JP2003327304A - Automatic feed system for workpiece - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic feed system for workpieces, capable of making contribution to high efficiency of limited production of diversified products by efficiently keeping necessary but not sufficient and safe inventory according to various production plans and changes of them. <P>SOLUTION: A container carried in from a loading station ST1 is stored in a stock rack 200 by a loading unit 300 and is conveyed to a circulating part 560 and a machining device 1 by an unloading unit 400. The processed container is returned along the circulating part 560 and conveyed to the stock rack 200 or a recovering station ST3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic work supply system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when mass-producing industrial products,
The management data or CAD data is generated from the data of the order received from the customer, and these management data or CAD data are generated.
Based on the data, it is required to order the material of the product and manage the inventory of the delivered material.

In particular, regarding inventory management of materials, the materials are appropriately supplied to a processing station where they are processed, so that waiting for a wrong product number or supply shortage will not occur.
It is necessary to carry out warehousing processing and warehousing processing.

On the other hand, as represented by a wire harness, many industrial products are automatically produced by combining a plurality of different kinds of parts. In such automatic production, even for the same type of parts, it is required to complexly combine parts having different specifications to perform high-mix low-volume production.

By the way, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-133420 discloses a component supply device capable of controlling the total number of materials based on a production plan. This component supply device has a multi-stage stock rack, and has a stock unit that stores the work in each stock rack and a lift-type loading / unloading unit that loads / unloads the work in each stock rack. The type of work is set for each stock shelf. Further, the number of works stocked on the stock shelves is managed by linking with the production management data.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-143112 discloses an automatic warehouse for storing various kinds of works in three dimensions. In this automatic warehouse, a plurality of stock shelves are provided for each type of work, and the article number of the work is read by a bar code reader or the like on the upstream side of the stock shelves and sorted into the corresponding stock shelves.

[0007]

In the stock management in the above-mentioned factory that carries out small lot production of various kinds, it is necessary to efficiently hold necessary and sufficient safety stock for many kinds of works.

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the type of work is managed for each stock shelf, the stock quantity of works is limited by the physical structure of the stock shelf. For this reason, the stock shelf accommodation efficiency varies depending on the type of work, and if the stocking conditions and safety stock of work change, the production plan must be changed unless the stock shelves specifications and number are physically changed. There was a problem that could not be dealt with.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to improve the efficiency of high-mix low-volume production by coping with various production plans and changes thereof and efficiently holding a necessary and sufficient safety stock. It is an object to provide an automatic work supply system that can contribute.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has an accommodation space for accommodating a plurality of works in three directions intersecting each other, and each accommodation space can specify coordinates in three dimensions. Stock shelves to which various addresses are set, for this stock shelf, a storage unit that stores the work, a delivery unit that outputs the work from the stock shelf, and a unit control unit that controls the operation of both units, An automatic supply system comprising: a main control unit including an operation program for the unit control unit; and a work information reading unit that is connected to the main control unit and reads work information about a work stored in a stock shelf. The main control unit is equipped with a transaction processing unit that processes the transaction of work in and out of stock shelves based on the production plan. The transaction processing unit includes a request reception unit that receives a request for a stock shelf, an address allocation unit that allocates an address of the work related to the received request, and an address storage unit that stores the address set in the storage space of the stock shelf. A database that stores the data that the address allocation unit refers to, an instruction output unit that outputs an instruction to the unit control unit based on the address allocated by the address allocation unit, the address information allocated by the address allocation unit, and the unit control An automatic supply system including a data updating unit that updates a database based on processing result information from the unit.

According to the present invention, the main controller controls the unit controller to drive the warehousing unit and the unloading unit to take out the work from the stock rack, and the coordinates of the stock rack can be specified in three dimensions. Since the address is set, the main control unit refers to the data in the database, allocates the address of the work related to the request, and outputs the warehousing instruction or the warehousing instruction based on the allocated address. ,
The work can be taken in and out from an arbitrary address whose coordinates are specified in three dimensions. As a result, it is possible to store different kinds of works side by side in the same direction, or to put out a specific work from the different kinds of works.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the above automatic supply system, a line processing unit provided in the storage unit is provided, and the line processing unit is set in the storage unit.
A supply conveyor that supplies a plurality of works one by one in an aligned state, a conveyance means that conveys the works to the supply conveyor, an empty space detection means that detects whether or not the supply conveyor is full, and an empty space The automatic supply system is characterized by further comprising: a circulation unit that circulates the work conveyed by the conveyance unit to the uppermost stream of the conveyance unit when the detection unit detects the work.

According to this aspect, when the work is stored in the stock rack, it is possible to supply the work from the conveying means to the supply conveyor and arrange the plurality of works on the supply conveyor to stand by. By appropriately adjusting the queue with the receiving unit as the window, the operating rate on the upstream side of the receiving unit can be increased.

In particular, according to the present invention, addresses are set for each work in the storage space of each stock shelf, and various types of work can be stored in the same direction. It is possible to flexibly respond to fluctuations in the empty space and store various types of works in the stock shelf without providing an unnecessary storage space.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in the above automatic supply system, a plurality of sets of the stock rack, the receiving unit, and the issuing unit are provided, each set of the delivering units is provided, and the work to be delivered from the issuing unit is provided. The automatic supply system is characterized in that it is provided with a plurality of delivery conveyors for delivering the workpieces, and a priority specifying means for selectively delivering the workpieces delivered from each delivery conveyor to the processing station.

According to this aspect, even if a large-scale warehouse system having a plurality of stock shelves is constructed and the work is set to be carried out in parallel from each of the delivery units, the carried-out work is assigned a priority order specifying means. It becomes possible to form a queue with a window as a window and to preferentially deliver desired works by the priority specifying means. As a result, it becomes possible to issue workpieces requested at the processing station in descending order of urgency, and it is possible to perform an issue processing suitable for high-mix low-volume production.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container C accommodating an electric wire W as a work according to this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated electric wire W is a bundle of covered electric wires used as a material for manufacturing a wire harness.

The illustrated container C is provided with a rectangular tube-shaped main body 11 and a multipurpose flange 12 extending from the upper edge of the main body 11. The main body 11 and the multipurpose flange 12 are integrally molded of resin.

The main body 11 has a bottom portion 13 reinforced by a plurality of ribs 11a, and an integrally molded core 14 is erected at the center of the bottom portion 13. The core 14 has a hollow cylindrical shape with no bottom, and is divided into four in the circumferential direction by slits 14b provided at a constant pitch. Further, the tip portion 14a of the core is curved so as to converge into a spherical shape. The core 14 is inserted into the center of a bundle of wire rods (in the figure, electric wires W) wound in an annular shape shown in FIG.

The bottom portion 13 is formed by chamfering the four corners of the square to form 4
One long side 13a and four short sides 13b are alternately formed to form an octagon, and each side 13a, 13b is
The side wall 15 is continuously provided. The side wall 15 is inclined in the direction of upward spread, and the multipurpose flange 12 is connected to the upper end of the side wall 15. Reference numeral 18 in FIG. 1 denotes a partition member (elastic spacer) formed by bending an acrylic sheet. The partition member 18 is provided at each of four corners of the main body 11, and each partition member carries an electric wire carried by the core 14. The bundle of wires W is prevented from collapsing until it reaches the end of feeding by elastically receiving the outer peripheral surface of the bundle of W.

The multipurpose flange 12 is a so-called outer flange and is formed in a flat plate shape. In addition, a reinforcing hollow rib 16 is erected on a long side portion of the flange, that is, a portion corresponding to each long side 13a of the bottom portion, and by this hollow rib 16, the multipurpose flange 12 and the side wall 15 are machined. The multipurpose flange 12 can be used also as a handle when the wire bundle storage container is transported. Further, the rib 16 forms a receiving port, and the multipurpose flange 12 is used as a support seat, so that empty containers C can be stacked vertically.

As the name implies, the multipurpose flange 12 is a structure having a function for achieving a plurality of purposes, and can also have a guide function when being conveyed by a conveyor, and will be described below. As described above, the opening (picture code insertion / extraction opening) of the picture code storage section 30 provided as a carrying member for carrying the temporary fixing component 20 for temporarily fixing the feeding end W1 of the electric wire W or in the corner portion of the side wall 15 is formed. It also functions as a member.

This picture code storing section 30 is a multipurpose flange 1.
The slit 12a formed at one corner of 2 is used as an insertion / removal opening for accommodating the pictogram C2 having the barcode C1 printed thereon. The barcode C1 is coded data such as the line type and length of the electric wire W housed in the main body 11.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the layout of a factory F for processing the electric wires W housed in the container C, and FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a main part of the factory.

Referring to these figures, on the site of the factory F, a receiving station ST1 for receiving the electric wire W to be processed (see FIG. 1) and a processing station for processing the electric wire received from the receiving station ST1. ST2,
A collection processing station ST3 is set up to collect electric wires, etc. that have been used up at the processing station ST2,
The automatic supply system 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to be able to automatically supply a work between these stations ST1 to ST3.

Referring to FIG. 3, an automatic supply system 100
Is a receiving station ST1 and a processing station ST2
And a plurality of stock shelves 200 that are continuously provided between the stock shelves 200 and the corresponding stock shelves 200.
In contrast, a storage unit 30 for storing the electric wire W
0, a stocking unit 400 provided on each stock shelf 200 for shipping a work from the corresponding stock shelf 200, and the electric wire W is transported between each station ST1 to ST3 and each unit 200 to 400. And a conveyor unit 500 for

The conveyor unit 500 basically conveys a work by connecting a large number of conveyance rollers supported by a frame with a belt and driving the same with a drive motor. Paths PH1 to PH3 to be described later are used. According to the above, the multi-stage transport paths are arranged vertically and have mutually different transport directions.

The conveyor unit 500 is disposed at a node in the paths PH1 to PH3, and has a direction switching unit 510 for switching the carrying direction of the container C, and a warehousing and carrying unit for carrying the work from the warehousing station ST1 to each of the warehousing units 300. 520, a queue processing unit 530 for processing a queue of works transferred to the warehousing transfer unit 520, an unloading transfer unit 540 for transferring the work carried out from each unloading unit 400, and each unloading transfer unit 540. An elevating type transfer device 550 for ejecting the conveyed work and a work ejected from the elevating type transfer device 550 is fed to the processing station ST2, and at the same time, the processing station ST2.
The work to be collected from the collection processing station ST
3 and a circulation unit 560 capable of feeding the same. Conveyor unit 500 is constructed by these parts 520 to 560.
Is from the receiving station ST1 to the processing station ST
A supply path PH1 for supplying a work to the work 2 and a recovery path PH2 for returning the work from the processing station ST2 to the recovery processing station ST3 are configured. Further, in the present embodiment, a switching point (branch point) is provided between the recovery paths PH2, and a stock return path for returning the container C, which branches from this switching point and accommodates the electric wire W, to the stock shelf 200. PH3 is formed.

Next, the details of the stock shelf 200 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
The stock shelves 200 are, for example, 5 along one side wall of the factory F.
Units are connected in series (see Fig. 2). In the following explanation, this stock shelf is connected in the X direction and the vertical direction is set in the Y direction.
And the horizontal direction orthogonal to the X direction is the Z direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage unit 3 is provided on one end side in the Z direction.
00 is installed and the delivery unit 400 is installed on the other end side (see FIG. 4).

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a schematic structure of a stock portion according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing a stock shelf 200 employed in the stock portion of FIG. is there.

With reference to these figures, the stock shelf 200
Is an outer frame 210 configured as a rectangular parallelepiped as a whole.
And a plurality of guide frames 220 and 230 assembled to the outer frame 210 to form a three-dimensional accommodation space SP as a whole, a drive roller unit 240 provided in the guide frame 230, and the drive roller unit 2
It has a stopper unit 250 for controlling the protrusion of the container C driven by 40.

The outer frame 210 is a member that constitutes the outer shell of the stock shelf 200, and is formed of a steel material in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped box as a whole.

The guide frames 220 and 230 divide the inside of the stock shelf 200 having an outer shell into equal parts in the X direction and the Y direction, respectively, and the stock shelf 2 as a whole.
00 to form a three-dimensional accommodation space SP.

The guide frame 220 is a columnar member extending in the Y direction, and by arranging the guide frame 220 evenly inside the outer frame 210, the outer frame 2
The inside of 10 is equally divided in the X direction.

The guide frame 230 extends substantially along the Z direction and is evenly arranged along the Y direction.
The angle member is fixed to the outer frame 210 or the guide frame 220. This guide frame 230
Thus, the inside of the outer frame 210 is equally divided in the Y direction. As a result, the outer frame 210 and the guide frames 220 and 230 collectively form a three-dimensional accommodation space SP that can be specified in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of addresses assigned to the stock shelf 200.

Referring to FIG. 6, the outer frame 210 and the guide frames 220 and 230 divide the space into three parts.
An address S _N is set in the dimensional accommodation space SP. Specifically, this address S _N is a row number X _n (n is a real number from 0 to 9) that specifies an address in the X direction, and a column number Y _n (n is 1 to F) that specifies an address in the Y direction. Up to a real number), and a delivery / receipt number Z _n (n is 0) that specifies an address in the Z direction.
To real numbers 5 to 5) three-dimensional variable addresses S _N = (X _n , Y _n , Z _n ). In the illustrated embodiment, since a plurality of stock shelves 200 are used, the unit number N is represented by a subscript of the address, but not limited to this, the unit number N is set as one variable 4 The address S = (N _n , X _n , Y _n , Z _n ) of the dimension variable may be adopted.

In the shipping process described later, a space defined by one of the guide frames 230 is set as a return shelf 230R in order to take out the container C at an arbitrary address in the Z direction (see FIG. 5). Although not specifically shown, this return shelf 230R
A container detection sensor is provided in the return shelf 23.
It is possible to detect that the container C has been transported to the 0R and drive and control the storage unit 300 by the procedure described below.

FIG. 7 shows a stock shelf 20 according to this embodiment.
It is a side surface partial enlarged view which fractures | ruptures and shows the principal part of 0 partially.

With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, the drive roller units 240 are mounted on the inner surface of each pair of the guide frames 230 so that the drive roller units 240 are provided between the guide frames 230. This is a mechanism capable of transporting the container C.

Each drive roller unit 240 has a drive roller 241 arranged along the longitudinal direction of the guide frame 230, and an endless belt 242 wound around the drive roller 241.

The drive roller 241 is for rolling contact with the lower surface of the multipurpose flange 12 of the container C to feed the container C substantially along the Z direction, and the guide frame 230.
Are arranged in a line along the longitudinal direction of. Along with this, a tension adjusting roller 241a is provided at an appropriate position on the guide frame 230, the tension adjusting roller 241a being shifted downward from the row of the drive rollers 241. Then, the tension adjusting roller 241a
By wrapping the endless belt 242 around the outer periphery of the endless belt 242, undulations are formed in the endless belt 242 between the drive roller 241 disposed on both sides of the tension adjusting roller 241a, and between the drive roller 241 and the endless belt 242. Power transmission is increased.

Further, the drive roller 241 arranged at both ends of the drive roller unit 240 has an input gear 243.
Are concentrically provided (see FIG. 4). In the illustrated embodiment, a rotational driving force is input to the input gear 243 from a storage unit 300 or a storage unit 400, which will be described later, and the rollers 241 and 241 pass through the endless belt 242.
The rotational driving force is transmitted to a and the container C is driven by the driving roller 241.
It can be driven by. By adopting such a mechanism, in the illustrated embodiment, slippage does not easily occur between the drive roller 241 and the multipurpose flange 12 of the container C, and the container C can be driven with high accuracy. .

Each guide frame 230 is fixed such that the delivery side is slightly inclined downward in the Z direction. As a result, the container C introduced from the warehousing side is easily moved to the warehousing side by its own weight (see FIG. 4). Therefore, a pair of stopper units 250 is provided on the exit side of the outer frame 210 corresponding to each guide frame 230.

FIG. 8 shows a stock shelf 200 according to this embodiment.
2A is a front part schematic diagram, and FIG. 3B is a plan partial schematic diagram.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, this stopper unit 250 is fixed to the outer frame 210 or the guide frame 230 and extends in the Z direction.
1, a guide stopper 252 fixed to the exit side end surface of the stay 251, and a slide stopper 253 attached to the guide stopper 252. The slide stopper 253 is a guide stopper 252.
The L-shaped plate in plan view having the long piece portion 253a guided so as to be displaceable in the X direction and the operation piece portion 253b bent toward the delivery side in the Z direction from the end of the long piece portion 253a. It is a member. Then, as will be described later, the operation piece portion 253b is gripped and the long piece portion 253a is held.
By sliding the long piece 253a facing the container C on the receiving side and restricting the container C from jumping out to the exit side, and the opening of the long piece 253a allowing displacement of the container C to the exit side. It can be displaced between the positions.

In the illustrated embodiment, in the guide frames 230 arranged in pairs, the stopper units 250 are also arranged in pairs such that the free ends of the long pieces 253a face each other. .

Next, referring to FIG. 9 and subsequent figures, the stock shelf 2
The storage unit 300 and the storage unit 400 for storing and receiving the container C will be described in detail.

FIG. 9 shows a stock shelf 20 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the entire stock portion, which is an overview of 0, a storage unit 300, and a delivery unit 400.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 3 and 4, each stock shelf 200 has a storage unit 300 arranged on the storage side and a storage unit 4 arranged on the storage side.
00 is paired and equipped. Each unit 300,
Reference numeral 400 denotes a storage-side rail 301 and a storage-side rail 401 that are laid along the X-direction on the storage side of the stock shelf 200, and slides that are reciprocally movable on the rails 301 and 401 along the X-direction. Tower 302,40
2 and.

Each of the slide towers 302 and 402 is a vertical structure extending over the entire height of the stock shelf 200, and can be reciprocated along the X direction by driving a servo motor (not shown) provided at the bottom of the stock tower 200. Is configured.
The slide towers 302 and 402 have a built-in warehousing / conveying unit 310 and a warehousing / conveying unit 410 therein (see FIG. 4).
By moving along the corresponding transport unit 3
10 and 410 are configured to be driven in the X direction, and by vertically moving the transport units 310 and 410 inside themselves, the corresponding transport units 310 and 410 are moved in the Y direction. Equipped with a guide function.

As schematically shown in FIG. 4, on the top and bottom of each slide tower 302, 402, there are paired sprockets 303a, 303b, 403 facing each other in the X direction.
a, 403b are arranged, and these sprockets 3
Chains 304 and 404 are hooked around 03a to 403b. Corresponding transport units 310 and 410 are attached to one ends of the chains 304 and 404, respectively, and the weights 30 are attached to the other ends.
5 and 405 are attached to the weights 305 and 4
05 and the transport units 310 and 410 are balanced and moved up and down relatively, so that the transport unit 31
0 and 410 can be driven in the Y direction. Of the above sprockets 303a-403b,
A servo motor (not shown) is attached to the one provided on the top of each slide tower 301, 401, whereby a precise conveyance unit 310, 410 is provided.
Can be driven to a desired height.

FIG. 10 shows a storage unit 3 according to this embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the main part of FIG.
0 is an exploded perspective view of the frame portion of the transport unit 310 used in FIG.
50 is a perspective view, FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the use state of the transport unit 310, and FIGS. 14 to 16 are the transport unit 3.
It is a side view which shows the conveyance operation of 10.

Referring to these figures, the storage unit 30
The transport unit 310 used in No. 0 has a frame portion 320 (see FIG. 11) as a structure and a drive portion 350 (see FIG. 12) assembled to the frame portion 320.

The frame part 320 has an elevating frame 330 connected to the slide tower 301, and a slide frame 340 assembled to the elevating frame 330 so as to be relatively displaceable in the Z direction.

The elevating frame 330 has a pair of elevating and lowering portions 331 which are opposed to each other in the X direction and are connected to the slide tower 301 so as to ascend and descend vertically, and an elevating and lowering table 332 fixed to the elevating and lowering connecting portion 331. is doing.

The elevating and connecting part 331 has a pair of upper and lower guide rollers 331a, a mounting plate 331b carrying the guide roller group 331a, and an inner side of the mounting plate 331b.
A substantially trapezoidal fixed plate 331 that is fixed in a substantially right angle when viewed in a plan view.
c and.

Each guide roller group 3 of each ascending / descending connecting portion 331
Reference numeral 31a is for guiding the entire transport unit 310 up and down by rolling contact with guide rails (not shown) standing upright on both sides in the X direction of the slide tower 301 while sandwiching in the X direction. The end portion of the chain 304 described above is connected to the elevating and lowering connecting portion 331, and the transport unit 310 is vertically moved up and down via the chain 304.

Referring to FIG. 11, the lifting table 33 is provided.
2 has a pair of bottom plates 332a facing each other in the Z direction, and a pair of side plates 332b provided on both sides of both bottom plates 332a and extending in the Z direction. The pair of bottom plates 332a,
A bearing 332c is fixed to the storage side of the 332a, and a slide frame 340 described later is connected via a pin (not shown) held by the bearing 332c. In addition, a pair of slide holding portions 332d are provided on the upper side of each side plate 332b, and the slide frame 340 is guided via the slide holding portions 332d so as to be relatively displaceable in the Z direction. Has become.

The slide frame 340 includes the bottom plate 34.
1 and side plates 342 provided on both sides of the bottom plate 341.

An air cylinder 343 for displacing the slide frame 340 in the Z direction is fixed to the lower surface of the bottom plate 341, and its rod 343a is directed to the storage side. A connecting member 343b connected to a bearing 332c provided on the elevating frame 330 is provided at an end of the rod 343a. The connecting member 3
43b is connected to the bearing 332c by a pin (not shown).

A guide rail 344 is fixed to the outer side portion of the side plate 342. Guide rail 344
Is a slide holder 3 that extends horizontally along the Z direction and is fixed to the side plate 332b of the elevating frame 330.
It is connected to 32d. Therefore, in this embodiment, the lifting frame 330 and the slide frame 340 are attached.
Are connected so as to be relatively displaceable in the Z direction, and as will be described later,
The power transmission posture in which the slide frame 340 projects from the elevating frame 330 so that power can be transmitted to the drive roller unit 240 of the stock shelf 200 and the slide frame 3
40 can be displaced between the evacuation frame 330 and the evacuation frame retracted on the elevating frame 330.

With reference to FIG. 12, the drive unit 350 is a mechanism which is assembled to the slide frame 340 and carries the container C.

First, the drive unit 350 includes a motor 351 fixed to the bottom surface of the bottom plate 341 of the slide frame 340. The output shaft 351a of the motor 351 is X
It is arranged along the direction. Output shaft 3 of motor 351
An output gear 352 is fixed to 51a. A relay gear 353 meshes with the output gear 352. The relay gear 353 is attached below the bottom plate 341 of the slide frame 340 via a stay (not shown). An output shaft 354 is fixed to the relay gear 353. The output shaft 354 extends in the X direction and its both ends are
The slide frame 340 faces upward through notches 341a formed on both sides of the bottom plate 341. Output rollers 355 are fixed to both ends of the output shaft 354. The output roller 355 corresponds to the slide frame 3
Roller group 35 mounted inside the side plate 342 of 40
6 is for transmitting power via the timing belt 357. The roller group 356 is arranged such that the upper peripheral surface thereof is lined up along the upper edge of the side plate 342. As a result, the timing belt 357 wound around the roller group 356 can drive the lower surface of the multipurpose flange 12 of the container C (see FIG. 13). The motor 351 can drive the output gear 352 in the forward and reverse directions by the control of the sequencer described later. Therefore, the transport direction of the container C transported by the timing belt 357 is also
It is possible to switch to both directions.

Next, of the roller group 356, the roller closest to the stock shelf 200 is projected outward of the side plate 342 in the Z direction via the stay 358. A drive gear 360 that receives the rotational drive force of the roller group 356 and an output gear 361 that meshes with the drive gear 360 are attached to the stay 358. This output gear 3
61 is arranged at a position where it can mesh with the input gear 243 of the stock shelf 200. As a result, when the slide frame 340 changes from the retracted posture shown in FIG. 14 to the power transmission posture shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the output gear 361 meshes with the input gear 243 of the stock shelf 200, and the container C for the stock shelf 200. The carrying operation can be performed.

Next, the delivery unit 410 on the delivery side will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the delivery side transport unit 410 according to the present embodiment.

With reference to the figure, the delivery unit 4 on the delivery side
Basically, 10 has substantially the same specifications as the transporting unit 310 on the receiving side, except that a pair of stopper releasing units 420 for driving the stopper units 250 of the stock shelves 200 are provided. There is. In the following description, the same members as those of the transport unit 310 are designated by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description will be omitted.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view showing the stopper releasing unit 420 employed in the carrying unit 410 of FIG. 17, and FIG. 19 is a plan view showing the operation procedure of the stopper releasing unit 420, (A). Shows before engagement, (B) shows during engagement, and (C) shows during driving.

With reference to these figures, each stopper release unit 420 includes a mounting plate 421 mounted on the bottom plate 332a of the transport unit 410, a stay 422 fixed to the end surface of the mounting plate 421, and a stay 422. Attached to the air cylinder 423, the axis of which is aligned with the X direction, the drive block 424 that reciprocates in the X direction by the rod 423a of the air cylinder 423, and the pair of fixed to the drive block 424. And a release claw 425.

The attachment plate 421 extends along the X direction and is attached to the bottom plate 332a of the carrying unit 410 via the spacer 421a so as to be relatively displaceable in the Z direction. Although not specifically shown, the mounting plate 421 can reciprocate in the Z direction by an air cylinder (not shown).

The stay 422 is a cantilevered member extending in the Z direction from the end of the mounting plate 421 toward the stock shelf 200. The stay 422 is provided with a pair of guide bars 422a disposed on both sides of the cylinder 423 along the Z direction so as to project outward in the X direction, and the guide bar 422a is guided in a state where its end portion penetrates the drive block 424. is doing.

The air cylinder 423 drives the drive block 424 in the X direction within the stroke range in which the drive block 424 is guided by the guide bar 422a, thereby causing the slide stopper 253 of the stopper unit 250 to be in the regulation position and the open position. It can be driven between.

Each release claw 425 is a slide stopper 25.
3 for driving the operation piece portion 253b provided in FIG. 3, each standing upright portion 425a rising vertically from the drive block 423, and a horizontal portion extending in the Z direction from the top of this standing portion 425a toward the stock shelf 200. 42
It has 5b and 1 integrally. In the illustrated embodiment, in order to engage the operation piece portion 253b between the horizontal portions 425b of the pair of release claws 425, 425, the horizontal portions 425b
The chamfered portions facing each other are formed on the taper surface 4 that opens in a divergent manner toward the stock shelf 200.
25c is formed.

20 to 22 are side views showing the operating procedure of the delivery unit 410 on the delivery side.

First, referring to FIGS. 20 and 19 (A), when the position of the delivery side transport unit 410 in the X direction and the Y direction is determined, first, the mounting plate 421 is an air cylinder (not shown) and is a stock rack. It is driven in the direction closer to 200. As a result, as shown in FIG. 20, the output gear 3
61 is an input gear 24 provided on the delivery side of the stock shelf 200.
3 is engaged with the release claw 425 before the stopper unit 2 is engaged.
The operation piece 253b of 50 is engaged.

Next, as shown in FIG. 19B, the air cylinder 423 of each stopper releasing unit 420 extends the rod 423a, so that the releasing claws 425 are mutually moved in the X direction via the drive block 424. It is driven in the direction of separation. By this driving operation, the release claw 42
As a result of the operation piece portions 253b engaged with the No. 5 being driven in the respective directions in the X direction, the slide stopper 253 moves from the regulation position to the open position (see FIG. 19C).

Next, referring to FIG. 21, after the slide stopper 253 has moved to the open position, the transport unit 4
10 drives the slide frame 320 toward the stock shelf 200. As a result, the output gear 361 meshes with the input gear 243 provided on the delivery side of the stock shelf 200, and the drive roller unit 240 that receives power from the input gear 243 drives the container C to the delivery side. As a result, the container C at the most downstream end on the shipping side is unloaded from the stock shelf 200 and transferred to the shipping unit 410 on the shipping side (FIG. 2).
2). When the carrying operation is completed, first, the stopper release units 420 are moved to the stopper units 250.
After returning to the regulation position, the power by the output gear 361 is cut off.

In this embodiment, when the container C is loaded into or unloaded from the stock shelf 200 by the transport units 310 and 410, the driving force of the motor 351 as a drive source provided in the transport units 310 and 410 is used as the power output member. Since it can be input to the input gear 243 (power input member) of the stock shelf 200 via the output gear 352 as a component, the container C can be fed to an arbitrary position in the Z direction of the accommodation space, or from an arbitrary position. It becomes possible to pull out the container C.

Control of the above-mentioned storage unit 300 and delivery unit 400 can be communicated with the main control unit 800 that controls the entire automatic supply system 100, as will be described in detail with reference to FIG. This is performed by the unit controller 850 connected (see FIGS. 2 and 59).

Next, the details of the conveyor device 500 that conveys the containers C to and from the stock shelves 200 will be described.

FIG. 23 is a plan view showing the main part of the conveyor device 500 according to this embodiment.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 3 and 23, the conveyor device 500 includes the direction switching unit 510, the warehousing / transporting unit 520, the queue processing unit 530, the unloading / transporting unit 540,
It has an elevation transfer device 550 and a circulation unit 560.

24A and 24B are side views showing the operation of the direction switching unit 510. FIG. 24A shows the state before the direction switching, FIG. 24B shows the direction during the direction switching, and FIG.

As shown in the figure, the direction switching unit 510 is
It is arranged at each node of the conveyor device 500, and is for switching the feeding direction of the transported container C by 90 ° at the node. Basically, FIGS.
It is configured to change the transport direction by changing the transport roller group that receives the container C by the lifting operation described in 8.

However, the direction switching unit 510 provided in the middle of the warehousing and conveying unit 520 in FIG. 24 is a T-shaped road where the supply route PH1 from the warehousing station ST1 and the stock return route PH3 from the circulating unit 560 join. Therefore, both of the containers C transported from both paths PH1 and PH3 can be transported to the storage unit 300. More specifically, the direction switching unit 510 provided in the middle of the warehousing / transporting unit 520 includes the conveyor device 50.
The frame 501 forming the structure of 0, the motor 511 provided on the frame 501 and having the center of rotation along the vertical line, and the motor 511
Of the turntable 512, which rotates in both directions within the range of, and the conveyance roller group 51 provided on the turntable 512.
As shown in FIG. 24 (A), the container C transported from one direction is received by the transport roller group 514 on the turntable 512, and then the container C is turned as shown in (B). The table 512 is driven 90 ° by the motor 511,
The container C can be fed in the other direction orthogonal to the one direction.

FIG. 25 is a schematic side view showing the schematic construction of the warehousing and conveying section 520.

23 and 25, the warehousing and conveying section 520 is a conveyor unit extending in the Z direction, one end of which faces the warehousing station ST1 and the other end of which is in a different direction. It is connected to the downstream end of the circulation unit 560 via the switching unit 510. As a result, as will be described later in detail, the container C returned by the return conveyor 730 (see FIG. 46) provided in the lower layer of the circulation unit 560 is transferred from the other end of the storage transfer unit 520 to the storage transfer unit 520. Via the direction switching unit 510 provided in the middle,
It can be circulated toward the storage unit 200.

The warehousing / transporting unit 520 is the conveyor device 50.
A frame 521 that constitutes a structure of 0, and a container C that is installed in the frame 521 and stores the container C.
From the downstream to the direction switching unit 510 at the downstream end, and has a warehousing feed conveyor 522 and a drive motor 523 for driving the warehousing supply conveyor 522. The warehousing / feeding conveyor 522 includes a transport roller group 52 on the frame 522a.
2b is provided, and the conveyance roller group 522b is configured to be driven by a drive motor 523 via an endless belt (not shown). A container presence / absence sensor 522c is provided at the upstream end of the warehousing / feeding conveyor 522, and an operator who is working at the warehousing station ST1 conveys the container C to the warehousing / feeding conveyor 522. The sensor 522c detects the container C, the drive motor 523 is driven based on this detection, and the container C is fed to the direction switching unit 510. On this occasion,
The operator stores the electric wire W received at the receiving station ST1 in the container C, and the picture C2 carrying the bar code C1 in which the data of the electric wire W is coded is used to convey the picture of the container C. The code is stored in the code storage unit 30. A bar code reader unit 524 is provided in the warehousing and conveying section 520 in order to read the bar code C1 written on the C2 of the picture mark.

FIG. 26 is a side view of the bar code reader unit 524 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure,
The barcode reader unit 524 includes a reading unit 524a.
The reading section 524a is provided with a bar code reader elevating / lowering section 524b provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The air cylinder (not shown) drives the elevating / lowering section 524b to allow the reading section 524a to pass through the container C. It is configured such that it can be displaced between the retracted position for reading and the reading position for reading the barcode C1 of the container C. Here, the data read by the reading unit 524a of the barcode reader unit 254 is used as new bundle data, and is described later in the main control unit 80.
0 is output via a communication module (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 25, in order to position container C on bar code reader unit 524, container C
A pair of sensors 522d and 522e are provided upstream and downstream of the barcode reader unit 524 in the supply path PH1 of
Is provided on the warehousing and feeding conveyor 522, and when both sensors 522d and 522e sequentially detect the container C, a stopper (not shown) is activated to temporarily stop the container C,
The barcode C1 marked on the pictogram C2 of the container C can be positioned on the reading unit 524a of the barcode reader unit 524.

Further, in the warehousing and conveying section 520, an indicator light 525 for notifying whether or not the electric wire W can be warehoused by the bar code reader unit 524, and an operator cancels the warehousing operation based on the display of the indicator light 525. A reset button 526 and a reset button 526 are provided, and as will be described later, the main control unit 800 performs error processing (step A35 in FIG. 62).
When the operation is performed, these indicator lights 525 are activated, and the operator is informed to perform a predetermined process and operate the reset button 526.

27 and 28 are side views of the warehousing and conveying section 520.

Referring to the figure, the direction switching unit 510 provided in the middle of the warehousing / transporting unit 520 changes the supply path PH1 by 90 ° so as to be behind the warehousing unit 200 (opposite to the unloading unit 400 in the Z direction). It is set to carry out the container C to the side) (see FIG. 3). The warehousing / transporting unit 520 is provided on the downstream side of the direction switching unit 510, and includes a lifter 527 that transfers the container C carried out from the direction switching unit 510 to the matrix processing unit 530.

The lifter 527 includes a frame 527a which constitutes the structure of the conveyor device 500 and the frame 5a.
It has an air cylinder 528 attached to the top of 27a and extending in the vertical direction, and a pair of arms 529 that move up and down by the air cylinder 528 (FIGS. 27 and 28).
Only one is shown).

The frame 527a is a frame 522 of the warehousing and feeding conveyor 522 which constitutes the warehousing and conveying section 520.
The container C can be delivered to the supply conveyor 570 of the queue processing unit 530, which is set to be slightly higher than a and is arranged above the warehousing and feeding conveyor 522.

The air cylinder 528 has a cylinder body 528a and a rod 528b which moves up and down by the cylinder body 528a.
00 moves the pair of arms 529 up and down.

The arm 529 has an arm body 529a formed in a channel shape whose front surface opens downward, a container tray 529b provided on the inner side wall of the arm body 529a, and a carrier provided on the container tray 529b. Roller group 529c and respective conveying roller group 52
9c is driven by an unillustrated endless belt so that the container tray 5
And a drive motor 529d provided in 29b, the lower surface of the container C is drivably received by the conveyance roller group 529c, and the container C received by the driving force of the drive motor 529d is arranged on the downstream side. It can be carried out to the section 530.

FIG. 29 shows a matrix processing section 53 according to this embodiment.
It is a side view which shows schematic structure of 0.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 3, the matrix processing unit 5
Reference numeral 30 denotes a base frame 531 that faces all the storage units 300 along the X direction, a top frame 532 that extends parallel to and above the base frame 531, and a pillar frame 533 provided between the frames 531 and 532.
And have. These frames 531 to 533 are outer shell members that configure the structure of the conveyor device 500, and collectively configure a container supply mechanism for the plurality of storage units 300.

Further, these frames 531 to 533 are
A container intake port 534 that is set for each storage unit 300 and that stores the container C, and a container delivery port 535 that sends the captured container C to the corresponding storage unit 300.
And are prescribed.

Next, the matrix processing unit 530 is provided with a supply path P.
Upper and lower two-stage supply conveyors 570, 58 constituting H1
0 and a retreat conveyor 590 which is arranged below these supply conveyors 570 and 580 and temporarily retracts the container C overflowing from the supply conveyors 570 and 580.

The supply conveyors 570 and 580 forming the supply path PH1 are arranged in pairs for each storage unit 300. One supply conveyor 570 arranged so as to face the most upstream storage unit 300 in the X direction.
Has its upstream end facing the exit of the lifter 527 (see FIG. 3).
(See 3), the downstream end faces the container intake port 534. The other supply conveyor 580 is arranged above the one supply conveyor 570, and the upstream end faces the container intake port 534 and the downstream end faces the container delivery port 535. Further, the evacuation conveyor 590 is arranged along the X direction below the one supply conveyor 570, and the upstream end thereof faces the container intake port 534 of the storage unit 300 arranged at the most downstream side (FIG. 32)), and the downstream end faces the lifter 527 so that the container C can be delivered (see FIG. 33). The downstream supply conveyors 570, 58
For 0, the above pattern is repeated in a state in which the upstream end of the downstream supply conveyor 570 faces the upstream container intake 534.

A sensor 580 as an empty space detecting means for detecting whether or not the supply conveyor 580 is full is provided at the most upstream portion of the supply conveyor 580.
a is arranged. The sensor 580a is arranged at a position where the container C that can be placed on the uppermost stream of the supply conveyor 580 can be detected. When the sensor 580a detects the container C, the unit controller 850 described later
Determine that there is no more empty space.

30 and 31 show a supply conveyor 57.
FIG. 32 is a partially enlarged schematic view showing the main parts of 0 and 580, and FIG. 32 is an enlarged partial schematic view showing the end part of the matrix processing section 530 shown in FIG. 29 in an enlarged manner. In addition, FIG. 33 and FIG.
6 is an enlarged partial schematic view showing an upstream end of a matrix processing unit 530 shown in FIG.

Referring to these figures, each conveyor 57
0 to 590 are frames 571, 581 and 59, respectively.
1, a plurality of conveying rollers 572, 582, 592 mounted on the frames 571 to 591, and frames 571 to 5
Endless belts 573, 583, and 593 that are provided for each 91 and that transmit power to the transport rollers 572-592 of the corresponding frames 571-591, and that are provided for each of the frames 571-591 and that provide a driving force to the endless belts 573-593. It has drive motors 574, 584, 594 for outputting.

Output rollers 574a, 584a, 594a are provided on the drive shafts of drive motors 574-594 provided on the conveyors 570-590, respectively. The power of these output rollers 574a to 594a is
Each drive roller 5 via the endless belts 573-593.
72 to 592, and these drive rollers 572 to 5
The multipurpose flange 12 of the container C is placed on the container 92 so that the container C can be transported to the downstream side.

The downstream ends of the supply conveyor 570 and the retreat conveyor 590, and the supply conveyor 580.
Output rollers 575, 585, and 595 are provided at the upstream end of the. Output gears 577, 587, and 597 are concentrically connected to the rotation shafts of the output rollers 575 to 595, respectively.

On the other hand, each container intake 534 is provided with a switching unit 780.

With reference to FIGS. 29 and 32, the switching unit 780 transfers the container C fed to the one supply conveyor 570 to the subsequent supply conveyor 570 or the other supply conveyor 580. It is meant to be used.

The switching unit 780 is the air cylinder 78.
Contains 1. The cylinder 781 is composed of a cylinder body 781a and a rod 781b which can be displaced relative to the cylinder body 781a. This rod 7
An elevating frame 782 is fixed to the lower end of 81b. The elevating frame 782 is formed in a U-shape that opens downward when viewed in the traveling direction of the supply path PH1, and the top is fixed to the rod 781b so that the elevating frame 782 can be moved up and down by the air cylinder 781. .
A container hanger 783 is fixed to the elevating frame 782. The container hanger 783 includes a pair of frames 783a.
And the transport roller group 783 on both frames 783a, respectively.
b is provided. A gear 783d is concentrically provided at the upstream end of the supply path PH1 of each transport roller group 783b. An input gear 783e arranged further upstream is meshed with the gear 783d. The input gear 783e is connected to the frame 7 by a stay (not shown).
It is attached to 83a and projects to the upstream side of this frame 783a. Then, this input gear 783e
Through the feed conveyor 5 by the ascending / descending operation described later.
The output gears 577 and 587 provided on the 70 and 580 or the output gear 597 provided on the retracting conveyor 590 can be selectively meshed. As a result, FIG.
0 and as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the input gear 7
Conveyor 570 (or 5 on the side where 83e is engaged)
80 or 590 drive motor 574 (or 58)
4 or 594) rotates, the rotational power is transmitted to the gear 783d via the input gear 783e,
The rotational driving force in the supply conveyor 570 (or the supply conveyor 580 or the retraction conveyor 590) is
It is transmitted to the transport roller group 783b of the switching unit 780. Therefore, the input gear 783e is connected to the supply conveyor 5
70 meshes with the output gear 577 of the container 70, the container C being conveyed to the supply conveyor 570 is the conveyance roller group 7
It is delivered to 83b.

When carrying out the received container C to the container outlet 535, the air cylinder 781 is driven to shift upward, and the input gear 783e is moved to the supply conveyor 580.
The output gear 587 of the above is engaged and the container C is carried out to the supply conveyor 580.

On the other hand, if there is no empty space in the stock shelf 200 corresponding to the switching unit 780, or
When accommodated in another stock shelf 200, the switching unit 780 remains connected to the supply conveyor 570. As a result, the transport roller group 7
The container C delivered to 83b is directly carried out to the downstream conveyor 570. In the illustrated embodiment, an address for each container C is set in the accommodation space of each stock shelf 200, and the same guide frame 230 (see FIG. 4) is used.
Since it is configured to accommodate many types of containers C on top,
It is possible to flexibly cope with the fluctuation of the empty space due to the usage frequency of the container C and the fluctuation of the inventory, and it is possible to store various kinds of the container C in the stock shelf 200 without providing a wasteful storage space.

Further, when the container C cannot be carried out to the supply conveyor 580 in the most downstream switching unit 780, the switching unit 780 causes the container hanger 78 to move.
3 is lowered and the container C is carried out to the evacuation conveyor 590.

FIG. 33 and FIG. 34 are sectional views of the warehousing / conveying section 520 when the evacuation process is performed.

With reference to these figures, the evacuation conveyor 5
The container C carried out to 90 is returned to the uppermost stream of the matrix processing unit 530 and returned to the lifter 527. The container C returned to the lifter 527 is the container C from the storage station ST1.
Priority is given to the arm 529 of the lifter 527 and is returned to the uppermost supply conveyor 570 again. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, each stock shelf 200
Even when a queue is generated on the supply conveyor 580 provided corresponding to the container C on the evacuation conveyor 590.
By configuring the return route PH4 of, the task processing can be performed flexibly. Therefore, each stock shelf 2
While it is possible to increase the operating rate of the storage unit 300 provided in No. 00, the possibility that an operator waits at the storage station ST1 is reduced as much as possible.

Next, the carry-in device 588 arranged at the container delivery port 535 of the supply conveyor 580 will be described in detail.

FIG. 35 is a schematic plan view of the carry-in device 588 provided on the supply conveyor 580. 36 shows a schematic configuration of the carry-in device 588. (A) is a front view before the operation of the lifting table 588a, and (B) is a front view after the operation of the lifting table 588a. 37A and 37B are side views showing the operation of the carry-in device 588, where FIG. 37A shows the retracted position and FIG. 37B shows the delivery position. Further, FIG. 38 shows the carrying-in device 5
88 is a schematic side view showing the operation of 88.

Referring to each drawing, the carry-in device 588 is provided with a lifting table 588a for switching the direction of the container C.

Elevating table 588 of this carry-in device 588
A transport roller group 588b arranged along the Z direction for feeding the container C to the storage unit 300 is provided in a, and power can be transmitted to the transport roller group 588b by the endless belt 588c. It is configured. Further, a power transmission gear 588e is provided at the downstream end of the transport roller group 588b in the Z direction.
The conveyance roller group 588b can be driven via 88e. Furthermore, this lifting table 5
88a is configured to be vertically movable by an air cylinder 588f. Due to this raising / lowering operation, the raising / lowering table 588a is retracted to a position immediately below the container C conveyed to the container delivery port 535 (see FIG. 36 (A), 3).
7 (see FIG. 7A) and a delivery position (see FIGS. 36B and 37B) where the container C is levitated from the drive roller 582 provided on the frame 581 and the container C is transported. Is configured.

Further, in order to support the container C transported to the container delivery port 535, a support roller group 588g facing the elevation table 588a in the Z direction and aligned in the X direction is arranged at the container delivery port 535. Has been done. When the lifting table 588a is in the retracted position, the support roller group 588g receives the bottom portion of the container C fed to the container outlet 535, so that the container C is directly above the lifting table 588a in the retracted position. While being allowed to be transported (see FIG. 37 (A)), the lifting table 5 is also provided.
When 88a is displaced to the delivery position, the container C is delivered to the transport roller group 588b of the elevating table 588a, and the container C is arranged at a position which allows the container C to be unloaded (FIG. 37 (B)). reference). Further, the supporting roller group 588g is provided on the side wall of the lifting table 588a.
A notch 588h is formed to avoid interference with (see FIGS. 37A and 37B).

In order to carry the container C from the lifting table 588a into the carrying unit 310 of the stocking unit 300, the carrying-in device 588 is provided with a relay roller group 588i provided in the matrix processing section 530. The relay roller group 588i is arranged at a position for receiving the multipurpose flange 12 of the container C displaced to the delivery position. The downstream end of the relay roller group 588i has a matrix processing unit 530.
Along the Z direction from the front to the position that can be seen on the back surface of the receiving unit 300 (the surface on the opposite side to the shipping unit 400 in the Z direction).

A drive unit 588j is provided between the relay roller group 588i and the elevating table 588a. The drive unit 588j includes a motor 588k,
An output gear 588m driven by the motor 588k is provided. The output gear 588m is arranged at a position connectable to the power transmission gear 588e of the lifting table 588a in the Y direction. As a result, when the lifting table 588a is in the retracted position, both gears 588e and 588m are separated, and when the lifting table 588a is displaced to the delivery position, both gears 588e and 588m mesh with each other to lift the lifting table 588.
By driving the conveying roller group 588b of a, the container C whose bottom surface is received by the conveying roller group 588b can be fed to the storage unit 300 side in the Z direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 38, when the transport unit 310 of the above-described storage unit 300 faces the downstream end of the relay roller group 588i and the elevating table 588a is displaced to the delivery position, the container carried by the carry-in device 588. C will be sent out into the transport unit 310 of the storage unit 300 via the relay roller group 588i. In the illustrated embodiment, a gear 588n that meshes with the gear 588m is provided, and power is also driven from the drive roller coaxial with the gear 588n to the relay roller group 588i via the endless belt 588P.

The delivered container C is stored in the storage unit 300.
As a result, the stock rack 200 is stored in the storage space.

Next, the delivery / transportation unit 540 and the elevating type transfer device 550 of the conveyor device 500 will be described.

FIG. 39 is a schematic side view showing the delivery side of the conveyor device 500.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 3, the delivery / transportation unit 5
The reference numeral 40 includes a frame body 540a that constitutes the outer contour of the frame, and delivery conveyors 541 to 545 that are constructed in the frame body 540a. Frame body 540a
Is a frame-shaped structure in which the downstream side (left side in FIG. 39) is formed in a multi-stage shape in which the height increases for each stock shelf 200.
The delivery conveyors 541 to 545 are stock shelves 20.
It is provided for each 0, and its upstream end faces the substantially central portion in the X direction of the corresponding stock shelf 200, and the downstream end faces the end portion in the X direction of the most downstream stock shelf 200. Regarding the mechanism of each of the delivery conveyors 541 to 545, the transfer conveyor 570 of the queue processing unit 530 described above is used.
Since it is equivalent to, the description of the details will be omitted.

A carry-out device 546 is provided at the upstream end of each of the delivery conveyors 541 to 545 (only one location is shown in FIG. 39).

FIG. 40 is a plan view of the carry-out device 546 provided on the delivery conveyors 541 to 545.

As shown in the figure, the carry-out device 546 carries out the container C sent from the transport unit 410 of the shipping unit 400 to the corresponding shipping conveyors 541 to 545 and supplies the container C to the processing station ST2. Since it is basically configured by a mechanism equivalent to that of the carry-in device 588 described above, in the following description, members corresponding to the carry-in device 588 will be denoted by the same reference numerals and redundant description will be omitted. Omit it.

41 to 45 are schematic side surface partial views showing the downstream end portion of the conveyor device 500 on the delivery side.

Referring to FIGS. 39 and 39, each of the delivery conveyors 541 to 545 are horizontally arranged along the X direction with their downstream ends aligned on the same vertical line. Then, the container C discharged from each shipping unit 400 is supplied to the supply path PH1 of the circulation unit 560 continuous to the processing station ST1 via the elevating transfer device 550 arranged on the downstream side of each shipping conveyor 541 to 545. It is configured to be transferred.

The elevating / transferring device 550 includes a frame-shaped frame body 551, a container conveying conveyor 552 mounted on the frame body 551, an elevating conveyor 553 disposed above the container conveying conveyor 552, and an elevating conveyor 553. And an elevating and lowering drive mechanism 554 for elevating and lowering.

The frame body 551 is a frame body constructed in a generally tower shape, and its entire length is the above-mentioned delivery / transportation section 540.
It is set somewhat higher than the full length of. Thus, the delivery operation of the container C from the delivery conveyor 541 arranged at the lowermost stage to the delivery conveyor 545 arranged at the uppermost stage can be performed between the container conveyer conveyor 552 and the elevating conveyor 553 described below. There is.

The container transfer conveyor 552 includes a table 552a formed inside a frame body 551, and a pair of transfer frames 552b provided on the table 552a, facing each other in the Z direction and extending in the X direction (see FIG. 41).
(Only one of which is shown in FIG. 2), the transport roller group 552c provided on the transport frame 552b, and the transport roller group 55.
2c, a drive motor (not shown) is provided, the bottom surface of the container C is received by the transport roller group 552c, and the transport roller group 552c is driven to switch the direction of the container C provided in the circulation unit 560 on the downstream side. By sending the container C to the portion 510, the container C can be carried out to the supply path PH1 provided in the circulation portion 560.

The elevating conveyor 553 has a pair of arms 553a facing each other in the Z direction and extending in the X direction, and a pair of frames 553b provided on each arm 553a.
And a pair of transport rollers 553c provided on each frame 553b for transporting the container C in the X direction, and a drive motor 55 for driving each transport roller group 553c.
3d and carrying this drive motor 553d,
It is formed like a channel that opens downward when viewed in the X direction,
It has a carrier 553e that integrally supports both arms 553a at their lower ends. A pair of air cylinders 553f are attached to the arm 553a along the Z direction, and the frames 553b are close to each other along the Z direction and receive the lower surface of the multipurpose flange 12 of the container C and the frames. 553b are displaceable from each other in the Z direction and are displaceable between the multipurpose flange 12 of the container C and the disengagement position in which each transport roller group 553c is disengaged.

Then, each of the delivery conveyors 541 to 545
When receiving the container C from the drive motor 553d with each frame 553b displaced to the container holding position.
By driving the delivery conveyors 541-54
After the multipurpose flange 12 of the container C carried out from 5 is received by the transport roller group 553c, and the container C held by the elevating drive mechanism 554 described below is seated on the transport roller group 552c of the container transport conveyor 552, By displacing the frame 553b to the release position, the container C can be delivered to the container transfer conveyor 552.

The lifting drive mechanism 554 is used for the frame body 5.
A pair of sprocket 554b (only one is shown in FIG. 41) driven by this servo motor 554a to form a pair with a servo motor 554a provided on the top of 51 and are connected to this sprocket 554b;
Further, it has a chain 554c whose one end is fixed to the elevating conveyor 553 and a balance weight 554d attached to the other end of the chain 554c. By driving the chain 554c by this servo motor 554a, the elevating and lowering is performed. The conveyor 553 faces the downstream end of any of the delivery conveyors 541 to 545, and the container C can be taken out by the procedure described above.

In order to control the drive of the above-mentioned delivery conveyor 540 and the elevating and lowering device 550, the delivery conveyor 540 is provided with a delivery controller 555.

The delivery control unit 555 is for controlling the drive motor of the container carrying conveyor 552, the drive motor 553d of the elevator conveyor 553, the air cylinder 553f, and the servo motor 554a of the elevator drive mechanism 554. It is embodied in a sequencer having a microprocessor and other electrical components. here,
In the present embodiment, each shipping unit 400 performs a shipping operation in parallel in accordance with a shipping instruction from the main control unit 800 described later. As a result, the containers C carried out to the respective delivery conveyors 541 to 545 are also carried out randomly toward the elevation transfer device 550. In order to control the delivery order of the plurality of containers C to correspond to the delivery request order at the processing station ST2, the delivery control unit 555 includes each delivery conveyor 54.
Sensors 541a to 545a, which are provided in pairs, are connected to the downstream ends of 1 to 545, respectively. Further, based on the output results of these sensors 541a to 545a, in order to control the payout operation of the containers C by the respective delivery conveyors 541 to 545, the sequencer 555 includes the drive motors 541b to 54 of the respective delivery conveyors 541 to 545.
5b is connected.

Next, with reference to FIG. 46, the circulation unit 560 according to this embodiment and the switching device 700 provided in the circulation unit 560 will be described.

FIG. 46 shows a circulation unit 560 according to this embodiment.
It is a side view which shows the whole structure of.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 3, the circulation unit 560 of the conveyor unit 500 according to the present embodiment has a two-stage upper and lower return conveyors 730 downstream of the switching point.
And a conveyor 740 for recovery, one of which (returning conveyor 730 in the illustrated example) constitutes the stock return path PH3, and the other (recovery conveyor 740 in the illustrated example) recovers the stock. Path PH
2 constitutes the downstream side. It should be noted that each of these conveyors 730 and 740 is basically configured by a mechanism equivalent to the supply conveyors 570 and 580 described with reference to FIGS. 30 and 31, and the conveying direction is set only in the opposite direction. Therefore, the corresponding members are designated by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description will be omitted.

The switching device 700 according to the present embodiment is embodied by constructing the sorting device 710 and the laminating device 720 with the switching point of the circulation unit 560 as a base point, and is constituted by the return conveyor 730 and the return conveyor 730. On the upstream side of the laminating conveyor 750, a sorting device 710 arranged at a branch point of the collecting conveyor 740 and switching the feeding route of the container C, and an empty container C fed to the collecting route PH2 by the sorting device 710 are provided. And a laminating device 720 for laminating.

FIG. 47 shows a sorting device 710 in FIG.
48 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of FIG.
47A and 47B are schematic front views showing the weighing operation of the sorting apparatus 710 of FIG. 47, where (A) shows a state before determination and (B) shows a state during determination.

47 and 48, the sorting device 71
0 includes the base 711. This base 711
Is a plate-shaped member formed of metal or the like and having a substantially rectangular shape in a top view. Further, a weight sensor 711a serving as a discriminating means is fixed at a substantially central position of the base 711 when viewed from above. In the illustrated embodiment, as the weight sensor 711a, a load cell that can measure in units of 0.01 kg is adopted. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to measure not only whether or not the electric wire W remains in the container C but also the length of the electric wire W remaining in the container C.

The weight sensor 711a is provided with a lead wire 711b, and the lead wire 711b is connected to a communication module (not shown) capable of communicating with a main control unit 800 described later. As a result, the weight sensor 7
The measured value of 11a is output to the main controller 800.

On the upper surface of the weight sensor 711a,
An inspection table 712 is provided. This inspection table 712 is
It includes a base body 712a made of metal or the like. The base body 712a has a width dimension substantially the same as that of the base 711 and a longitudinal dimension slightly shorter than that of the base 711. Further, mounting plates 712b are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the base body 712a in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. A pressing cylinder 712c is provided at each end (four locations) of the mounting plate 712b. These pressing cylinders 712c are composed of a cylinder body 712e and a rod 712d driven by the cylinder body 712e. This rod 712
The cylinder body 712e is fixed to the mounting plate 712b in a state where d projects upward from the mounting plate 712b.

FIG. 49 is a partially enlarged schematic view showing the display panel 711c of the sorting apparatus 710 of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 49, the weight sensor 7
The measured value of 11a is displayed on the display panel 711c. The display panel 711c is fixed to the frame 563 of the switching device 700 so that the operator can confirm the measured value of the container C by the weight sensor 711a (see FIG. 46).

Returning to FIG. 47, a pair of slide bars 7 are provided upward at both ends of the base 711 in the longitudinal direction.
One end of 13 is fixed. These slide bars 7
The other end of 13 is fixed to both ends of a support frame 713a fixed to the circulation unit 560. The support frame 713a is a member formed of metal or the like and having a substantially rectangular shape in a top view. Further, an elevating cylinder 714 is provided at a substantially central portion of the support frame 713a when viewed from above. The elevating cylinder 714 is composed of a vertically arranged cylinder body 714a and a rod 714b which is driven by the cylinder body 714a immediately below the cylinder body 714a. With the rod 714b inserted downward through the support frame 713a, the cylinder body 714
a is fixed to the support frame 713a.

The lower end of the rod 714b is fixed to a top plate 715 having substantially the same dimensions as the support frame 713a. The slide bars 713 are inserted into both ends of the top plate 715. In addition, the top plate 715
A pair of side plates 715a is fixed to both ends of the pair of side plates 715a so as to face each other. The side plates 715a are plate-shaped members formed of metal or the like and having a substantially rectangular shape in a side view. The slide bar 713 extends through the side plate 715a in the longitudinal direction thereof. Further, a pair of lifting hangers 716 are provided on the opposite side surfaces of each side plate 715a so as to face each other. These lifting hangers 71
Reference numeral 6 denotes a rod-shaped member formed of metal or the like and having a substantially rectangular shape in a side view, and the side plate 715 whose longitudinal direction is oriented horizontally.
It is fixed to a. Further, each lifting / lowering hanger 716 has a transport roller group 716a similar to that employed in each of the conveyors 730, 740, etc. of the circulation unit 560 described above, and by these transport roller group 716a, the recovery path PH2. The container C can be transported from the upstream side to the downstream side. Each transport roller group 7
An input roller 717 arranged at the downstream end of the recovery path PH2 is wound around the endless belt 716b wound around 16a. The input roller 717 is meshed with a connecting gear 717b arranged further downstream thereof, and the output gear 577 provided on each of the conveyors 730 and 740 is moved by the ascending / descending operation described later via the connecting gear 717b.
Alternatively, it can be selectively meshed with 587.
As a result, like the matrix processing unit 530, the lifting hanger 7
The container C carried by the 16 conveying roller group 716a advances to the downstream side of the recovery path PH2 or the stock return path PH3.

In this embodiment, the elevating cylinder 714, the elevating hanger 716, etc. described above constitute a switching means for switching the transport path of the container C.

Further, the sorting device 710 has a weighing unit sensor 7 for detecting the container C approaching the switching point.
18 are included. The weighing unit sensor 718 is provided at a position where the container C is detected before the container C passes through the switching point on the inspection table 712.

In order to specify the type of electric wire in the container C conveyed to the elevating hanger 716, in the vicinity of the switching point,
Bar code reader unit 719 as type reading means
Is provided. This barcode reader unit 71
Reference numeral 9 basically has the same specifications as the barcode reader unit 524 described with reference to FIG. 26, and is configured to move up and down to read the barcode C1 provided on the container C.

Referring to FIGS. 48A and 48B, when the container C is conveyed to a predetermined position on the elevating hanger 716,
The conveyance is stopped above the inspection table 712 by the detection of the weighing unit sensor 718, and the state shown in FIG. In this state, the lower surface of the container C is attached to the pressing cylinder 712c.
Is in a non-contact state. Then, the pressing cylinder 71
Each rod 712d of 2c starts to be pressed upward, and the state shown in FIG. 48 (B) is obtained.

In FIG. 48B, each pressing cylinder 712 is
When d extends the rod 712d, the container C is levitated from the elevating hanger 716 by each pressing cylinder 12d. Therefore, the load of the container C acts on the weight sensor 711 via the pressing cylinder 712d as shown by the arrow Y, and therefore the weight sensor 711.
Measures the load generated on the inspection table 712, displays the measured value on the display panel 711c shown in FIG. 49, and outputs the measured value to the main controller 800.

For the container C in which it is judged that the electric wire W remains by the above judgment, the reading section 719a of the bar code reader unit 719 is operated by the bar code reader elevating / lowering section 7.
The position of the container C is appropriately adjusted by 19b, and the barcode C1 of the container C is read. Then, the container C in which the barcode C1 is read is conveyed from the lifting hanger 716 to the return conveyor 730 (see FIG. 46). On the other hand, the container C in which it is determined that the electric wire W does not remain (that is, is empty) is conveyed to the recovery conveyor 740. Recovery conveyor 74
The container C transported to 0 is transported to the laminating apparatus 720.

Next, the laminating apparatus 720 will be described.

FIG. 50 shows a laminating apparatus 720 in FIG.
2A and 2B are perspective views showing a schematic configuration with part thereof omitted, wherein FIG. 4A shows a state before the container C is stacked, and FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 46 and 50 (A), a laminating apparatus 720 as a laminating means is constructed at the upstream end of the laminating conveyor 750 described above. Laminating device 720
Includes a lift cylinder 721. The lift cylinder 721 includes a cylinder body 721a and a rod 721b that can be displaced relative to the cylinder body 721a.
Composed of. With the rod 721b facing downward, the cylinder body 721a is moved to the laminating conveyor 7
It is fixed to the frame 563 located right above the upstream end of 50. Further, one end of the rod 721b is connected to the drive plate 7
It is fixed to the center position 22 of the top view. The drive plate 722 is a rectangular member made of metal or the like, and is fixed to the rod 721b such that its longitudinal direction is horizontal. Further, a pair of lift arms 722a is cantilevered at both ends of the drive plate 722 toward one side in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the drive plate 722. Each of the lift arms 722a includes a pair of support portions 723 directed in the vertical direction. The support portions 723 are provided with claw portions 723a in directions facing each other. These claws 723a
Are respectively supported by the shafts 723b with respect to the support portions 723. This shaft 723b allows each claw 7
23a is rotatable in the upper direction (that is, the lift arm 722a side) and is not rotatable in the lower direction (that is, the vertical direction) with respect to the horizontal direction. The shafts 723 are rod-shaped members made of metal or the like, and are provided in parallel with the lift arms 722a. Further, the laminating apparatus 720 is provided with a lift portion sensor 724 that reacts when the container C is conveyed to a predetermined position on the laminating conveyor 750 described above.

Laminating apparatus 720 configured as described above.
50A, the multipurpose flange 12 of the lowermost container C in the container C group stacked as shown in FIG.
It is designed to be supported by 3a. When stacking another container C, the lift cylinder 721 is used.
Thus, the stacked container C group is raised, and the container C conveyed from the recovery conveyor 740 is on standby.

FIG. 51 shows a laminating apparatus 720 in FIG.
7 is a partially enlarged schematic view showing the operation of the claw portion 723a of
(A) shows a state immediately after the lift cylinder 721 descends,
(B) is a state where the lift cylinder 721 is descending, (C)
Shows the states after the lift cylinder 721 is lowered.

With reference to FIG. 51 (A), the container C conveyed along the recovery conveyor 740 is moved by the lift sensor 724 on the laminating conveyor 750.
The transportation is stopped (see FIG. 46). That is, the container C stops at a position below the stacking device 720 (or below the stacking container C group). In this state, the lift cylinder 721 of the laminating apparatus 720 starts descending.

Referring to FIG. 51 (B), when the lift cylinder 721 is lowered, the upper surfaces of the claw portions 723a are separated from the multipurpose flange 12 of the container C, and the claw portions 723 are formed.
The lower surface of a contacts the multipurpose flange 12 of the lower container C. When the lift cylinder 721 further descends, each claw portion 723a starts rotating upward about the shaft 723b.

Referring to FIG. 51C, when the lift cylinder 721 is further lowered, each of the claw portions 723a moves to a position below the multipurpose flange 12 of the container C below. Then, each claw portion 723a has the same structure as that shown in FIG.
Until the upper surface comes into contact with the lower surface of the flange C1, the shaft 723b is rotated downward.

In order to control each part of the switching device 700 described above, the automatic supply system 100 includes a switching control part 77.
7 are provided (see FIG. 46). This switching control unit 7
77 is embodied by a sequencer configured to be communicable with a main control unit 800 described later.

52 to 56 are side views showing the operation procedure of the switching device 700. As shown in these figures, by the control by the switching control unit 777 and the main control unit 800,
The switching device 700 can sort the containers C by the sorting device 710, and can stack the empty containers C by the stacking device 720.

Next, the control mechanism of the automatic supply system 100 described above will be described.

FIG. 57 is a block diagram of the entire automatic supply system 100 according to this embodiment.

Referring to the figure, the automatic supply system 100
Is provided with a main control unit 800 as a control device embodied in a sequencer. Main controller 800
In addition to being configured with a microprocessor and other electrical components, the signal can be exchanged with each unit via a communication module connected via a serial port such as RS232C. As a result, the main control unit 800 includes the direction switching unit 510 provided in the conveyor device 500 and the warehousing and transporting unit 5.
20, a queue processing unit 530, a delivery transport unit 540, a sequencer 555 of a lifting transfer device 550, a switching control unit 777 of a switching device 700, and unit control units 850 that control the storage unit 300 and the delivery unit 400. In addition to being able to communicate control signals, processing station ST
The information read by the barcode reader unit 2 of each processing apparatus 1 arranged in No. 1 can also be received as a shipping instruction instruction. In the illustrated embodiment, a personal computer 830 for monitoring is connected to the main control unit 800, and a personal computer 860 for monitoring for monitoring the control state of all unit control units 850 is connected to all unit control units 850. It is connected.

The main control unit 800 includes stock shelves 20.
A transaction processing unit 810 for performing a transaction process for 0 (a receiving process of a new electric wire W, a leaving process of an electric wire W for which a request for leaving, etc.), and a database 820 for performing transaction processing by the transaction processing unit 810 are included. Has been.

FIG. 58 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of the transaction processing unit 810 provided in the main control unit 800 of FIG.

Referring to the figure, the transaction processing unit 810 includes a request receiving unit 811 for receiving a stocking request or a shipping request, an address allocating unit 812 for allocating the address of the container C relating to the received request, and an address allocating unit. A database 820 based on the instruction output unit 815 that outputs a warehousing instruction or a warehousing instruction based on the address assigned by 812, the address information assigned by the address allocating unit 812, and the processing result information from the unit control unit.
And a data updating unit 816 for updating

The request accepting section 811 has a warehousing request accepting section 811a for accepting a warehousing request and a warehousing request accepting section 811b for accepting a warehousing request. The warehousing request receiving unit 811a includes transmission data of the barcode reader unit 524 provided in the warehousing conveyance unit 510, transmission data of the barcode reader unit 719 provided in the sorting device 710, and the weight sensor 711a provided in the sorting device 710. It is configured to be able to receive transmission data. The warehousing request reception unit 811a includes the bar code reader units 524,
From the header information of the packet included in the transmission data from 719, the transmission source of the transmission data can be specified, and from the data section of the transmitted packet, the electric wire W accommodated in the container C with the storage request can be identified. The product number and length (in the case of a new electric wire W, the length registered in the barcode C1. In the case of an end-length electric wire (that is, an electric wire that is no longer needed at the processing station), the weight sensor 71 is used.
A length based on the weight measured by 1a. ) Can be calculated.

The delivery request receiving section 811b is for receiving the read data read by the bar code reader unit 2 of the processing apparatus 1 as a delivery request. Also in this delivery request receiving unit 811b, the processing device 1 of the transmission source that has issued the delivery request can be specified from the header information of the transmitted packet, and the wire to be delivered from the data section of the transmitted packet. It is possible to calculate the length of W.

The address assigning unit 812 is the request receiving unit 81.
1 specifies the address of the container C to be loaded / unloaded on the basis of the transmission data accepted by 1 based on the procedure described later,
The processing result is output to the instruction output unit 815 and the data update unit 816.

The instruction output unit 815 has a warehousing instruction output unit 815a for outputting a warehousing instruction and a warehousing instruction output unit 815b for outputting a warehousing instruction. Any output unit 81
5a and 815b, the processing result of the address assigning unit 812 is also sent to the unit control unit 85 through the communication module.
Output to 0, and the receiving unit 300 or the issuing unit 4
00 or both units 300 and 400 can be driven to perform a warehousing process or a warehousing process. Here, in the illustrated embodiment, in the queue using the above-described lifting / lowering transfer device 550 as a window, a shipping instruction is also output to the shipping control unit 555 in order to specify the shipping priority in a step described later. Has been done.

The database 820 includes stock shelves 20.
Various data required for zero inventory management are stored.
The data included in the database 820 includes the address S _{N of} the stock shelf 200, the inventory information of the containers C stored in the stock shelf 200, the ID information of the processing apparatus 1, the ID information of the stock shelf 200, and the like. There is.

The above-described automatic supply system 100 is controlled based on the conceptual diagram and flow chart described below.

FIG. 59 is a flowchart of the main controller of the automatic supply system according to this embodiment.

Referring to the figure, the automatic supply system 100
The transaction control unit 810 waits for the receipt of a goods receipt request or a goods issue request (step A1).

If the transmission data is received from any one of the bar code reader units 2, 524, 719 described above, the request receiving unit 811 sorts the entry request and the delivery request based on the header information (step A2).

If a warehousing request is received, the address allocating unit 812 and the warehousing instruction output unit 815a of the transaction processing unit 810 perform warehousing request processing (step A).
3).

On the other hand, when the received transmission data is a delivery request, the address allocation unit 812 and the delivery instruction output unit 815b of the transaction processing unit 810 perform delivery request processing (step A4).

When these request processes are completed, the data updating unit 816 of the transaction processing unit 810 performs the data updating process (step A5). This completes the processing of the received transmission data.

FIG. 60 is a flowchart of the unit controller of the automatic supply system according to this embodiment.

Referring to the figure, the unit controller 850
Stands by for a control command from the main controller 800 (step U1).

When the warehousing instruction is issued from the main control unit 800, the unit control unit 850 executes the warehousing process program and performs the warehousing process (step U2).

On the other hand, when the leaving command is issued from the main controller 800, the unit controller 850 executes the leaving processing program to perform the leaving processing (step U3).

When each processing is completed, the unit controller 85
0 transmits the processing result to the main control unit 800 and ends the processing (step U4).

FIG. 61 is a conceptual diagram showing a warehousing process flow for warehousing a new electric wire W, FIG. 62 is a flowchart showing a warehousing request processing subroutine in the main control unit 800, and FIG. 63 is a unit control unit 850. It is a flow chart which shows a subroutine of warehousing processing.

First, referring to FIG. 61, in the warehousing operation, when the electric wire W is ordered based on the production plan and the ordered electric wire W is received in the factory F, the warehousing station ST
The worker of No. 1 stores the electric wire W in the empty container C, stores the pictogram C2 of the accommodated electric wire W in the pictogram accommodating section 30, and mounts the pictogram C2 on the stock transfer section 520. The warehousing conveyance section 520 reads the bar code C1 of the picture mark C2 with the bar code reader unit 524, and transmits the read work information as the warehousing request data to the main control section 800. Based on this transmission data, the main control unit 800 outputs a stocking instruction to the unit control unit 850, and the corresponding stock shelf 20.
Store container C at a corresponding address S _N of 0.

Referring to FIG. 62, when the warehousing request process (step A3) of FIG. 59 is executed, the address allocation unit 81
2 develops the data of the database 820 and reads the inventory data (step A31). Next, the address allocation unit 812 searches the read inventory data for a vacant address S _N (step A32).

By this search, the address allocation unit 812
Is an empty address S_NIdentified and the identified free ad
Less S_NThe unit control section of the corresponding stock shelf 200
850 (step A34). If the ad is empty
Less S_NIs not found, the address allocation unit 812
Performs error processing and ends the receipt request processing (step
Up A35). In this error processing, for example,
There is no pace. Please contact the leader to respond.
Personal computer for monitoring messages such as
Output to the computer 820 or a display provided on the storage / transportation unit 520.
The work of turning on the lamp 525 and notifying the worker
included. In this embodiment, the stock shelf 200
The accommodation space is configured in three dimensions, and its three-dimensional coordinates
It manages by adopting an address that can identify
In addition, various types on the same guide frame 230 (see FIG. 4)
Since it is configured to hold a container C of
Dress S _NIs also easy to secure.

Referring to FIG. 63, upon receipt of a storage request from the main control unit 800, the unit control unit 850 drives the storage unit 300 and causes the transfer unit 310 of the storage unit 300 to correspond to the corresponding queue processing unit 530. The container outlet 535 (see FIG. 35) of the container (step U2).
1). In this state, the receiving unit 300 waits for the container C to be conveyed to the container outlet 535 (step U2).
2). When the container C arrives, the unit controller 530
The loading device 588 provided in the container delivery port 535 is driven to load the container C into the transport unit 310. In this carrying-in operation, first, as shown in FIGS. 36 (A) and 37 (A), the air cylinder 588f of the carrying-in device 588 in the retracted position lifts the elevating table 588a to displace it to the delivery position. 36 (B), FIG. 37 (B)
, The container C is received by the transport roller group 588b,
It floats from the conveyance roller group 582. Then, the motor 58
By driving 8k and displacing to the delivery position,
As shown in FIG. 38, the driving force of the motor 588k is applied to the gear 5
It is transmitted from 88 m to the gear 588 e, and the conveyance roller group 588
b is driven to feed the container C onto the timing belt 357 of the transport roller group 356 of the transport unit 310. Figure 1
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 16, the transport unit 310 carrying the container C drives the input gear 243 of the stock shelf 200 according to the procedure described above (step U25) and introduces the container C into the stock shelf 200 (step S25). U26).

The unit control section 850 has a storage / transport section 52.
0, the queue processing unit 530, the stock shelf 200, and a sensor (not shown) provided at appropriate places in the stocking unit 300 monitor whether the above procedure has been normally completed. At this point, processing is stopped and error processing is performed. If all processing ends normally,
The unit controller 850 returns to the original routine and ends the processing (step S27). On the other hand, if an error has occurred, error processing is performed and then the process returns to the original routine (step U28). This error processing includes processing for displaying the error content on the monitor personal computer 860, and processing for adding an error log to the data portion in the processing result transmission in the main routine of FIG.

Next, the processing of the end wire W remaining in the container C returned from the processing station ST2 is shown in FIG.
It will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 64 is a conceptual diagram showing a warehousing process flow when the container C is returned, FIG. 65 is a flowchart showing a procedure of the warehousing process, and FIG. 66 is the switching device 700.
5 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of non-setting container processing in FIG.

First, with reference to FIG. 64, in the processing station ST2, an empty container C where the electric wire W has disappeared,
The container C accommodating the electric wire W that is no longer needed is
It is sent to the recovery path PH2 of the circulation unit 560 and reaches the switching point where the switching device 700 described in FIG. 3 is installed. These containers C are sorted by the sorting device 710 of the switching device 700.
The weight sensor 711a provided in the above section sorts out an empty container and a container C in which the end length electric wire W is stored. Next, the barcode C1 of the container C in which the end length electric wire W is stored is read by the barcode reader unit 719 and transmitted to the main control unit 800 together with the measurement value of the weight sensor 711a. The transaction processing unit 810 of the main control unit 800 uses the weight sensor 711a and the barcode reader unit 71.
The output of 9 issues a warehousing command and the switching device 7
In 00, the switching control unit 777 controls each unit of the switching device 700 in the following procedure.

Referring to FIG. 65, switching control unit 777 is
The container C conveyed from the circulation unit 560 by the measuring unit sensor 718 is on standby (step S1). When the arrival of the container C is detected and the container C reaches the top of the transport roller group 716a provided on the elevating hanger 716, the pressing cylinder 71 is pressed.
2c is driven, and the reached container C is weighed (see FIG. 48) and displayed on the panel 711c (see FIG. 49).

Based on this measured value, the switching control unit 777 determines whether or not the mass of the container C exceeds 1.32 kg (step S2). This 1.32 kg corresponds to the mass when the container C of the present embodiment is empty. That is, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the electric wire W remains in the container C. Next, when it is determined in step S2 that the mass M of the container C is 1.32 kg or less (that is, the empty container C), the switching control unit 777 stacks the lifting cylinder 714 of the sorting device 710 and the stacking cylinder 714. The lift cylinder 721 of the device 720 is driven to lift the container C via the lift hanger 716, and the lift arm 722.
The empty containers C stacked by the stacking conveyor 750 are lifted via a (step S3).

By this lifting operation, the lifting hanger 716
Is connected to the input gear 5 of the transport unit 740.
Mesh with 87. As a result, the conveying roller group 716a of the elevating hanger 716 rotates, and the container C on which the multipurpose flange 12 is seated on the conveying roller 716a moves from the elevating hanger 716 to the conveying section 740 (step S4).

Here, the switching controller 777 waits for the empty container C to reach the stacking position set in the stacking device 720 by the lift sensor 724 (step S5). If the container C reaches the stacking position, the switching control unit 777 drives the lift cylinder 721 and lowers the lift arm 722a (step S6). During the lowering of the lift arm 722a, the stacked body of the containers C already stacked is placed on the transported container C, and the lift cylinder 721 is subsequently lowered to perform the process shown in FIG. After that, the claw portion 723a is locked to the lower surface of the multipurpose flange 12 of the transported container C (lowermost stage), and the state shown in FIG. 56 is reached.

The number of times of the above-mentioned stacking operation is determined by the switching control unit 777.
Is being counted by. The switching control unit 777 manages whether or not the cumulative number of times of stacking reaches a predetermined number of stacked layers (10 in the illustrated embodiment) (step S).
7).

When the number of containers C does not reach the above-mentioned number of stacked layers, the process for empty containers C is completed. On the other hand, when the number of empty containers C reaches the number of stacked layers, the switching control unit 7
The 77 conveys the 10 stacked containers C to the downstream side (left side in FIG. 46) of the stacking conveyor 750 (step S8). After that, the above-mentioned cumulative number of times (the number of containers C) is reset, and the processing of empty containers C is completed.

Next, when it is determined in step S2 that the mass M of the container C is more than 1.32 kg, the switching control unit 77.
The bar code reader elevating part 719b adjusts the position of the reading part 719a, and the bar code reader unit 719 reads the bar code C1 of the container C (step S9).

Then, the switching control unit 777 transmits the read information of the barcode C1 to the main control unit 800,
The electric wire W accommodated in the container C is the main control unit 80.
It is inquired whether or not the data is managed as 0 (step S10).

If it is the product number set in the main control unit 800, the switching control unit 777 carries out the container C as it is to the downstream side of the return path PH3 by the return conveyor 730, and finishes the processing. (See Figure 46). Accordingly, the main control unit 800 performs the warehousing process of the returned container C based on the warehousing request process (step S).
11).

On the other hand, the container C referred to in step 10 above
If is not set, the main control unit 800 outputs a leaving instruction to the switching control unit 777 from the leaving instruction unit 815b of the transaction processing unit 810 so as to issue the container C to the collection processing station ST3. As a result, the switching control unit 777 shifts to the non-set container processing (step S12).

FIG. 66 is a flow chart showing a subroutine in the error processing of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 66, in the above-mentioned non-set container processing, the switching control section 777 causes the lifting cylinder 714 of the sorting device 710 and the lift cylinder of the laminating device 720 to operate similarly to the case of processing the empty container C. 721 is driven to lift the container C via the elevating hanger 716 and lift the empty container C stacked on the stacking conveyor 750 via the lift arm 722a (step S12).
1).

By this lifting operation, the container C accommodating the electric wire W which is not set moves from the lifting / lowering hanger 716 to the carrying section 740 like the empty container C (step S12).
2).

Here, the switching control unit 777 waits for the container C to pass the stacking position set in the stacking device 720 by the lift sensor 724 (step S123). And when the container C passes through the stacking position,
The container C is transported to the collection processing station ST3. On the other hand, when the container C has passed the stacking position, the switching control unit 777 drives the lift cylinder 721 to lower the lift arm 722a until the stack of empty containers C is seated at the stacking position (step S12).
4).

Next, the shipping operation of the automatic supply system 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 67 to 72.

FIG. 67 is a conceptual diagram showing a shipping process flow of the container C.

With reference to the figure, the automatic unloading of the container C is started by reading the bar code 3a attached to the production plan 3 by the bar code reader unit 2 of the electric wire processing apparatus 1. The barcode 3a of the production plan 3 is
The delivery request data such as the wire type and length required for production in the wire processing apparatus 1 is coded. The leaving request command including the leaving request data is also transmitted to the main control unit 800. The transaction processing unit 810 of the main control unit 800 identifies the address S _N of each stock shelf 200 of the required electric wire W (container C) based on the data transmitted from the barcode reader unit 2, and the unit control unit 850. Send a shipping order to.

FIG. 68 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of the delivery request processing in the main control section 800.
FIG. 69 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of a shipping process in the unit controller 850.

Referring to the figure, when transaction processing unit 810 receives a delivery request, delivery request receiving unit 81.
1b calculates the required total delivery electric wire length L (step A41) and outputs it to the address allocating unit 812.

The address allocating unit 812 is used for the database 8
20 to read inventory data (step A4
2) Confirm whether inventory is present (step A43). If the stock is insufficient, the address allocating unit 812 outputs an output to that effect to the warehousing instruction output unit 815a, and the warehousing instruction output unit 815a outputs a wire replenishment instruction (step A44). In response to this electric wire supplement instruction, “No electric wire stock” is displayed on the monitor personal computer 820.
Includes the processing of displaying the message "The following wire requested from the wire warehouse: XX was not available" and "Please contact the reader to respond" and notify the worker working at the processing station ST2 Be done. As a result, the worker can quickly know that the electric wire W is out of stock and can deal with it.

On the other hand, when there is a stock of the electric wire W on the stock shelf 200, the address allocating unit 812 determines that the electric wire W of the same type.
It is determined whether the end wire W of No. exists in the stock shelf 200 (step A45). In step A45, if the end wire W is present in the stock shelf 200, the address assigning unit 812 outputs the corresponding address S _N to the leaving instruction output unit 815b, and the leaving instruction output unit 815b outputs the address S _N to the address S _N. An issue command for the stored container C is output (step A46). On the other hand, in step A45, if the end wire W does not exist in the stock shelf 200, the address assigning unit 812 outputs the corresponding address S _N of the new wire W to the leaving instruction output unit 815b, and the leaving instruction output unit 81.
An output command for the container C stored at the address S _N is output from 5b (step A47). As described above, in the present embodiment, since the end length electric wire W is preferentially delivered, the old electric wire W is processed first in the processing station ST.
It becomes possible to consume it for 2, and it is less likely to hold long-term inventory.

Next, referring to FIG. 69, the unit controller 850 that has received the shipping instruction specifies the address S _N output by the shipping instruction output unit 815b, and the container C is guided by the guide frame of the stock shelf 200. At 230, it is identified whether or not it is the most downstream portion in the Z direction (step U3).
1, U32). This identification is performed in the Z direction set at the address S _N = (X _n , Y _n , Z _n ) of the three-dimensional variable or the address S = (N _n , X _n , Y _n , Z _n ) of the four-dimensional variable. This can be easily performed by determining whether or not the value of is the most downstream value.
As a result of this determination, if the container C is not located on the most downstream side in the Z direction, the unit controller 850 causes the shipping unit 400 and the shipping unit 300 to cooperate with each other to perform the priority take-out process (step U33).

On the other hand, when the container C is at the most downstream side, the unit controller 850 drives the delivery unit 400 by the procedure described in FIGS. 19 to 22 (step U34), and opens the stopper unit 250 of the stock shelf 200. (Step U35) After that, the drive roller unit 240 of the stock shelf 200 is driven to take out the container C (step U3).
6, U37). Also in this warehousing process, the unit controller 850 monitors whether or not the above procedure has been normally completed (see step U38). If an abnormality occurs, the process is stopped at that point and error processing is performed. Is performed (step U39).

FIG. 70 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of the priority extraction processing in FIG.

[0226] Referring to the figure, the container C having a delivery request
However, if it is not at the most downstream address in the Z direction, first, the unit controller 850 drives the shipping unit 400 (step U321), and the container C in the Z direction.
Stopper unit 25 corresponding to the most downstream container C
0 is driven to open it (step U322), the container C is taken out (step U323), and the taken-out container C is carried out to the return shelf 230R (see FIG. 5) (step U324). As a result, the container C, which is requested to be delivered, is moved up in the Z direction. By this carry-up operation, the address of the container C having the delivery request is updated (step U325), and step U31 of the original routine is performed.
Return to. As a result, if the container C moved in the Z direction by this procedure is at the most downstream side in the Z direction, the delivery conveyors 541 to 5 are performed by the procedure from step U33.
If it is not delivered to the lowest stream while being delivered to 45, by repeating this highest priority unloading process again,
It is possible to move the container C having a delivery request to the most downstream side and preferentially carry it out.

FIG. 71 is a flow chart showing the return control of the warehousing unit 300 in the priority take-out process.

Referring to the figure, priority extraction processing is performed,
When the delivery unit 400 returns the container C to the return shelf 230R, the sensor provided on the return shelf 230R detects this (step B1).

If the container C is detected, the unit controller 850 drives the storage unit 300, rotates the motor 351 of the transport unit 310 in the opposite direction to the normal direction, and returns the container to the return rack 230R. C is taken out (step B3).

Next, the warehousing unit 300 reloads the container C into the original stock shelf 200 corresponding to the address where the container C was stored (step B4).

By this operation, the desired container C can be stored without changing the address where each container C is stored as much as possible.
Can be taken out preferentially.

Also in this processing, the unit controller 850 monitors whether or not the above procedure has been normally completed (see step B5). If an abnormality occurs, the processing is stopped at that time. Error processing is performed (step B6).

Next, the program in the main control unit 800 is set so that the above-mentioned shipping processing can be performed in parallel by a plurality of shipping units 400. As a result, a plurality of containers C may be carried out to the unloading / transporting unit 540, and a queue of the containers C may be formed with the up / down transfer device 550 as a window. In this queue processing,
The delivery instruction output unit 815 of the main control unit 800 determines that the transportation time of the container C at the most downstream end of each delivery conveyor 541 to 545 and the electric wire W of the container C is the processing station ST.
In 2, the remaining time until the product is sold out is calculated, the priority order is specified based on the calculation result, and a shipping command is output. On the other hand, the shipping control unit 555 that controls the shipping conveyors 541 to 545 and the elevating and lowering transfer device 550 carries out the containers C from the shipping conveyors 541 to 545 to the circulation unit 560 in the order based on this shipping command. This makes it possible to carry out the container C requested at the processing station ST2 very quickly in combination with the above-described priority take-out process from the stock shelf 200.

FIG. 72 is a flow chart showing a subroutine of the data update processing in FIG.

Referring to the figure, the address allocating unit 812 of the transaction processing unit 810 allocates the address required for the warehousing process or the warehousing process, and then outputs the address to the update processing unit 816 (step A51). On the other hand, when the above-mentioned warehousing process or warehousing process is completed, the processing result is transmitted from the unit control section 850 (see FIG. 60), so the update processing section 816 waits for the processing result (step A52). The update processing unit 816 determines from the received processing result information whether the processing result is normal (step A53), and only when the processing is normal,
The contents of the database 820 are updated based on the update information of the address assigning unit 812 (step A54). This makes it possible to maintain the consistency of inventory information and the like on the plurality of stock shelves 200.

By this updating process, the total outgoing electric wire length L which is requested in the outgoing process is updated. Therefore, when all the electric wires W requested by the outgoing of the container C are taken out, Is completed and the electric wire W is insufficient, the process returns to step A42 and the process is repeated.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but may be configured as shown in the drawings below.

FIG. 73 is a schematic front view showing the weighing operation of the sorting apparatus 760 according to another embodiment of the present invention, (A).
Shows a state before discrimination, and (B) shows a state during discrimination.

Referring to FIG. 73, the sorting device 7 shown in the same figure.
The 60 has substantially the same configuration as the sorting device 710 except that the weight sensor 711a, the inspection table 712, and the pressing cylinder 712c are not installed on the base 711 of the sorting device 710. Therefore, only the configuration different from that of the sorting device 710 will be described here. In the sorting device 760, the lifting cylinder 714 as a container levitation unit is composed of a cylinder body 714a and a rod 714b that can be displaced relative to the cylinder body 714a. The cylinder body 714a is a support frame 71.
It is fixed to 3a. Further, one end of the rod 714b is inserted into the support frame 713a and is fixed to the upper surface of the weight sensor 761 as a measuring unit. The lower surface of the weight sensor 761 is fixed to the upper surface of the top plate 715. Further, the weight sensor 761 is provided with a lead wire 761a connected to the switching control unit 777.

[0240] The sorting device 760 configured as described above.
Is the multipurpose flange 12 of the container C as shown in FIG.
Is conveyed between the elevating hangers 716 while being placed on the endless belt 716b. At this time, the lower surface of the container C is not in contact with the base 711. Then, the elevating cylinder 714 raises the elevating hanger 716 together with the container C, and the state shown in FIG. 73 (B) is obtained. When the lifting cylinder 714 is raised, the lifting hanger 716, the conveyance roller group 716a, the endless belt 716b, the input roller 717,
The total load of the connecting gear 717b, the side plate 715a, the top plate 715, and the container C is generated in the weight sensor 761.
This total load is transferred to the switching control unit 777 and compared with the data of the total load other than the container C preset in the switching control unit 777. Since the load of the container C is calculated by this comparison, the sorting device 760 can determine whether or not the electric wire W remains in the container C.

The sorting devices 710 and 760 of the present invention
Then, it is determined whether or not the electric wire W remains by the mass of the container C, but the determination is not limited to the mass. For example, an optical discriminating means such as an infrared sensor may be used, and by an image pickup means such as a line sensor,
The remaining electric wire W may be confirmed from the imaging data in the container C.

Switching device 700 configured as described above
Since the sorting devices 710 and 760 are provided, it is determined whether the electric wire W remains in the processed container C, and the container C in which the electric wire W remains is carried out to the return conveyor 730, and It can be stored in the stock shelf 200. On the other hand, since the switching device 700 is provided with the stacking device 720, it is possible to stack the containers C determined by the sorting devices 710 and 760 that the electric wire W does not remain and transport them to the collection processing station ST3. . Further, in the switching device 700, the electric wire W determined to remain in the container C by the sorting devices 710 and 760 causes the switching control unit 77.
When not set to 7, the container C can be transported to the recovery processing station ST3 alone (without stacking).

[0243]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Workpieces can be put in and taken out from any address whose coordinates are specified in three dimensions, and different kinds of works can be stored side by side in the same direction, or specified works can be put out from different kinds of works. It is possible to contribute to improving the efficiency of high-mix low-volume production by responding to various production plans and changes and efficiently holding sufficient and sufficient safety stock. Has a great effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container accommodating an electric wire as a work according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a layout of a factory that processes the electric wires housed in the container.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a main part of the factory.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a stock portion according to the present embodiment.

5 is a schematic front view showing a stock shelf adopted in the stock portion of FIG. 4 with a part thereof omitted.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of addresses assigned to the stock shelf.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged side view showing the main part of the stock shelf according to the present embodiment with a part thereof cut away.

8A and 8B show a delivery side portion of a stock shelf according to the present embodiment, FIG. 8A is a schematic front partial view, and FIG. 8B is a schematic partial plan view.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the entire stock portion, which is an overview of a stock shelf, a receiving unit, and a shipping unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a main part of the storage unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a frame portion of a transfer unit used in the storage unit.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a drive unit of the transport unit.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a usage state of the transport unit.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing the carrying operation of the carrying unit.

FIG. 15 is a side view showing a carrying operation of the carrying unit.

FIG. 16 is a side view showing a carrying operation of the carrying unit.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a delivery side transport unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged perspective view of a stopper release unit used in the transport unit of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing an operation procedure of the stopper releasing unit, (A) before engagement, (B) during engagement,
(C) shows the time of driving.

FIG. 20 is a side view showing an operation procedure of the delivery unit on the delivery side.

FIG. 21 is a side view showing an operation procedure of the delivery side transport unit.

FIG. 22 is a side view showing an operation procedure of the delivery side transport unit.

FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a main part of the conveyor device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a side view showing the operation of the direction switching unit,
(A) shows before direction switching, (B) shows during direction switching, and (C) shows after direction switching.

FIG. 25 is a schematic side view showing a schematic configuration of a warehousing and conveying section.

FIG. 26 is a side view of the barcode reader unit shown in FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a side view of the warehousing and conveying section.

FIG. 28 is a side view of the warehousing and conveying section.

FIG. 29 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a matrix processing unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a partially enlarged schematic view showing a main part of a supply conveyor.

FIG. 31 is a partially enlarged schematic view showing a main part of a supply conveyor.

32 is an enlarged partial schematic view showing an enlarged end portion of the matrix processing section shown in FIG. 29. FIG.

33 is an enlarged partial schematic view showing the upstream end of the matrix processing section shown in FIG. 29 in an enlarged manner. FIG.

34 is an enlarged partial schematic view showing the upstream side of the matrix processing section shown in FIG. 29 in an enlarged manner. FIG.

FIG. 35 is a schematic partial plan view of the carry-in device provided on the supply conveyor.

FIG. 36 shows a schematic configuration of a carry-in device,
(A) is a front view of the lifting table 588a before operation, (B)
[Fig. 11] is a front view after the operation of the lifting table 588a.

FIG. 37 is a side view showing the operation of the carry-in device,
(A) shows the state in the retracted position, and (B) shows the state in the delivery position.

38 is a schematic side view showing the operation of the carry-in device. FIG.

FIG. 39 is a schematic side view showing the exit side of the conveyor device.

FIG. 40 is a plan view of the carry-out device provided on the delivery conveyor.

FIG. 41 is a schematic side view showing a downstream end portion of the conveyor device on the delivery side.

42 is a schematic side view showing a downstream end portion of the conveyor device on the delivery side. FIG.

43 is a schematic side view showing a downstream end portion of the conveyor device on the delivery side. FIG.

FIG. 44 is a schematic side view showing a downstream end portion of the conveyor device on the delivery side.

FIG. 45 is a schematic side view showing a downstream end portion of the conveyor device on the delivery side.

FIG. 46 is a side view showing the overall configuration of the circulation unit according to the present embodiment.

47 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the sorting device in FIG. 46 with a part thereof omitted.

48 is a schematic front view showing the weighing operation of the sorting apparatus of FIG. 47, (A) showing a state before determination, and (B) showing a state during determination.

49 is a partially enlarged schematic view showing a display panel of the sorting apparatus of FIG. 47. FIG.

50 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the stacking device in FIG. 46 with a part thereof omitted, (A) showing a state before stacking the container, and (B) showing a state after stacking the container, respectively. .

51 is a partially enlarged schematic view showing the operation of the claw portion of the stacking device in FIG. 50, (A) showing a state after the lift cylinder is lowered, (B) showing a state where the lift cylinder is being lowered, FIG.
(C) shows the state after the lift cylinder is lowered.

FIG. 52 is a side view showing an operation procedure of the switching device.

FIG. 53 is a side view showing an operation procedure of the switching device.

FIG. 54 is a side view showing an operation procedure of the switching device.

FIG. 55 is a side view showing an operation procedure of the switching device.

FIG. 56 is a side view showing the operation procedure of the switching device.

FIG. 57 is a block diagram of the entire automatic supply system according to the present embodiment.

58 is a block section showing a schematic configuration of a transaction processing section provided in the main control section of FIG. 57. FIG.

FIG. 59 is a flowchart of a main controller of the automatic supply system according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 60 is a flowchart of a unit controller of the automatic supply system according to this embodiment.

FIG. 61 is a conceptual diagram showing a warehousing process flow when warehousing a new electric wire.

FIG. 62 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a stocking request process in the main control unit.

FIG. 63 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a warehousing process in the unit controller.

FIG. 64 is a conceptual diagram showing a warehousing process flow for returning a container.

FIG. 65 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a warehousing process.

FIG. 66 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of non-set container processing in the switching device.

FIG. 67 is a conceptual diagram showing a shipping process flow of a container.

FIG. 68 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a shipping request processing in the main control unit.

FIG. 69 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of a shipping process in the unit controller.

70 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the priority extraction processing in FIG. 69. FIG.

FIG. 71 is a flowchart showing return control of the warehousing unit in the priority take-out process.

72 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of data update processing in FIG. 59.

FIG. 73 is a schematic front view showing a weighing operation of a sorting apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention, (A) showing a state before determination,
(B) shows the states during discrimination.

[Explanation of symbols]

W electric wire C container 2,524,719 Bar code reader unit 100 automatic supply system 200 stock shelves 300 storage unit 400 shipping unit 527 lifter 530 Matrix processing unit 570, 580 Supply conveyor 572, 582, 592 Conveyor rollers 573, 583, 593 Endless belt 574, 584, 594 drive motor 575, 585, 595 Output roller 577, 587, 597 Output gear 580a sensor 590 Evacuation conveyor 780 switching unit 800 Main control unit 810 transaction processing unit 811 Request reception part 812 Address allocation section 815 Support output unit 816 Data update unit 820 database 850 unit controller

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazuki Takamatsu             6-10 Yoneizumi-cho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa Hokuriku Haru             Nes Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Sadahiko Hachino             6-10 Yoneizumi-cho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa Hokuriku Haru             Nes Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Manabu Nakano             6-10 Yoneizumi-cho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa Hokuriku Haru             Nes Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3F022 CC00 CC06 EE01 EE05 FF12                       JJ09 KK16 LL33 MM01 MM11                       MM17 MM19 PP04 PP06 QQ01                       QQ11

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A stock shelf having a storage space for storing a plurality of works in three directions intersecting with each other, and each storage space has a stock shelf to which an address capable of specifying coordinates in three dimensions is set, and to this stock shelf On the other hand, a storage unit for storing the work, a storage unit for storing the work from the stock shelf, a unit control unit for controlling the operation of both units, a main control unit including an operation program of the unit control unit, and a main control unit. An automatic supply system, which is connected to a control unit and includes work information reading means for reading work information relating to works stored in stock shelves, wherein the main control unit is provided with A transaction processing part is provided to process the goods receipt / put-out transaction, and this transaction processing part The data referred to by the address assigning unit, including a request accepting unit that accepts requests, an address assigning unit that assigns the address of the work related to the accepted request, and an address storage unit that stores the address set in the storage space of the stock shelf. Based on the database that stores the information, the instruction output unit that outputs an instruction to the unit control unit based on the address assigned by the address assignment unit, the address information assigned by the address assignment unit and the processing result information from the unit control unit. , An automatic supply system including a data updating unit for updating a database. 2. The automatic supply system according to claim 1, wherein a line processing unit is provided in the storage unit, and the line processing unit is set in the storage unit and is arranged in a state in which a plurality of works are aligned. In the case where the supply conveyor that supplies each one, the conveyance means that conveys the work to the supply conveyor, the empty space detection means that detects whether or not the supply conveyor is full, and the empty space detection means detect the work And a circulating means for circulating the work being conveyed by the conveying means to the uppermost stream of the conveying means. 3. The automatic supply system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of sets of the stock shelf, the receiving unit, and the issuing unit are provided, and the workpiece is provided from each of the issuing units of each set. An automatic supply system characterized in that a plurality of delivery conveyors for delivering the workpieces are provided, and a priority order specifying means for selectively delivering the workpieces delivered from each delivery conveyor to a processing station is provided.