FR2617145A1 - Magazine for storing and dispensing objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a magazine for storing and dispensing, including a longitudinal chamber 1 equipped with means 6 for accommodating objects 5, such as, in particular, drawers containing pieces to be extracted, a transfer device 2 moving in a longitudinal plane parallel to the accommodating means, supporting a pod 4 which can move along guide means 3 so as to search for an object 5 to be extracted from its accommodation 6 and to transfer it as far as an exit station 26, 27, 28 associated with a workstation 16, 17, 18. This magazine includes a plurality of exit stations 26, 27, 28 distributed along the chamber and a handling device 15 for entraining the said objects directly from one workstation to another, the said handling device 15 interacting at the level of each lateral workstation with an exit station.

Description

OBJECT STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION STORE
The present invention relates to a store for storing and distributing objects, in particular drawers containing parts to be extracted, making it possible to supply three work stations independently of each other.

 There are currently storage and distribution stores for objects in which a longitudinal enclosure has on each side of a central aisle housings arranged in successive levels and receiving the objects to be stored. In this central aisle of the enclosure, there is a transhipment device which picks up the part to be extracted, places it on a nacelle and positions it at one end of this central aisle to be brought to at least one work station located at this end of the enclosure.

 Until now, the distribution of objects to different workstations has been carried out successively, the transhipment devices picking up the object to be extracted and taking it to a single exit station located at one end, before undertake the following research. Such management of an object store involves a relatively significant loss of time since, when the transhipment device is busy supplying a specific workstation with the exit station, it is necessary in a following step that this device go back and forth in the central aisle to bring the object to be treated to a second work station at the exit station.

 The present invention therefore aims to achieve a storage and distribution store of objects in which different workstations can be supplied with objects to be treated independently of each other, that is to say that several objects can be simultaneously directed to different workstations. This object is achieved by the fact that, parallel to the plane of movement of the transfer device, there is a handling device with continuous drive connecting together different work stations associated respectively with a plurality of exit stations located laterally at the store premises.

 The present invention therefore relates to a storage and distribution store comprising a longitudinal enclosure provided with housing means for objects, such as in particular drawers containing parts to be extracted, a transhipment device, moving in a parallel longitudinal plane to the housing means, supporting a mobile nacelle along guide means so as to pick up an object to be extracted from its housing and to tranship it to an exit station associated with a work station, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of outlet stations distributed along the enclosure, each outlet station being associated with a work station located laterally to the enclosure, and a handling device extending along practically the entire enclosure , said handling device being suitable for driving said objects directly from one work station to another and cooperating at each lateral work station with a station Release.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the housing means are distributed in the enclosure laterally on each side of a central aisle in which the transhipment device moves, said handling device, disposed at a lower end of the enclosure practically at the side workstations, being located directly above housing means extending on one side of the central aisle.

 According to a secondary characteristic of the invention, the store also comprises at each exit station transfer means between the nacelle and the transhipment device cooperating with an object treated by work station and reintroduced on the handling device so., either to reintegrate said object into its housing means by loading the nacelle, or to authorize said object to continue its movement on the handling device towards a work station located downstream to be treated there.

 According to another secondary characteristic of the invention ,. the store includes automatic control means, on the basis of information delivered by each work station for an object to be processed on said station, of the movement of the transhipment device, of the handling device, of the exit stations and of the transfer means .

 Advantageously, the handling device comprises- a translator consisting of two endless chains whose spacing is less than the length of the objects, moving continuously around two deflection means located practically at each end of the enclosure and linked to drive motors.

 According to a particular embodiment, the chains of the translator consist of links on which rollers are mounted, the axes of which are offset in height relative to the longitudinal axis of said links, said rollers supporting objects moving with the handling device.

 In order to manage the waiting for transfer to the workstations, advantageously blocking means for waiting are associated with each exit station along the handling device for an accumulation of objects to be treated by each station.

A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail which will make it better understand the essential characteristics and the advantages, it being understood however that this embodiment is chosen by way of example and that it is not at all Its description is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which
- Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of the enclosure of the store comprising the transfer device
- Figure 2 shows a top view of the store enclosure
- Figure 3 shows a cross section of the store enclosure at an exit station
- Figure 4a shows a cross section of the handling device
- Figure 4b shows a detailed view of the drive links of the chain of the handling device
- Figure 5 shows a longitudinal section of the device for loading objects from the handling device onto the nacelle
- Figure 6 shows a cross section of the device for loading objects from the handling device onto the nacelle
- Figure 7 shows a cross section of the device for outputting objects to workstations
- Figure 8 shows a longitudinal section of the device for outputting objects to workstations.

 FIG. 1 represents a storage and distribution store comprising a longitudinal enclosure 1 provided with housing means 6 for objects 5, in particular drawers comprising a large number of parts to be taken from workstations located along the store .

 This store has a transhipment device ~ ment 2 moving along the central aisle of the enclosure on rails, and provided with vertical guide means 3 of a nacelle 4. This transhipment device 2 moves along from a # central aisle in the enclosure to an extreme position A of this enclosure where an external manipulator incorporates the objects to be stored. The transfer device in this position A for introducing objects has the nacelle 4 at the lower end of the guide means 3 so as to pick up the object placed by an operator in a room for introducing objects 11 An automatic management (explained later) will determine the position of the object to be stored and therefore the movement in the center of the aisle. By a movement of the transfer device on rails, as well as a vertical movement of the basket between two extreme positions (symbolized at position C), the object introduced by the room 11 will be stored in a housing means 6 at a determined level, the coordinates of which will be recorded.

The end of the enclosure opposite the room includes a door 12 allowing a convenience store to have access to the mechanical parts of the nacelle and to the transfer device for repair. The housing means 6 will be constituted by support plates mounted on a frame and separated by vertical walls whose surface will be practically that of the object to be stored such as in particular a drawer filled with parts to be taken.

 Figure 2 shows a top view of the storage and distribution store. The housing means 6 have a succession of objects 5 in the storage position in these housing means. The transfer device LI moves in the central aisle of the store on rails 13. This movement is controlled by a motor 14 commonly used in such installations. This store comprises on one side of the central aisle 'where the transhipment device moves, a device for continuous handling of objects constituted by a translator 15 moving according to the arrow indicated in Figure 2.This translator 15 consists of two drive chains 15A, 15B moving continuously around two return means located at practically each end of the enclosure and linked to drive motors. Laterally at this translator 15, on the same side of the central aisle, there are work stations 16,17,18, to which the objects, first extracted from the housing means and then placed on said translator, will be directed. At each end of this translator is arranged a means of transferring the object between the transfer nacelle 4 and the translator constituted by a lifting plate. A first elevating plate 21 located.

at the upstream end of the translator 15, allows an object to be processed to be introduced by the first work station 16, while a second lifting platform located at the downstream end of the translator allows the transhipment device to pick up the object just treated by the last work station 18. Along the handling device there are also intermediate lifting platforms 22 and 23 arranged downstream of a work station in the direction of movement of the objects, allowing a double action of loading and unloading the nacelle towards the translator. This double action is symbolized in the drawing by a two-way arrow.

 The distribution store also includes exit stations 26, 27, 28 making it possible to transfer the object moving on the translator 15 to the work stations 16, 17, 18.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of the store enclosure at an exit station 26 of a work station 16. The enclosure 1 of the store has a central aisle in which the transfer device 2 moves on the rails 13. From-each
side of this central aisle are the means of
housing 6 located in vertical distribution at levels
successive-in which are engaged objects such as
drawers 5 comprising parts to be removed.

It is obvious that the present invention also covers
the case where the accommodation means are distributed over a
single wall, the transfer device moving
then parallel to this wall and the handling device then being located laterally in the same
direction than the transfer device.

The drawers 5 to be removed can be
different dimensions as can be seen in the figure
3 where two different drawer heights are shown
5.25. The nacelle 4 moves vertically along guide means 3 to come load at the level of the housing
choose the drawer to extract. A lower lateral side of the enclosure is free of housing means because it
comprises, directly above the upper housing means, the
15- longitudinal translator of the drawers for a
distribution to workstations located
perpendicular to the enclosure. This translator 15, by the two chains 15A, 15B, supports the drawer 35 to be moved
longitudinally (the constitution of this translator will be explained later).

Lateral to the enclosure there is outside a work station 16 constituted by a roller table
allowing a worker to have access to the contents of the drawer
35. In order to allow the passage of the drawer 35 of the
translator 15 to workstation 16, an outlet station 26 is installed between the chains of the translator,
aiming to release, when an object passes in front of an exit,
the training of this object by the chains. This post of
outlet 26 is constituted by an elevating table with rollers which, when a determined object passes over its base, is raised to free it from the action of the drive chains seen as a translator. A lateral control of the rollers - of this lifting table allows the passage of the object of
this table to workstation 16 located in its
extension.

Referring to Figure 2 we see that the uti
reading of this longitudinal translator 15 of objects to
direct to lateral workstations, allows gain
significant time since, once the nacelle of the transhipment device has deposited the object on the translator, it can, by an automatic command managed by a central computer, go find another object to extract. While the nacelle will carry out the following search, the object just deposited is
will move along the translator to the level of the workstation to which it should be oriented. Means of
blocking 36,37,38 associated # respectively with the exit stations 26,27,28 allow a waiting of the objects 5 in front of the station towards which they must be directed.

The translator 15 is made in a way
(explained later) which allows an accumulation of objects 5 in front of the station to which they must be oriented, this accumulation being controlled by the means
blocking 36,37,38. When an object has finished being processed
on a workstation, it is reintegrated, using the rollers, from the workstation to the lifting table
located in the high position which, by lowering,. rests the object on the translator. This object then moves
laterally to a position involving transfer either to the nacelle when the object no longer has to be available to the manipulators, or to the
next work then coming in accumulation with objects awaiting treatment.

The constitution of the various elements of the longitudinal handling assembly will be better understood in the light of the detailed figures specifying the cooperation of
various elements of the installation.

 FIG. 4A shows a section of the longitudinal handling device constituted by a translator 15.

This figure shows the lower part of the enclosure in which the lower housing means 6 of a drawer 5 releases in its position sufficient space for the longitudinal movement of the objects. The housing means 6 are constituted by support plates resting on a frame with vertical uprights 40. On this lateral part of the enclosure 1, the frame 40 supports the longitudinal handling device. This device rests on a cross member 41 linked at its ends to the uprights 40. This cross member 41 supports sections 42, 43 of "C" section, the openings of which are located opposite. On these sections move two chains 15A, 15B.

These chains each constitute a closed circuit by return means such as sprockets arranged at the two ends of the handling assembly.
FIG. 4B illustrates the constitution of these chains 15A, 15B. These chains have links 44 linked together by pins 45 so as to constitute a closed chain. These links 44 laterally support rollers 46 whose axis of rotation is located above the longitudinal axis of the links. Each of the two chains 15A, 15B moves respectively on the sections 42, 43.

The drawer, after transhipment via the transfer means, comes to rest on these chains, that is to say more particularly on the rollers 46 since their axis being offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the link, the support surface objects on the rollers is not in contact with the chain links. The drawer resting on the rollers 46 is driven in translation by the movement of the links 44 of the chain 15A, 15B. When the drawer comes to meet a blocking means 36,37,38 associated with each exit station, the object 5, then in abutment with the blocking means, will stop its progression along the translator. The rollers driven by the chain advance movement will be rotated and will pass under the drawer. Object 5, blocked while waiting for an exit to a work station, will remain in a static position , while the two support chains 15A, 15B will continue their continuous movement in advance.

 FIG. 4A shows only the chains 15A, 15B at their drawer support position, the return of these chains taking place at the level of the return means (not shown) at each end of the translator by the lower level of the chassis at the interior of sectional sections in "C" L'2, L'3.

 FIG. 5 represents a means of transfer of the lifting platform type between the nacelle and the translator as disposed at each end of the handling device and in an intermediate manner after each exit station. The transfer of the object from the nacelle onto the transfer means is carried out in the same way as the extraction of the object from its housing means towards the nacelle. The nacelle includes a continuous chain extraction device located in a horizontal plane. Two fingers, each secured respectively to a chain, allow to hang handles 50 fixed to the ends of each object 5. These handles, when the object is stored, protrude in the central aisle outside the housing means so so that the fingers of the extractor can come laterally inside the cavity of these handles. The drawers can be stored either on the right side or on the left side of the central aisle, the objects are provided with 'a handle at each of their ends allowing storage in any housing means. The fingers, driven by these chains, rotating around two axes, come to grip on the sides of these handles. When the chain rotational movement continues, these fingers drive the drawers in translation from their storage position towards the nacelle. After moving the nacelle, on the one hand along its rails, on the other hand vertically in the means guide so as to position the drawer facing a lifting plate at the level of the translational movement plane, the chains located on the nacelle are actuated in a reverse rotation, the fingers driving in their reverse movement the exit of the nacelle drawer and coming out laterally when the drawer has completely left the support of this nacelle.

 FIG. 5 shows the means for transferring objects from the nacelle to the translator (shown diagrammatically by the two chains 75A and 15B on the open sections 42, 43). This transfer means is constituted by a lifting plate comprising a support shelf 51. This shelf 51 has on its lower part two extensions 52, 53 each provided with an orifice. By this orifice, using two axes 54,55, the shelf 51 is joined to two connecting rods 56,57, each of these connecting rods being movable in rotation around its fixed end 56A, 57B. The other end of the connecting rod 56B, 57B respectively is connected via the axes 54,55 to the extensions 52,53 of the shelf 51. The rotation of the two connecting rods 56,57, controlled by a motor 60 via a transmission chain 61 driving a pinion 62 associated coaxially with the rotation of these connecting rods, allows the movement of the tablet Si vertically but also laterally.

 FIG. 5 shows in full line the position of the two connecting rods 56, 57 in a final position of practically horizontal rotation. The two connecting rods 56, 57 in this position are parallel to the shelf 51. On each side of this shelf 51 in this folded position, the chains 15A and 15B have a support surface for the drawer 5 situated above the shelf 51 .When the motor is activated, and therefore will drive the chain 61 transmitting the movement to the pinion 62, the rotational movement of the connecting rod 57, shown in the figure by an arrow F, will cause the tablet to move vertically, but also laterally so as to lift the drawer 5 from contact with the chains 15A, 15B and to move this drawer laterally so as to present the handle of the drawer to the fingers situated on the nacelle for lateral transhipment. This high position, laterally offset, is shown in Figure 5 in broken lines. The transfer movement will be carried out as follows: the drawer in place on the basket is brought into wedge with the high position of the shelf 51.The drive chains on the basket are actuated so that the fingers push the drawer on this shelf. With the drawer in place on the shelf, the fingers are released laterally from the handle. The connecting rods are rotated to a horizontal rest position #. During this descent of the tablet from a high position to a low position, the drawer 5 projecting laterally on each side of the tablet comes into contact with the drive chains 15A, 15B and therefore is released from the support of the tablet 51 .

 Associated with each connecting rod 56,57 there is, coaxially with the axes 56a, 57b, a limit switch 62,63 coming to control the end of the rotational movement of these connecting rods when these contactors 62,63 come into contact with pads 64,65 mounted on the frame. The position of the contactor 63 on its associated pad 64 coincides with the horizontal rest position of the connecting rods.

 FIG. 6 represents a longitudinal view of the lifting plates. The axis shown in broken lines and symbolized by the arrow G represents the chain 15A supporting the object 5 along the translator. On the path of movement of the drawers 5, there is a pneumatically controlled anchor stop 70 constituting, in a preferred type of embodiment, the locking means previously mentioned. We also find an anchor stop located at the entrance to the exit station (not shown). These two stops are controlled by the same pneumatic cylinder, a high position of the stop located at the front of the exit station implying a low position of the stop located at the front of the lifting platform and vice versa. When the object 5 is driven by the chains along the translator, it will lock against the anchor stop 70 indicating that the lifting plate is not available, that is to say that a movement is being carried out.

When the movement of the lifting plate is finished, that is to say that the shelf 51 will be in the low position, external control means will actuate the displacement of the cylinder of the stop 70 so as to come to free the passage of the part 5 .

 At each longitudinal end of the shelf 51 are disposed centering sections 72, 73 so as to grip the sides of the drawer and avoid, when the object of the drive chains come off, any lateral movement. These centering sections 72, 73 are "L" shaped. An amount of the two profiles is higher than the amount of the profile associated with the other end of the shelf. This difference in height of the centering sections allows the object 5 to be blocked when it is desired to transfer it to the nacelle.

Indeed, by automatic management means (not shown), the motor 60 will be actuated so as to slightly lift the shelf 51. The part 5 brought by the chains, will pass over the centering profile 72 and will advance to come into contact with the end of the centering profile 73 protruding in this position. This blocking is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6.

The object 5 coming into contact with the upper part of the centering profile 73, we will then again command a movement by the motor 60 of the shelf 51, the two profiles then coming to grip on each side the object 5 until almost 'it is in contact with the tablet, the latter progressing in its rise then takes off the object of the two drive chains.

 Figure 7 shows in section a lifting table at an exit station. This table has on its lower part a horizontal axis 80 supporting at its ends two eccentric wheels 81,82 connected to an upper frame 83. This frame 83 has on its upper part a succession of rollers 84 connected together by drive means belt type. The rotation of these rollers is controlled by a geared motor 86 placed in the frame 83 and connected by a belt 87 to a roller 84.

 The drawers 5 will exit as follows: the table is placed in the low position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7. In this low position the drawer 5 moves on the two chains 15A, 15B along the translator . When it is desired to direct a drawer towards a work station, an anchor stop as previously described will be put in the high position so as to stop the drawer above a lifting table. Then the motor 79 will control the rotation of the axis 80 causing the eccentric wheels 81,82 to rotate. The particular shape of these wheels inside the frame 83 will involve an upward movement of the table to a position where the rollers release the drawer 5 from the drive of the two chains 15A, 15B.

 Once the drawer is supported by the rollers, the motor 86 via the belt 87 will rotate the rollers 84 so as to transfer the drawer 5 in a direction symbolized by the arrow F.

Referring to Figure 8 we see that the upper part of the frame 83 is provided with lateral guide means 89 so as to allow a transverse movement of the object 5 and thus avoid any lateral movement. '
By using this handling device comprising a translator with two continuous chains associated with lifting tables output to work stations and lifting platforms for object transfer, it is possible to produce a storage and distribution store. whose management saves time for distribution to several workstations.

 From all of the above, it is obvious that the movements of the different elements are controlled according to the movement of the object to be treated. To allow such management, the actuation motors of each of these devices are controlled by an automatic management means such as a microprocessor of a central computer unit controlling the entire store. This automatic control means will be managed from information displayed on each workstation by operators wishing to have a particular object stored in the store. From this information displayed on these workstations, the microprocessor, managing the movement of the various elements, will identify the position of the object among all of the accommodation means and will actuate the transhipment means to extract the object and transfer it to the handling device. Once this transfer has been made, the blocking means such as the pneumatically controlled anchor stops will be actuated to allow passage to the exit stations, transferring the object by the rotation of their rollers to the workstation. After treatment, the object reintegrated on the handling device will be analyzed by the microprocessor to know if. other operators have called it, in this case the object will be transferred along the translator to another station, in the event that its use is temporarily terminated, we order the transshipment on the nacelle for a replacement in storage.

 Naturally, the invention is in no way limited by the features which have been specified in the foregoing or by the details of the particular embodiment chosen to illustrate the invention. All kinds of variants can be made to the particular embodiment which has been described by way of example and to its constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention. The latter thus includes all the means constituting technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations.

Claims (12)

 1. Storage and distribution store comprising a longitudinal enclosure (1) provided with housing means (6) for objects (5), such as in particular drawers containing parts to be extracted, a transfer device (2), moving in a longitudinal plane parallel to the housing means, supporting a nacelle (4) movable along guide means (3) so as to pick up an object (5) to be extracted from its housing (6) and transhipped up to '' to an exit station (26,27,28) associated with a work station (16, -17,18), characterized in that it comprises a plurality of exit stations (26,27,28) distributed along the enclosure, each outlet station being associated with a work station (16,17,18) located laterally to the enclosure, and a handling device (15) extending along practically the whole enclosure, said handling device (15) being capable of driving said objects directly from one work station to another and cooperating at the level of each lateral workstation with an exit station.  2. Storage and distribution store according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing means (6) are distributed in the enclosure (1) laterally on each side of a central aisle in which the transhipment device moves. (4), said handling device (15), disposed at a lower end of the enclosure practically at the level of the lateral work stations, being located directly above housing means (6) extending from one side of the central aisle.  3. Storage and distribution store according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises at each exit station, transfer means (21,22,23,24) between the nacelle and the device transhipment cooperating with an object (5) treated by work station and reintroduced on the handling device (15) in order either to reintegrate said object into its housing means (6) by loading the nacelle (4), or d 'authorize said object to continue its movement on the handling device to a workstation located downstream to be treated.  4. Storage and distribution store according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it further comprises automatic control means, from information delivered by each work station for an object (5 ) to be processed on said station, the displacement of the transhipment device (4), the handling device (15), the outlet stations (26,27,28) and the transfer means (21,22,23,24) .  5. Storage and distribution store according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the handling device comprises a translator consisting of two endless chains (15A, 15B) whose spacing is less than the length objects (5), moving continuously around two deflection means located practically at each end of the enclosure and # linked to drive motors.  6. Storage and distribution magazine according to claim 5, characterized in that the chains (15A, 15B) of the translator consist of links ('4'4) on which are mounted rollers (46) whose axes are offset in height with respect to the longitudinal axis of said links, said rollers supporting objects moving with the handling device.  7. Storage and distribution store according to claims 5 or 6, characterized in that waiting blocking means (36, '37, 38) are associated with each outlet station (16,17,18) the along the handling device for an accumulation of objects to be treated by each station.  8. Storage and distribution magazine according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that each output station comprises an elevating table 26,27,28) with rollers placed between the chains (15A, 15B) of the translator which releases during an upward movement of said table the objects (5) resting on the rollers (46) of said drive chains (15A, 15B) so as to be supported by the rollers, a gear motor (86) placed on said table controlling the rotation of the rollers in the high position for movement towards the work station located coaxially with said lifting table.  9. Storage and distribution store according to claim 8 characterized in that the lifting table has on its lower part an axis (80) at the ends of which are mounted eccentric wheels (81,82) supporting the chassis (83) upper the table on which the rollers (84) are arranged, said axis being actuated by a motor (79), drives the eccentric wheels (81, 82) in rotation, transmitting an upward or downward movement to the table.  10. Storage and distribution store according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the locking means (36,37,38) waiting consist of an anchor stop (70) ensuring the establishment of the object to be extracted directly above the lifting table.  11. Storage and distribution store according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that each object transfer means comprises a lifting plate (21,22,23,24) provided with a shelf (51) located in a low position internally between the chains (15A, 15B) of the translator (15), said shelf (51) connected to a connecting rod device (56,57) moving under the control of a gear motor (60) in rotation, so as to move vertically and laterally the shelf (51) relative to the axis of the chains and having in a high position the object to the transfer device.  12. Storage and distribution store according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the transhipment device (2) comprises an extraction device mounted on the nacelle (4) cooperating with handles located at the ends of the object to carry out the loading movements on the nacelle and transfer on the translator.