IE86023B1 - Article storage facility - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an article storage facility provided with an article storage rack in which a plurality of article storage units for storing an article is provided so as to be aligned in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and an article transporter capable of moving alomg a path via an article transfer location with respect to the article storage rack, wherein an article loader for bringing articles into and taking articles out of the article storage rack is provided to the article storage rack so as to be able to project and retract between a protruding position for article transfer that projects to the outside of the article storage rack, and 51 retracted position for retracting in the direction of the article storage rack, and wherein an article is delivered or received by the article loader in the protruding position in a state in which the article transporter is stopped at the article transfer location.

Description

ARTICLE STORAGE FACILITY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article storage facility provided with an article storage rack in which a plurality of article storage units for storing an article is provided so as to be aligned in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and an article transporter capable of moving alomg a path via an article transfer location with respect to the article storage rack, wherein an article loader for bringing articles into and taking articles out of the article storage rack is provided to the article storage rack so as to be able to project and retract between a protruding position for article transfer that projects to the outside of the article storage rack, and 51 retracted position for retracting in the direction of the article storage rack, and wherein an article is delivered or received by the article loader in the protruding position in a state in which the article transporter is stopped at the article transfer location.

. Description of the Related Art In the article storage facility, the article loader is provided so as to be able to project and retract between the protruding position and the retracted position; when an article is not being brought in or taken out, the article loader is retracted to the retracted position, the article transporter is stopped in the article transfer location in order to bring in or take out an article with respect to the article.storage rack; and when an article is delivered and received by the article loader, the article loader projects to the protruding position so as to allow the article to be delivered and received by the article transporter.

The article storage rack is provided with protrusion and retraction operating means for operating the protrusion $360 Z3 and retraction of the article loader between the protruding position and the retracted position (for example, see WO2004/034438, or the corresponding JP 2006~5l52S6).

The article loader is provided so as to be able to project and retract between the protruding position for projecting to the outside of the article storage rack, and the retracted position for retraction to the inside of the article storage rack, and an article can be nmved to the inside and the outside of the article storage rack.

Therefore, the space in which the article loader projects can be effectively utilized by causing the article loader to retract to a retracted state, and when the article storage rack or the article transporter is positioned in a downflow— type from clean space, an air current downflow can be prevented being disturbed by the article loader that projects from the article storage rack by causing the article loader to retract to the retracted state in advance.

However, the article loader provided to the article storage rack is not limited to a single unit, and numerous article loaders are sometimes provided, and the article storage rack provided to the article loader is also not and numerous article storage racks the path of the when the protrusion and retraction limited to a single unit, are sometimes provided along article transporter. Therefore, operating means for operating the protrusion and retraction of the article loader is provided to the article storage the described. above, conventional article facility the means is provided to each of the numerous article loaders the rack as in storage protrusion and retraction operating when numerous article loaders are provided. Therefore, structure of the article storage rack become complex, there is a risk of increased complexity of the structure of the article storage facility as a whole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention was developed in View of the situation described above, and. an object of the present invention is to provide an improved article storage facility.

An article storage facility comprises: an article storage rack in which a plurality of article storage units for storing articles is provided so as to be arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; an article transporter configured to move along a path via an article transfer location for said article storage rack; and an article loader for bringing articles into and taking articles out of said" article storage rack, said article loader being provided to said article storage rack so as to be able to project and retract between a protruding position for article transfer that projects to an outside of said article storage rack, and a retracted. position for retracting toward said. article storage rack, wherein said article transporter is configured to deliver an article to or receive an article from said article loader in said protruding position when said article transporter is at said article transfer location; and protrusion and retraction operating’ means provided to said article transporter for operating said article loader between said protruding position and said retracted position when said article transporter is at said article transfer location.

That is, the protrusion and retraction operating means provided to the article transporter is configured to cause the article loader to protrude and retract between thevu protruding position and the retracted position. There is therefore no need to provide a protrusion and retraction operating means to the article loader.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan View showing the article storage facility; FIG. 2 is a side View showing the article storage facility; FIG. 3 is a side view showing the vehicle; FIG. 4 is a front view showing the vehicle; FIG. protruding position, is a side view showing the loading panel of the and the support panel of the article holding position; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the loading panel of the protruding position, and the support panel of the article holding position; FIG. in the is a perspective View showing the loading panel retracted position, and the support panel in the article receipt position; FIG. 8 is a back View showing the article loader; FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective View showing the guide structure of the article loader; FIG. 10 is an operation. diagram. showing the loading panel of the retracted position; FIG. 11 is an operation. diagranl showing the loading panel during movement; FIG. 12 is an operation. diagranl showing" the loading panel of the protruding position; FIG. 13 is a perspective View showing the support panel of the article holding position in another embodiment; and FIG. 14 is a perspective View showing the support panel in the article receipt position according to another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the article storage facility of the present invention will be described hereinafter based on the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is composed of an article storage rack 1 disposed on a floor the article storage facility surface, a holding rack 2 suspended from a ceiling, and a vehicle 3 as an article transporter capable of moving along a path that passes through an article loading location with respect to the article storage rack 1, and an article transfer location with respect to the holding rack 2.

The article storage rack l is provided with article storage units la in vertical and horizontal directions for storing a container 5 as an article, and the holding rack 2 is configured to temporarily store a single container 5.

Although not shown in the drawings, the article storage facility is also provided with an article processing part for performing prescribed processing for semi—finished products or the like during manufacturing of a semiconductor substrate, and the path is set so as to also pass through an article transfer location with respect to the article processing part.

As shown in FIG. 2, a loading panel 50 for carrying out and bringing in articles of the article storage rack l is to be able to project and retract to a (see FIG. 6) projected to the outside of the article storage rack 1, (see FIG. 7) that is retracted to the article storage rack l. The vehicle 3 provided so as projection position for article receipt that is and a retracted position inside of the is configured to perform delivery and receipt of the container with respect to the loading panel 50 in the projection position in a state in which the vehicle 3 is stopped at the article transfer location with respect to the article storage rack l.

A support panel 81 of the holding rack 2 is provided so as to be able to project and retract to the article receipt (see FIG. 7) and to the article holding position position that is projected towards the article storage rack 1, (see FIG. 6) , and the vehicle 3 is configured to deliver and receive that is retracted away from the article storage rack the container 5 with respect to the support panel 81 in the article receipt position in a state in which the vehicle 3 is stopped at the article transfer location with respect to the holding rack 2.

The loading panel 50 corresponds to the article loader, the to the rack, article holding to the support panel 81 corresponds and the article transfer location with respect article storage rack 1 is set in the same location as the article transfer location with respect to the support panel (holding rack 2) that is positioned at the front surface of the loading panel 50 provided to the article storage rack 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, a guide rail 8 for guiding" and supporting the vehicle 3 is disposed near the ceiling, and the vehicle 3 is configured to move along a path that is further upward than the loading panel 50 while being guided and supported by the guide rail 8.

The article storage rack 1 is disposed to one side of the path of the vehicle 3, the holding rack 2 is disposed to the other side of the path of the vehicle 3, and the support panel 81 is provided at a distance in the projection direction of the loading panel 50 with respect to the article storage rack 1, in a location opposite the loading panel 50.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the vehicle 3 is configured with an article holder 23 capable of moving vertically in order to deliver and receive articles to and from the loading panel 50 and the support panel 81.

As shown in FIG. 2, the article storage rack 1, the holding rack 2, and the vehicle 3 are provided within a downflow—type clean space. In other words, the floor of the space in which the article storage rack 1, the holding rack 2, and the vehicle 3 are disposed is formed by a perforated grating floor 29; the ceiling is formed by an air filter 30 composed of a HEPA filter or the like; air drawn in from the grating floor 29 by a blowing fan 31 is recirculated so as to be blown downward as cleaned air from the air filter 30 via a pre-filter 32; and the space in which the article storage rack 1, the holding rack 2, and the vehicle 3 are disposed forms a downflow—type clean space.

An. outside air intake channel 33 and an exhaust air channel 34 are connected in the recirculation path in which air" is recirculated, and ea portion of "the air‘ inside the clean space that is recirculated by the blowing fan 31 is exchanged with outside air.

The vehicle 3 will next be described.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the vehicle 3 is provided with an upper car body’ 9 that is positioned. in an inner space part of the guide rail 8 and is guided in the guide rail 8, and a lower car body 12 that is positioned below the upper car body 9 and connected to the upper car body 9 by front and rear connecting rods 10, 11.

In the upper car body 9, a primary coil 14 is disposed in a state adjacent to and facing a magnet 13 provided to the inside space part of the guide rail 8. The upper car body 9 is configured to move along the guide rail 8 by the propelling force of a linear motor composed of the magnet 13 and the primary coil 14.

The upper car body 9 is also provided with travel wheels 15 for rotating on a travel guide surface 16 that is formed in the inside space part of the guide rail 8, and steadying wheels 17 for rotating on a steadying guide surface 18 that is formed in the inside space part of the guide rail 8.

Furthermore, power receiving coils 20 are provided to the upper car body 9, an alternating current is fed through power supply lines 19 provided along the guide rail 8 to create a magnetic field, the necessary electrical power is generated in the power receiving coils 20 on the side of the vehicle 3 by the magnetic field, and power is supplied to the vehicle 3 in a state of non—contact.

The lower car body 12 is composed of a front and rear frame ‘body 21 to which the connecting rods 10, 11 are connected and which extends in the front and rear directions of the vehicle 3, and ea pair of front and rear vertical frame bodies 22 that extend upward from the travel—direction front end location and the travel—direction rear end location of the front and rear frame body 21; and the lower car body 12 is formed in a horseshoe shape that opens downward as viewed from the side. The article holder 23 is provided to the lower car body 12.

The article holder 23 is suspended by four wires 6 that are wound onto a rotating drum 26, and the rotating drum 26 in the lower car body 12 is rotated positively and negatively by a drum driving motor 25 to simultaneously wind and unwind the four wires 6, whereby the article holder 23 is raised and lowered while maintained ix} a substantially horizontal orientation.

A pair of grasping fixtures 23a for grasping a flange 5a formed at the top of the container 5 is provided to the article holder 23. The pair of grasping fixtures 23a is configured to be able to switch between a grasping mode for swinging towards each other through the positive and negative rotation of a grasping operation motor 27, and a releasing mode in which the pair of grasping fixtures 23a swing away from each other to release the grasping.

The article holder 23 is configured to be swivelled by a swivelling motor not shown in the drawing.

The vehicle 3 is also provided with a projection and retraction operating means S1 for projecting and retracting the loading" panel 50 to the projection position and the retracted position in a state of stoppage at the article transfer location with respect to the article storage rack 1, and an article holding rack operating means S2 for projecting and retracting the support panel 81 to the article receipt position and the article holding position in a state of stoppage at the article transfer location with respect to the holding rack 2.

FIGS. 6 and 7, the means S1 and the As shown in projection and retraction operating projection and retraction operating means S2 are each provided with a base 63 that is elongated in the front and rear direction of the rack fixed to the vehicle 3, an elongated operating body 64 that is provided so as to be able to move in the front and rear direction of the rack with respect to the base, and a locking roller 65 that is provided on the lower surface of the distal end of the operating body 64. The projection and retraction operating means S2 are also each configured to retraction operating means and the projection and project and retract the operating body 64 with respect to the base 63 by the operation of an actuator not shown in the drawing, and to perform the projection operation for moving the locking roller 65 towards the rack, and the retracting operation for moving the locking roller 65 away from the rack. The actuator is preferably an electric motor or a linear actuator, and the operating body 64 can be moved in relation to the base 63 by a helical shaft or other conventional technique.

The article storage rack 1 will next be described.

As shown. in FIG. 2, the article storage rack l is provided. with a stocker crane 4 as an article transfer device capable of moving horizontally, upward, and downward so as to transport a container 5 between the article storage units la and the loading panel 50 in the retracted position.

In other words, the article storage rack 1 is provided with a pair of storage rack portions 1A that are disposed at so that the thereof are facing each other, a distance incoming and outgoing directions and the stocker crane 4 that moves horizontally along the width direction of the rack is provided between the pair of storage rack portions lA.

No detailed description of the stocker crane 4 will be given, but a guide post is provided to a travel carriage that travels on a rail along the width direction. of the rack, and a fork device 4a for receiving a container 5 is provided between the article storage units la or the loading 50 vertically along the guide post. panel and an elevator platform as such that moves The elevator platform may be configured to nwve vertically along the guide post by being driven via a wire or helical shaft by an electric A jointed robot arm be motor provided to the travel carriage. or another conventional technique may also utilized instead of such a fork device.

The plurality of article storage units la is provided to the storage rack portions lA so that a plurality of rows extending in the vertical direction, and a plurality of rows extending in the transverse direction (horizontal direction) are formed.

As shown in FIG. 5, a main guide rail 40 for guiding and supporting a movable guide rail 46 so as to be able to move in the projection and retraction movement direction of the loading panel 50 is provided to the article storage rack 1, and the loading panel 50 is guided and supported by the to be able to move in the movable guide rail 46 so as projection and retraction movement direction. The movable guide rail 46 corresponds to the movable guide, and the main guide rail 40 corresponds to the main guide.

An article discharge and intake part lb for carrying out and. bringing in articles is provided to the article storage rack 1, and the article discharge and intake part lb is formed in the second level from the top in the storage lA on the of the vehicle 3 is positioned, and is formed in the portion that rack portions side on which the path corresponds to the two article storage units la arranged in the width direction of the rack.

The article storage rack 1 is covered by a wall part, the portion of the wall part that corresponds to the article discharge and intake part lb is open, and the container 5 is carried out and brought in through the opening.

The article discharge and intake part lb in the article ; storage rack 1 will next be describedr The side on which the vehicle 3 is positioned in the front and back direction of and the is positioned will be the rack will be referred to as the forward side, side on which the stocker crane 4 referred to as the rearward side.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the article discharge and intake part lb in the article storage rack 1, a main guide frame 36 is provided across a pair of support pillars 35 arranged in the width direction of the rack, and a movable guide frame is directly guided and supported so as to be able to move in the front and rear direction of the rack (the projection and retraction movement direction of the loading panel 50) in relation to the main guide frame 36. An article loading frame 7 is directly guided and suspended so as to be able to move in the front and rear direction of the rack in relation to the movable guide frame 37; 55 the operating and a storage operated body directly operated by projection and retraction 81, a link 38 operating the storage operated body 55 in conjunction with means storage mechanism for the article loading frame 7, and a storage locking means R1 for locking the article loading frame 7 in the retracted position are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, provided with a bridge member 39 that is disposed across the the main guide frame 36 is pair of support pillars 35 arranged in the width direction of the rack at the top of the article discharge and intake part lb, a pair of left and right main guide rails 40 whose front end parts are linked to and supported by the bridge member 39, rear end parts of the pair of left and right main guide a main guide linking member 41 for linking the rails 40 to each other, and a pair of left and right main guide restricting members 42 for restricting the movement of the movable guide frame 37 in the front and rear direction of the rack to a set range. The main guide rails 40 are provided at the same height as the loading surface of the loading panel 50.

The pair of left and right main guide rails 40 are formed so that the cross—sectional shape of each as viewed from the front and rear direction is a horseshoe shape that to the orientation so that the back ends are positioned lower than the to be supported in a state so that the movable guide frame 37 is opens inside, are provided in a rear—ti1ting front ends, and are configured guided and urged to the rear by the weight of the movable guide frame 37.

The of left right main guide pair and restricting members 42 are each provided with a main guide restricting member 42 for retraction that is linked and supported in a state of projecting towards the inside at the lower end of the rear part of the main guide rails 40, and that restricts the movement of the movable guide frame 37 further to the rear than the set movement range in relation to the main guide frame 36; and a main guide restricting member 42 for linked projecting towards the inside at the lower end of the front projection that is and supported in a state of part of the main guide rails 40, and. that restricts the movement of the movable guide frame 37 further forward than the set movement range in relation to the main guide frame 36.

The movable guide frame 37 is provided with a plate- shaped. movable guide plate 44, a pair of left and right 45 provided to both end parts in the width direction of the rack in the rear part of movable guidance guided members the movable guide plate 44, a pair of left and right movable guiding rails 46 provided so as to be positioned between the pair of left and right movable guidance guided members 45, a pair of left and right movable guiding contacted members 47 for making contact with the main guide restricting members 42, and a left restricting members 48 for restricting the movement of the pair of and right movable guidance article loading frame 7 to a set range in the front and rear direction of the frame. indirectly guided and supported by the main guide rails 40 via the nwvable guide plate 44 and the pair of left and right movable guidance guided members 45, and are provided in a position slightly lower than the loading panel 50.

The left and right movable guidance guided members 45 are each composed of a pair of front and rear guided wheels 45a and configured to roll with respect to the main guide rails 40. The pair of front and rear guided wheels 45a is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the movable guiding rails 46, and the movable guide frame 37 is guided The mmvable guiding rails 46 are;. and supported so that the rear end part at the main guide frame 36 is positioned in a rear—tilting orientation lower than the front end part.

The left and right movable guiding contacted members 47 are each configured to correspond to main guide restricting members 42 for retraction or projection that are linked and supported in a state of projecting downward at the rear part in between the movable guiding rails 46 and the movable guidance guided members 45 of the movable guide plate 44.

The left and right movable guidance restricting members 48 are composed of a movable guidance restricting member 48 for retraction that is linked and supported in a state of projecting upward to the rear part in between the movable guiding rails 46 and the movable guidance guided members 45 of the plate 44, and that the movement of the article loading frame 7 further to the rear movable guide restricts than the set movement range in relation to the movable guide frame 37; and a movable guidance restricting member 48 for linked and state of projecting upward to the front part in between the movable projection that is supported in a guiding rails 46 and the movable guidance guided members 45 of the 44, and that the movement of the article loading frame 7 further forward than the frame 37. movable guide plate restricts set movement range in relation to the movable guide The article loading frame 7 is provided with the plate-4: shaped loading panel 50 for loading and supporting a container 5, a pair of left and right loading guided members 51 provided to both end parts in the width direction of the rack in the rear part of the loading panel 50, and a pair of left and right loading contacted members 52 that correspond to the movable guidance restricting members 48.

The left and right loading guided members 51 are each composed of a linear block, and are configured to slide in relation to the nmvable guiding rails 46 formed by linear guides. each linked supported ill a rear—tilted orientation. in relation to The loading guided members 51 are loading panel 50, and are configured to be guided and end the the supported in a rear-tilted orientation in which the rear parts are positioned lower than the front end parts at movable guide frame 37 while the loading surface of loading panel 50 is held in a horizontal orientation.

The left and right loading contacted. members 52 are each linked and supported in a state of projecting outward to the sides of the loading panel 50, and are configured to come in contact with the movable guidance restricting members 48 for retraction or projection.

The loading panel 50 is cut out in a U shape at the rear part thereof so that a space is formed for raising and lowering of the fork device 4a in the stocker crane 4, and a total of three article positioning members 53 are formed at the front and on both sides in the width direction of the rack in the cut—out part of the loading panel 50. In other words, three engaging parts 5b are formed in the lower surface of the container 5 so as to correspond to the article positioning members 53, and the. container 5 is loaded and supported so that the article positioning members 53 are locked in the engaging parts 5b, whereby the container‘ 5 is prevented front becoming" misaligned in the width direction or the front and rear direction of the rack in relation to the loading panel 50; A space for insertion and withdrawal of the fork device 4a in the stocker crane 4 is formed between the movable guide plate 44 of the movable guide frame 37 and the loading panel 50 of the article loading frame 7.

The storage operated body 55 is supported so as to be able to swing about a vertical axis P1 by the bridge member 39 that is provided across the pair of support pillars 35, and is supported so as to be able to move to an adjacent position in which the distal end is further forward than the vertical axis P1, and a spaced position in which the distal end is further to the rear than the vertical axis Pl through swinging about the vertical axis P1. The storage operated body 55 is provided so as to be positioned further upward than the container‘ 5 loaded and supported. on the loading panel 50.

A groove 55a that extends toward the vertical axis Pl along a direction that intersects with the front and rear direction of the rack is provided to the storage operated body 55 in a state of positioning in an adjacent position.

The groove 55a is formed in an elbow shape in which the end part of the front end is opened forward.

The storage operated body 55 and the loading panel 50 are coupled and linked together by a storage linking mechanism 38 that extends.in the vertical direction, so that the loading panel 50 is placed in the retracted position when the storage operated body 55 is in the adjacent position, and the loading panel 50 is placed in the projection position when the storage operated body 55 is in the spaced position.

Although. not shown in the drawings, a pair of guide rollers for coming in contact with the operating body 64 and guiding the locking roller 65 in the appropriate operating position is provided to both sides of the path in the width direction of the rack.

The storage link mechanism 38 is provided with an operated link 56 for swinging about the vertical axis P1 in__ integral fashion with the storage operated body 55; a coupling link 57 in which one end part is pivotally connected to the distal end part of the operated link 56; a top link 59 for swinging about a vertical axis P2, in which the other end part of the coupling link 57 is pivotally connected to the distal end part, and the proximal end part is fixed to the upper end part of a rod—shaped member 58; and a bottom link 61 in which the proximal end part is fixed to the lower end part of the rod—shaped member 58, and a roller body 60 is rotatably provided to the distal end part.

The operated link 56, the coupling link 57, and the top link 59 are provided in a higher position than the container 5 that is loaded and supported on the loading panel 50, and the bottom link 61 is provided in a lower position than the loading support body 7.

The roller body 60 is engaged with a roller engaging member 54 supportably connected to the lower surface of the loading panel 50, and the loading panel 50 also moves in the front and rear direction of the rack in conjunction with the of the body 60 in the direction of the rack. movement roller front and rear In the roller engaging member 54, an slot for engaging the roller body 60 is formed so as to be elongated in the width direction of the rack, and the roller engaging member 54 is configured to allow the roller body 60 to move in the of the the engaging member 54. width direction rack in relation to roller As shown in FIG. 5, the storage locking means R1 is provided with a swinging member 67 in which the rear end part is connected and supported so as to be able to swing about a horizontal axis P3; a restricting panel 68 integrally provided to the swinging member 67 that makes contact with and restricts the storage operated body 55 from moving from iflua adjacent position to ‘the spaced position; and a releasing roller 69 provided to the swinging member 67 so as to be able to rotate. configured to be switched between a lock state in which the restricting panel 68 advances into the path of the storage operated loody 55, and a lock release state in which the restricting panel 68 withdraws from the path of the storage operated body 55. is of the ‘movement of the the the storage link mechanism 38, and The following" description movable guide frame 37, the article loading frame 7, storage locking means R1, the storage operated body 55 when the loading panel 50 is projected to the projection position and retracted to the The storage locking means R1 is__ retracted position. The movement of the storage locking means R1 is not shown in the drawings.

When the loading panel 50 is projected from the retracted position to the projection position, the projection operation of the projection and retraction operating means S1 provided to the vehicle 3 is performed in a state iJ1 which the vehicle 3 is stopped ljl the article transfer location with respect to the article storage rack 1.

At the start of the projection operation of the projection and retraction operating means S1, the releasing roller 69 is pushed upward by the protruding operating body 64, and the swinging member 67 swings upward, whereby the storage locking means R1 is then switched to the lock release state in which the restricting panel 68 is withdrawn from the path of the storage operated body 55.

As shown in FIGS. 10 through 12, the locking roller 65 is engaged in the groove 55a of the storage operated body 55 by the projection operation of the projection and retraction operating means S1, the side surface inside the groove 55a is then pushed, and the storage operated body 55 is switched fronx the adjacent position to the spaced. position in the counter—clockwise direction as viewed in a plane.

When the storage operated body 55 is thus operated from the adjacent position to the spaced position in the counter- clockwise direction as viewed in a plane, the operated linkua , the top link 59, and the bottom link 61 also each swing counter-clockwise, and the roller body 60 moves forward, whereby the loading panel 50 moves from the retracted position to the projection position.

During movement of the loading panel 50 from the retracted position to the projection position, the loading guided members 51 of the article loading frame 7 first slide on the movable guiding rails 46 of the movable guide frame 37, and the article loading frame 7 moves forward with respect to the movable guide frame 37. As shown in FIG. ll, when the article loading frame 7 moves to the front end in the set nwvement range with respect to the Hwvable guide frame 37, the nwvable guidance restricting members-48 for projection make contact with the loading contacted members 52. The article loading frame 7 and the movable guide frame 37 then in which the movable guide frame 37 integrally nmve forward ix1 a state is pushed by the article loading frame 7, whereby the guided wheels 45a of the movable guide frame 37 roll on the main guide rails 40 of the main guide frame 36, the movable guide frame 37 moves forward with respect to the main guide frame 36, and the loading panel 50 moves to the projection position, as shown in FIG. 12. when the loading panel 50 is retracted from the projection position to the retracted position, the retraction operation is performed in the projection and retraction operating means S1 in which the projection operation is performed in the manner described above.

The storage operated body 55 is configured so that the locking roller 65 at this time separates from the groove 55a after being pulled from the spaced position of the locking roller 65 to the the operation of the projection and retraction operating means adjacent position by retraction S1, as shown in FIGS. 10 through 12. At the end of the retraction operation of the projection and retraction operating means S1, the storage locking means R1 is configured so that the retracting operating body 64 is withdrawn from under the releasing roller 69, and the swinging member 67 swings downward due to the weight of the swinging member 67, whereby the restricting panel 68 advances into the path of the storage operated body 55, and the storage locking means R1 is switched to the lock state.

When the storage operated body 55 is operated clockwise from the spaced position to the the top link 59, as viewed in a plane adjacent position, the operated link 56, and the bottom link 61 each swing clockwise, and the roller body 60 moves towards the rear, whereby the loading panel moves from the projection position to the retracted position. the projection position to the retracted position, the loading During movement of loading panel 50 from the guided members 51 of the article loading frame 7 first slide on the movable guiding rails 46 of the movable guide frame 37, and the article loading frame 7 moves towards the rear with respect to the movable guide frame 37. When the article loading frame 7 moves to the rear end in the set movement the the movable guidance restricting members 48 for retraction make range with respect to movable guide frame 37, The article then contact with the loading contacted members 52. the integrally’ move toward the rear in a state loading frame 7 and movable guide frame 37 in. which the movable guide frame 37 is pushed. by the article loading frame 7, whereby the guided wheels 45a of the movable guide frame 37 roll on the main guide rails 40 of the main guide frame 36, the movable guide frame 37 moves toward the rear with respect to the main guide frame 36, and the loading panel 50 moves to the retracted position, as shown in FIG.

. The holding rack 2 will next be described. In the description, the side on which the vehicle 3 is positioned in the front and rear direction of the rack will be referred the and the will be referred to as the rearward side.

As shown in FIG. 5, and supporting the support panel 81 in the projection and to as forward side, opposite side a fixed-frame rail 76 for guiding retraction direction of the support panel 81 is provided so as to correspond to the article storage position of the support panel 81, and the support panel 81 is guided and supported by the fixed—frame rail 76 so as to be able to project and retract in the projection and retraction movement direction.

A holding operated body 73 that is directly operated by the article holding rack operating means S2, a holding link mechanism 74 for coupling the holding operated body 73 with the support panel 81, and a holding lock means R2 for locking the support panel 81 in the retracted position are provided so as to correspond to the article storage position of the support panel 81. The holding operated body 73 and the holding lock means R2 have the same configurations as the storage operated body 55 and the storage locking means R1, respectively, and therefore will not be described.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a fixed frame 71 provided with. a pair of left and right fixed—frame rails 76 is provided so as to correspond to the article storage position of the support panel 81. The left and right fixed—frame rails 76 are suspended fronx the ceiling and connected. to each other by a connecting member, and are provided at the same height as the upper end of the container 5 supported by the support panel 81. The left and right fixed—frame rails 76 are each provided in a rear-tilted orientation in which the rear ends are positioned lower than the front ends, and are guided and supported in a state in which support arm bodies 78 for guiding and supporting are urged toward the rear by the weight of the support arm bodies 78.

The support arm bodies 78 provided so as to correspond to the article storage position of the support panel 81 have a shape that extends to the front and rear, and are provided as a left-right pair that is connected by a connecting member. is provided to the rear parts of the pair of left and right support arm bodies 78, and the support panel 81 for loading and supporting the container 5 is provided to the lower part of the support arm bodies 78.

The left and right formed by an upper part that extends along the front and support arm bodies 78 are each rear direction of the rack and supports the holding guided members 80, a ndddle part that extends downward from the front and of the upper part, and a lower part that extends forward from the lower end.

A pair of left and right holding guided members 80 ” A plurality of holes is formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction in the Huddle parts and lower parts in the pair of left and right support arm bodies 78 to reduce the weight of the support arm bodies 78.

The support panel 81 is provided across a pair of connecting’ members for connecting the‘ lower parts of the left and right support arr: bodies 78 to each other, and the triangular shape as the loading panel 50 are provided to the three article positioning members 53 having same support panel 81. I The left and right holding guided members 80 are each composed of a pair of front and rear guided rollers, are configured to roll with respect to the fixed—frame rails 76, and are guided and supported by the fixed. frame 71 in a rear—tilted orientation in which. the rear ends are positioned lower than the front ends. In other words, the left and right holding guided members 80 are each guided and supported by" the fixed frame 71 so that the rear guided rollers are positioned lower than the front guided rollers even when the loading surface of the support panel 81 is horizontally oriented.

The holding link mechanism 74 is provided with a first link that swings about the same vertical axis as the holding operated body 73; a second link in which one end part is pivotally connected to the distal of the first link; the proximal end at which the other end of the second link end part is pivotally connected to the middle part; and a fourth link whose proximal end is pivotally connected to the third link} and in which a pivot support 86a pivotally connected to the rear end part of the support arm bodies 78 is provided to the distal end part.

In other words, in the holding link mechanism 74, when the holding operated body 73 is operated counter—clockwise as viewed in a plane from the adjacent position to the spaced position, the first link and the third. link each a third link for swinging about the vertical axis of “ swing counter—clockwise, and the pivot support 86a moves forward, whereby the support panel 81 is moved from the article holding position to the article receiving position.

When the holding operated body 73 is operated clockwise as viewed in a plane from the spaced position to the adjacent the first link and the third link each position, swing clockwise, and the pivot support 86a moves toward the rear, whereby the support panel 81 is moved from the article receiving position to the article holding position.

[Other Embodiments] (1) A configuration is adopted in the embodiment described above in which the fixed—frame rails 76 for guiding and supporting the support panel 81 in the projection and retraction movement direction of the support panel 81 ans provided jxx a location corresponding to the article holding position, the support panel 81 is guided and supported by the fixed—frame rails 76 so as to be able to project and retract in the projection and retraction movement direction thereof, and the fixed-frame rails 76 only are provided as guides. However, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, fixed—frame rails 76 for guiding and supporting a guide rail a configuration may also be adopted in which the in the projection and retraction movement direction of the corresponding to the article holding position, support panel 81 are provided in a location the support panel 81 is guided and supported by the guide rail 87 so as‘; to be able to project and retract in the projection and retraction movement direction thereof, and the fixed—frame rails 76 and the guide rail 87 are provided as guides.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a configuration is adopted in the present embodiment in which the guide rail 87 and a pair of left and right holding guided members 89 directly guided by the left provided to a rack supporting frame 88 that is provided in a and right fixed-frame rails 76 are location that corresponds to the article holding position, and. a storing guide member (not shown) supported. by the support arm bodies 78 is guided by the guide rail 87. A movement restriction member 90 for restricting the movement of the support arm bodies 78 in the front and back direction of the rack to within a set movement range is provided to the rack supporting frame 88, and the movement restriction member 90 is composed of a retraction movement restricting for rearward movement of the bodies 78 frame 88 to within the set movement range, member 90 restricting the support arm in relation to the rack supporting and a projection movement restricting member 90 for restricting the forward movement of the support arm bodies 78 in relation to the rack supporting frame 88 to within the set movement range.

The fixed-frame rails 76 correspond to the fixed guide, and the rack supporting frame 88 corresponds to the movable guide for rack support.

Appropriate modification to a rolling system, a sliding system, or the like may be made to each of the guide structure for the movable guiding rails 46 of the main guide rails 40, the guide structure for the loading panel 50 of the movable guiding rails 46, the guide structure for the support panel 81 of the fixed-frame rails 76, the guide structure for the guide rail 87 of the fixed-frame rails 76, and the guide structure for the support panel 81 of the guide rail 87. For example, the guide structure for the movable guiding rails 46 of the main guide rails 40 may be configured as a sliding system in the manner of the guide~* structure for the loading panel 50 of the movable guiding rails 46, and the guide structure for the loading panel 5Q of the movable guiding rails 46 may be configured as a rolling system in the manner of the guide structure for the movable guiding rails 46 of the main guide rails 40.

Besides the configuration in which a wheel body is rolled in the internal space of rails that are horseshoe- shaped as viewed in the front and back direction, a configuration may be adopted for a rolling—type guide structure ix) which ea plurality" of wheel bodies allocated vertically to the upper surfaces and the lower surfaces of rod—shaped rails is rolled. (2) A the described above in which the main guide rails 40 for guiding configuration is adopted in embodiment and supporting the movable guiding rails 46 so as to be able to move in the projection and retraction movement direction of the loading panel 50 are provided to the article storage rack 1, the loading panel 50 is configured to be guided and supported on the movable guiding rails 46 so as to be able to move in the projection and retraction movement direction, and the main guide rails 40 and the movable guiding rails 46 are provided as guides. However, a configuration may also be adopted in which the main guide rails 40 for guiding and supporting the loading panel 50 so as to be able to move in the projection and retraction direction of the loading panel 50 are provided to the article storage rack 1, the loading panel 50 is guided and supported on the main guide rails 40 so as to be able to move in the projection and retraction direction, and only the main guide rails 40 are provided as guides. (3) In the embodiment described above, the article storage rack 1, the holding rack 2 (support panel 81), and the article transporter 13 are provided iJ1 a downflow—type clean space in which clean air is made to flow downward.

However, the article storage rack 1, the article holding rack 2, in a simplified cloth—lined clean space that is not of the downflow type, (4) In the holding or in a non—clean space. embodiment described above, the article rack operating‘ means S2 for projecting and retracting the support panel 81 to the article receiving position and the article holding position is provided to the 3, but the operating means S2 for projecting and retracting the support article transporter article holding rack panel 81 to the article receiving position and the article holding position may also be provided so as to correspond to and the article transporter 3 may also be disposed-*— the article holding position of the support panel 81, e.g., an electric motor supported by the fixed frame 71 may be provided as the article holding rack operating means 82. (5) In the the panel 81 is provided in a location that faces the loading embodiment described above, support panel 50 and is spaced apart from the article storage rack 1 in the of the 50. need not be provided, or projection direction loading panel the another article storage rack 1 may be also provided in a However, support panel 81 location that faces the loading panel 50 and is spaced apart from the article storage rack 1 in the projection direction of the loading panel 50. (6) In the embodiment described above, the example of a linear motor system is described as the system for driving the upper obtained by a linear motor for driving. car body 9 in which an propelling force is However, a system may be used in which the travel wheels 15 are provided with an electric motor for rotational driving, and the upper car body 9 is driven by rotatably driving the travel wheels 15 using the electric motor, for example. (7) In the embodiment described above, a configuration is adopted in which the wires 6 are wound on the rotating drum 26, and the article holder 23 is raised and lowered, but a configuration may also be adopted in which belts are wound on the rotating drum 26, and the article holder 23 is raised and lowered, for example. referred to as flexible members.

The belts or wires are ->

Claims (10)

Claims

1. An article storage facility comprising: an article storage rack (1) in which a plurality of article storage units (la) for storing articles (5) is provided, wherein the article storage units are arranged next to each other in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction; an article transporter (3) movable along a path (8) to an article transfer location for said article storage rack (1); and an article loader (50) for placing articles in and taking articles (5) out of said article storage rack (1), said article loader (50) being mounted to said article storage rack (1) and being projectable and retractable between a protruding position for article transfer that projects away from said article storage rack (1 ), and a retracted position towards said article storage rack (1), wherein said article transporter (3) is configured to deliver an article to or receive an article (5) from said article loader (50) in said protruding position; characterised by said article transporter (3) is provided with protrusion and retraction operating means (S1) for moving said article loader (50) between said protruding position and said retracted position.

2. The article storage facility according to claim 1, characterised in that a main guide (40) for guiding and supporting a movable guide (46) is provided to said article storage rack (1) so as to allow said movable guide (46) to move in a protrusion and retraction movement direction of said article loader (50) with respect to said main guide (40), wherein said article loader (50) is guided and supported by said moveable guide (46) so as to allow said article loader (50) to move in the protrusion and retract direction with respect to said movable guide (46).

3. The article storage facility according to claim 1, characterised in that said article transporter (3) is configured to move along a path (8) that is above said article loader (50), and an article holder (23) is provided that is configured to move vertically in order to deliver an article (5) to and receive an article from said article loader (50).

4. The article storage facility according to claim 1, further comprising: an article transfer device (4) located in association with said article storage rack (1) and configured to move horizontally and vertically to transport an article (5) between said article storage units and said article loader (50) in said retracted position.

5. The article storage facility according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said article storage rack (1) and said article transporter (3) are disposed within a downflow-type clean space.

6. The article storage facility according to claim 1, further comprising: an article holding rack (2) that is provided in a location opposite said article loader (50) and at a distance in a protrusion direction of said article loader (50) with respect to said article storage rack (1 ), and is configured to move to an article receipt position that is projected towards said article storage rack (1), and to an article holding position that is retracted away from said article storage rack (1); wherein said article transporter (3) is configured to deliver an article (5) to and receive an article (5) from said article holding rack (2) in said article receipt position when said article transporter (3) is at said article transfer location.

7. The article storage facility according to claim 6, further comprising: article holding rack (2) operating means provided to said article transporter (3) and configured to cause said article holding rack (2) to protrude to said article receipt position and retract to said article holding position when said article transporter (3) is at said article transfer location.

8. The article storage facility according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising: a fixed guide (76) provided to correspond to an article holding position of said article holding rack (2), for guiding and supporting a moveable guide (88) for rack support in a protrusion and retraction direction of said article holding rack (2); wherein said article holding rack (2) is guided and supported by said movable guide (88) for rack support so as to allow said article holding rack (2) to project and retract in the protrusion and retraction movement direction.

9. The article storage facility according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said protrusion and retraction operating means (S 1) has an operating body (64); said operating body (64) is configured to move an operated body (55) provided to said article storage rack (1); and movement of said operated body is transmitted as drive force for driving said article loader (50) between said protruding position and said retracted position via a link (58) that extends vertically.

10. The article storage facility substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.