JP2004083196A - Shelf receiving member advancing/retracting type drive-in rack - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rack capable of having a plurality of articles arranged and placed in the rack width direction on each shelf lined in the rack depth direction while being a drive-in type, easy in conveying device to come in and out because receiving members for receiving a shelf in the middle of the rack in its waiting state does not become an obstacle to the conveying device coming in. <P>SOLUTION: The drive-in rack is capable of of having a conveying device such as a fork lift truck to come inside to convey the articles W in and out. A plurality of sections are composed by providing a plurality of the shelves 3 in the rack depth direction for lining and placing the plurality of the articles W in the rack width direction. A shelf elevating means 4 is provided for independently elevating each of the shelves 3 between a rack upper part and a rack middle part. The rack receiving members 7 for supporting both ends of an elevatingly driven shelf 3 in the width direction are provided. The receiving members 7 are advanceable/retractable, and an advancing/retracting means 32 is provided for making the receiving members 7 retract when the rack 3 is elevated to the rack upper part. The advancing/retracting means 32 retracts in an upright state in contact with a balance weight 25 provided on the shelf elevating means 4, for example. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a drive-in rack in which a transfer device such as a forklift enters and takes in and out articles.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is a drive-in rack as a rack in which a transport device such as a forklift enters a rack and takes in and out articles in units such as pallets. The drive-in rack is generally of a first-in, first-out type in which storage and retrieval are performed in only one direction, but there is also a drive-through type in which the storage can be taken in and out from both sides. In this specification, the drive-in rack includes a drive-through type rack.
FIG. 10 shows a conventional general drive-in rack. The space between the standing frames 51 that partition the rack to the left and right is substantially equal to one pallet (not shown), and cantilevered pallet supports 52 provided on the left and right standing frames 51 are provided with left and right pallets. The articles are stored in pallets by placing both ends. The space between the left and right pallet supports 52 is a space for the passage of the forklift. The pallets are placed one on top of one or more tiers for each pallet tray 52, and the pallets are placed on the floor one or more tiers vertically and placed flat, and articles are stored in pallet units.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
2. Description of the Related Art As a transport device such as a forklift, there is a transport device in which two pallets are arranged side by side, and an article can be transported in units of two pallets. It is desired that the use of such a transport device enables efficient entry and exit of a warehouse, and enables its use in a drive-in rack.
However, since the conventional drive-in rack receives both ends of the pallet by the pallet receiver 52 provided on the support frame 51, when using the above-described transport device for transporting two pallets in a side-by-side manner, simply using Even if the frontage is widened, the center of the two pallets cannot be received. When a member for receiving the center of the arrangement of the two pallets is provided, the member hinders the entrance of the transport device. For this reason, it is not possible to use a transfer device for two pallets.
[0004]
Then, while widening the frontage between the support frames 51, placing a shelf on the opposing pallet tray 52, and placing a pallet thereon, it was considered that a transport device such as a forklift would be required if such a shelf was provided. Cannot enter the rack. In order to solve this problem, the present inventor has considered a configuration in which shelves can be independently raised and lowered between a rack upper part and a rack middle part.
However, the receiving member that receives the shelf at the middle stage of the rack projects in a cantilever manner inside the rack even when the shelf is on standby. For this reason, there is a risk that the forklift and articles conveyed thereto may be caught by the receiving member, and the forklift must be careful in its approach operation. If the projecting length of the receiving member is reduced, interference can be avoided, but it is difficult to secure a sufficient margin for the shelf in the receiving member.
[0005]
An object of the present invention is to be able to arrange a plurality of shelves arranged in the depth direction in a middle section of a rack while being a drive-in type, and to place a plurality of articles side by side in the width direction on the shelves. It is an object of the present invention to provide a shelf receiving / retracting drive-in rack in which a receiving member received in a middle stage of a rack does not hinder the entry of a transport device in a standby state of a shelf, and the transport device can be easily entered.
Another object of the present invention is to enable the receiving member to be freely retractable with a simple configuration. Still another object of the present invention is to enable the receiving member to move in and out according to the ascending and descending of the shelf with a simple configuration, and to eliminate the operation and control for moving the shelf in and out.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The shelf receiving / retracting drive-in rack of the present invention is a drive-in rack in which a transfer device such as a forklift can enter and take out articles by entering the inside thereof, and a shelf on which a plurality of articles can be arranged and placed in the width direction. A plurality of storage sections are configured by providing a plurality of storage sections in the depth direction. In this configuration, shelf elevating means for independently elevating each shelf between the upper part of the rack and the middle part of the rack is provided, and a plurality of receiving members for supporting each shelf are provided at the middle part of the column of the rack. An advancing / retreating means is provided for allowing each of the receiving members to be able to move in and out of the rack, and for retracting the receiving members when the shelf is elevated above the rack.
According to this configuration, since the shelf elevating means for independently elevating and lowering each shelf between the upper part of the rack and the middle part of the rack is provided, the shelves obstructing entry of the transport device into the rack are retracted to the upper part of the rack. I can put it. Therefore, it is possible to provide a shelf in the middle part of the rack while allowing the transport device to enter, and to widen the frontage and provide a shelf that covers the entire frontage. For this reason, a plurality of articles can be placed side by side in the rack width direction. The shelf descends to the middle part of the rack, and the articles are placed in a state supported by the receiving member. Therefore, the load of the article is received by the receiving member, and the shelf elevating means only needs to raise and lower the empty shelf. The receiving member performs the support of the shelf in a protruding state. When the shelf is elevated to the upper part of the rack, the receiving member is retracted by the retracting means. Therefore, in the standby state of the shelf being lifted, it is possible to prevent the transport device and the articles transported by the transport device from being caught on the receiving member, and the transport device can be easily entered. For this reason, a sufficient margin for supporting the shelf on the receiving member can be ensured without hindering the entry of the transport device.
[0007]
Each of the receiving members may be swingable between a standing state along the support and a horizontal state protruding from the support to the inside of the rack.
When the receiving member is swingable in this manner, the receiving member can be made to be able to move out and back with a simple configuration.
[0008]
The shelf elevating means is provided with a sling attached to a hanging wheel installed on the upper part of the rack and connected at both ends to the shelf and the counterweight, and a drive source for rotating the winding wheel. May be. In this case, the above-mentioned retreat may be such that the receiving member is erected by contacting the counterweight.
In this configuration, when the shelf rises, the counterweight descends, and the egress / retreat means comes into contact with the lowered counterweight, and the receiving member is erected. For this reason, with a simple configuration, the receiving member can be moved in and out according to the ascending and descending of the shelf, and the operation and control for moving the shelf in and out become unnecessary. Further, when the counter weight is provided, the balance with the shelf weight can be achieved, so that the shelf can be moved up and down with a light force.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, the shelf receiving / retracting drive-in rack 1 is a drive-in rack in which a transport device 2 such as a forklift can enter and take in and out articles W. This drive-in rack 1 is provided with a plurality of shelves 3 on which a plurality of articles W can be placed side by side in the width direction (X direction) as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 in the depth direction (Y direction) as shown in FIG. it allows to configure the plurality of storage compartments _{E (E} 1 _{~E n)} inside the rack. Each storage section E is a space above each shelf 3 and a space on the floor F below each shelf 3. In the drive-in rack 1 having this configuration, a shelf elevating means 4 for independently elevating each shelf 3 between the upper part of the rack and the middle part of the rack is provided. Among the shelves 3, the shelf 3 ₀ of the deepest portion is a fixed shelf, and an elevating rack which is other each shelf 3 is moved up and down by the rack lifting means 4. The article W to be placed on the shelf 3 is a pallet stack in which the articles M are placed on the pallet P.
[0010]
The shelf support structure 5 of the drive-in rack 1 has a front shape formed by left and right pillar assemblies 6 that are spaced apart in the width direction as shown in FIG. 1 and left and right connecting members 23 that connect the upper ends of both pillar assemblies 6. It has a gate shape. The column assembly 6 is formed by assembling a plurality of columns 8 arranged in the depth direction with upper and middle beams 21 and 22 (FIG. 3) and reinforcing members (not shown) such as braces. For example, two columns 8 are provided before and after each storage section E. The shelf support structure 5 may be a plurality of units arranged side by side on the left and right column assembly 6 and the left and right connecting members 23 as a unit, or may be configured by only one unit. There may be.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 1, the drive-in rack 1 is provided with receiving members 7 that support both ends in the width direction of the shelf 3 that is driven to move up and down, in a middle portion of the rack. The shelf elevating means 4 elevates the shelf 3 between the upper part of the rack and the receiving member 7. The receiving members 7 are provided for the respective columns 8 and support one of the four corners of the rectangular shelf 3. The receiving member 7 may be provided between two columns 8 adjacent in the depth direction.
[0012]
The shelf lifting / lowering means 4 is a device in which the hanging rope 9 is mounted on a hanging ring 30 installed on the upper part of the rack, and both ends of the hanging rope 9 are connected to the shelf 3 and the counterweight 25. A drive source 12 such as a motor for rotating is provided. The counterweights 25 are provided on both left and right sides of the rack, and are disposed between the columns 8 that are adjacent to each other in front and rear. As shown in FIG. 5, two hanging ropes 9 are provided on the left and right, respectively, and connect the corresponding end of the shelf 3 and the counterweight 25 to each other. The winding wheel 30 on which the front and rear suspension lines 9 are mounted is fixed to a common rotating shaft 31. The rotating shafts 31 of the left and right winding wheels 30 are connected by a left and right interlocking mechanism 37 so that the elevation of the shelf 3 is synchronized with each other. The left and right interlocking mechanism 37 is composed of, for example, a rotation direction reversing means 38 composed of a gear train or the like, and a winding transmission mechanism 34 on which a rope 34a is mounted. A chain is used for the hanging cable 9 and the cable member 34a, and a sprocket is used for the winding wheel 30. The suspension cable 9 and the cable 34a may be wire ropes, in which case a sheave is used for the winding wheel 30 and the like. The drive source 12 (FIG. 1) is connected to either the left or right rotation shaft 31 or the left and right interlocking mechanism 37.
[0013]
Each receiving member 7 in FIG. 1 is capable of being retracted into and out of the rack, receives the shelf 3 in a protruding state, and is retracted by the retracting means 32 when the shelf 3 rises to the upper part of the rack. The receiving member 7 is installed so as to be swingable between a horizontal state protruding from the column 8 to the inside of the rack as shown in the figure and a standing state along the column 8 as shown in FIG. It is free.
[0014]
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in an enlarged manner, the receiving member 7 is supported by the support column 8 by the bracket 33 so as to be swingable about the axis of the rotating shaft 39. Engages with the contact portion 35 and is prevented from descending further. The contact portion 35 is formed by a part of the bracket 33. The contact portion 35 may be a side surface of the column 8. The bracket 33 has a pair of supporting pieces 33a protruding from the substrate 33b, and rotatably supports portions of the rotating shaft 39 protruding from the receiving member 7 on both sides by the supporting pieces 33a on both sides.
[0015]
The retracting means 32 raises the receiving member 7 by contacting the counterweight 25. The retracting means 32 includes the rotating shaft 39 and an engagement arm 36 extending from the rotating shaft 39. The rotating shaft 39 is fixed to the receiving member 7 and extends toward the center in the front-rear direction of the storage section E, and the engaging arm 36 extends rearward from the tip end. The engagement arm 36 is provided at a position where the tip thereof comes into contact with the counterweight 25 when the counterweight 25 is lowered. When the receiving member 7 is in a horizontal state, the engaging arm 36 faces obliquely upward as shown in FIG. When the counterweight 25 descends, the engagement arm 36 is pushed down by the counterweight 25 to be obliquely downward as shown in FIG. 4B, and is held in a state of contacting the side surface of the counterweight 25.
[0016]
The operation of the above configuration will be described. The drive-in rack 1 is in the form out after first-, floor of the storage compartment of the deepest portion at the time of warehousing E ₁ housed _(Figure 2), then fixed shelf 3 ₀ on the storage compartment E ₂ thereon , the second floor of the storage compartment from the deepest E _3, go housed in the order of the storage compartment E ₄ on the shelf 3 on it.
As the transporting device 2 used for loading and unloading the articles W, one capable of transporting the palletized articles W side by side two by two is used. For example, a forklift having two forks 2a capable of supporting one pallet P side by side is used. By using such a transport device 2, eight articles W stored in each storage section E are stored two by two in a row. When unloading the articles W, the articles W are unloaded two by two in the same manner as when the articles are stored.
[0017]
The loading and unloading by the transport device 2 is performed by the transport device 2 entering the drive-in rack 1 as shown in FIG. At this time, the shelves 3 on the entrance side of the storage section E where the loading and unloading work is to be performed are retracted to the upper part of the rack as shown in FIG. Thus, the entry / exit operation can be performed without the shelf 3 obstructing the entry of the transport device 2. During goods receipt operations, for example performed housing for rack 3 storage compartment E ₄ as shown, the end is accommodated in the whole of the storage compartment E _4, the end also accommodating to the next floor of the storage compartment E ₅ above Then, the shelf 3 of the storage section E ₆ thereon is lowered onto the receiving member 7 by the lifting drive means 4. The articles W are stored on the lowered shelf 3. This operation is repeated.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2, each of the receiving members 7 receiving the shelves 3 causes the counter arm 25 to push down and rotate the engaging arm 36 of the egress / retreat means 32 when the shelves 3 are raised and waited. Retreat to a standing position along. This upright state is maintained by the engagement arm 36 contacting the side surface of the counterweight 25.
As described above, since the receiving member 7 is retracted to the upright state, when the transport device 2 and the articles W transported by the transport device 2 pass under the shelf 3 that has been raised and waited as shown in FIG. The device 2 and the article W are prevented from being caught on the receiving member 7. Therefore, the transport device 2 can easily enter. Further, there is no need to limit the length of the receiving member 7 in order to avoid interference with the transport device 2 and the article W, and a sufficient receiving margin for supporting the shelf 3 on the receiving member 7 can be secured.
[0019]
When the shelf 3 is lowered, the counterweight 25 is lifted up and disengaged from the engagement arm 36, so that the receiving member 7 rotates by its own weight and returns to the horizontal posture as shown in FIGS. A spring member (not shown) for urging the receiving member 7 in the retreating direction may be provided without depending on the own weight or together with the own weight, and the receiving member 7 may be forcibly retracted to the upright state. As described above, since the receiving member 7 is configured so that the receiving member 7 moves in conjunction with the raising and lowering of the shelf 3 by engaging with the counterweight 25, the operation for moving the shelf 3 in and out can be performed. No control is required. Moreover, the above-described interlocking can be performed with a simple configuration. When the counterweight 25 is provided, the balance with the weight of the shelf 3 can be achieved, so that the shelf 3 can be moved up and down with a light force.
[0020]
According to the drive-in rack 1, since the shelf elevating means 4 for independently elevating and lowering each of the shelves 3 is provided, the shelves 3 which hinder the entry of the transport device 2 into the racks are retracted to the upper part. be able to. For this reason, the shelf 3 can be provided in the middle part of the rack while the transport device 2 can enter, and the frontage can be widened and the shelf 3 can be provided over the entire frontage. Therefore, a plurality of articles can be placed side by side on the shelf 3 in the width direction. Further, the receiving member 7 for receiving the shelf 3 in the middle stage of the rack is made to be able to move back and forth, and is retracted by the egress / retreat means 32 in a state of waiting for the shelf 3 to rise. It is possible to avoid being caught by the receiving member 7 in the unsupported state, and the transport device 2 can easily enter. Since the receiving member 7 can swing back and forth between a horizontal state and an upright state, it can be moved back and forth, so that the structure for moving back and forth can be simplified, and a space for disposing the receiving member 7 at the time of retreat is secured. easy.
[0021]
In the above embodiment, the receiving member 7 is swingable. However, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, the receiving member 7 may be moved in and out linearly. The receiving member 7 shown in the figure is installed in a guide cylinder 40 provided on the support column 8 so as to be able to advance and retreat, and is made to retreat by the retreat means 32A comprising a solenoid or a cylinder device. The retracting operation of the receiving member 7 in accordance with the elevation of the shelf 3 is performed by electrical control.
In addition to the above embodiments, the receiving member may be moved by horizontal rotation.
[0022]
Further, the above embodiments, the entry and leaving the innermost portion of the rack provided fixed shelf 3 ₀ has been assumed the form out after first-performed from only one direction, all of the shelves 3 in the shelf lifting means 4 If it is raised and lowered, a drive-through type can be used.
In each of the above embodiments, the number of articles arranged on the shelf 3 in the width direction is four. However, the number of articles arranged may be two or more, and may be an arbitrary number. Further, an intermediate support column (not shown) for supporting the middle of the shelf 3 in the width direction may be provided. The intermediate support columns are provided on the floor surface F at intervals of two or more articles W. When the number of articles arranged is four as in the above-described embodiment, an intermediate support column that supports the center of the shelf 3 may be provided. Even if the intermediate support column is provided in this way, if two or more articles W are spaced apart, the transport device that transports the articles W two by two can enter the rack.
The shelf lifting / lowering means 4 is not limited to the one using the balance weight 25. For example, an endless suspension cable may be provided, the shelf 3 may be coupled to a part of the suspension cable, and the suspension cable may be rotationally driven by a driving source. good. In this case, the retreating means 32 may be configured to reciprocate the receiving member 7 by, for example, an engaging means provided on the suspension cable. Further, the shelf lifting / lowering means 4 is not limited to the one using the hanging cable, but may be one that is driven up and down by, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism.
[0023]
【The invention's effect】
The shelf receiving and retracting drive-in rack of the present invention is provided with a shelf elevating means for independently elevating each shelf between the upper part of the rack and the middle part of the rack. Can be arranged in the middle part of the rack, and a plurality of articles can be placed on each shelf in the rack width direction. Further, since a plurality of receiving members for supporting the respective shelves are provided in the middle portion of the rack support, the shelf elevating means only needs to elevate and lower empty shelves. Each receiving member can be moved back and forth and provided with a retracting means for retracting the receiving member when the shelf is rising to the upper part of the rack. The receiving member in the middle shelf non-supported state is not caught and the transport device can be easily entered.
When each of the receiving members is swingable between a standing state along the columns and a horizontal state protruding from the columns toward the inside of the rack, the receiving members can be freely retracted with a simple configuration.
Shelf elevating means is provided with a sling attached to a hanging wheel installed on the upper part of the rack and having both ends connected to a shelf and a counterweight, and a drive source for rotating the winding wheel. In the case where the above-mentioned retreating means raises and lowers the receiving member by contacting the counterweight, the receiving member can be moved in and out in accordance with the elevating of the shelf with a simple configuration. The operation and control of are not required. In addition, the shelf can be moved up and down with a light force by the counterweight.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cutaway front view showing an article storage state of a shelf receiving / retracting drive-in rack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cutaway front view showing a state of the drive-in rack at the time of article conveyance.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the drive-in rack in an article storage state.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the drive-in rack.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a shelf elevating means of the drive-in rack.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are enlarged front views showing a protruding state and a retreating state of the receiving member and its retracting means, respectively.
FIG. 7 is a cutaway plan view of the receiving member and its retracting means.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are enlarged front views respectively showing a protruding state and a retreating state in a modified example of the receiving member and its retracting means.
FIG. 9 is a cutaway plan view of the receiving member and its retracting means.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... drive-in rack 2 ... transporting apparatus 3 ... shelf 3 0 _... fixed shelf 4 ... shelf lifting means 6 ... pillar assembly 7 ... receiving member 8 ... post 9 ... slings 12 ... drive source 25 ... counterweight 30 ... winding Kakewa 32, 32A ... projecting and retracting means _E, E 1 ~E n _... storage compartment F ... floor W ... article P ... palette

Claims (3)

A drive-in rack in which a transport device such as a forklift can enter and take out articles by entering the inside, and a plurality of storage sections are formed by providing a plurality of shelves in a depth direction in which a plurality of articles can be arranged and placed in a width direction. A rack elevating means for independently raising and lowering each shelf between the upper part of the rack and the middle part of the rack; a plurality of receiving members for supporting the respective shelves at a middle part of the column of the rack; A shelf receiving / retracting drive-in rack provided with an egress / retract means for allowing the receiving member to retreat when the shelf is elevated to the upper part of the rack so as to be freely retractable to the inside. The shelf receiving / retracting drive-in rack according to claim 1, wherein each of the receiving members is swingable between a standing state along the columns and a horizontal state protruding from the columns toward the inside of the rack. Shelf elevating means is provided with a hanging cable mounted on a hanging wheel installed on the upper part of the rack and both ends coupled to the shelf and the counterweight, and a drive source for rotating the winding wheel. 3. The shelf receiving / retracting drive-in rack according to claim 2, wherein the retracting means raises the receiving member by contacting the counterweight.

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