shelving   and provides a start signal to the other of the two beams-   adjacent mobile swims after a pre-   determined has elapsed following the displacement of one   of the two adjacent mobile shelves.