JP2008063133A - Stacker crane conveyance facility - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To substitute the operations for a defective stacker crane at low cost and easily deliver a body to be treated between stacker cranes in a conveyance facility having stacker cranes moving along a wall surface and delivering an article to be conveyed between a delivery opening formed in the wall surface and itself. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of stacker cranes share a route along which they move. An evacuation area in which the stacker cranes evacuate when they fail is formed in the facility. An intermediate delivery part for temporarily storing the body to be treated is formed between the stacker cranes. The body to be treated is delivered between the stacker cranes through the intermediate delivery part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a stacker crane conveyance facility including a plurality of stacker cranes.

  For example, in a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant, there are a plurality of processing chambers equipped with processing units for performing different processes such as weighing, granulation, sieving, molding into tablets (tablet) and inspection on powder raw materials. A plurality of floors are provided in the horizontal direction across the floors. After the powder raw material is carried in from the outside and opened, it is stored in a predetermined transport container in the intermediate storage unit. The powder raw material is sequentially processed from the intermediate storage unit to each processing chamber, processed, returned to the intermediate storage unit again, and then transferred to the next processing chamber, and then sequentially processed. Pharmaceuticals are manufactured.

  The transfer of the transfer container between the intermediate storage unit and each processing chamber is performed via a stacker crane. That is, in the factory, a flat rectangular parallelepiped passage (called a “stacker crane shaft” or the like) surrounded by a wall surface that is a moving space of the stacker crane is provided, and each processing chamber or intermediate storage section is provided on the wall surface. A transfer port for transferring the transfer container is formed.

  The stacker crane includes a base that moves along a horizontal track formed on the bottom surface of the moving space, and a lift that is provided on the base and moves up and down. The lift moves in the width direction of the moving space. And the conveyance stand comprised so that it can approach into a process chamber via each delivery port is provided. Each processing chamber includes, for example, a transport mechanism that delivers a transport container between the processing section of the processing chamber and the transport table that has entered the processing chamber, and is connected to the stacker crane via the transport mechanism. It is comprised so that delivery of a conveyance container can be performed. The factory is provided with a plurality of horizontal tracks, and each of these tracks is provided with a single stacker crane.

  Since each process in the above-described processing chamber is continuously performed on the powder raw material, when a part of each process is stopped due to trouble, for example, all the processes in the factory are stopped. Therefore, in each processing chamber, for example, a plurality of the same processing units are provided to perform parallel operation, and when one processing unit is stopped, the other processing unit is used to avoid line stoppage. On the other hand, if the stacker crane stops operating due to a failure or the like, the transfer container cannot be transferred between the processing chambers, and the transfer container that is the transfer object of the stacker crane is large. Cannot be substituted. For this reason, all the processes in the factory are stopped until the trouble is solved by parts replacement of the stacker crane, and it takes a long time to restart the operation of the stacker crane, so that the operation efficiency of the factory is lowered.

  As a countermeasure, a method of installing a spare stacker crane that is not normally used can be considered, but this increases the cost. Patent Document 1 describes a stacker crane, but does not touch on the above-described problem and the solution thereof.

  In addition, when transferring transfer containers between a plurality of stacker cranes, other auxiliary transfer facilities that connect transfer ports of each stacker crane, such as a traverser and a belt conveyor, are necessary, which increases the cost. is there.

JP 3-188937

  The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technology capable of suppressing a reduction in production efficiency at a low cost even when a failure occurs in a stacker crane. Moreover, it is providing the technique which can perform the delivery of the conveyance container between stacker cranes inexpensively.

The stacker crane conveyance facility of the present invention is
In a stacker crane transport facility equipped with a stacker crane that moves on a track and transfers a transported object to and from a transfer section provided in a work area,
A plurality of stacker cranes installed on the same track and each assigned a plurality of work areas arranged along the track;
When a failure occurs in one stacker crane, the failure occurs in an area outside the work area of each stacker crane in order to share the work in the work area of the one stacker crane with another stacker crane. And a retreat area provided so that the stacker crane can be retreated.

Between the work areas of the stacker cranes adjacent to each other, an intermediate transfer unit in which any of these stacker cranes can transfer the object to be conveyed may be provided.
Two stacker cranes may be provided, and the retreat area may be provided at both ends of the track.
The evacuation area may be provided so as to be branched from the track so that any stacker crane can be evacuated.

In addition, the stacker crane conveyance facility of the present invention is
A program for normal operation for normal operation of the plurality of stacker cranes, a backup program for sharing work by another stacker crane when a failure occurs in the stacker crane, and a program selected from these programs It is preferable to provide a control unit having means for outputting a control signal for the stacker crane based on the program.

  According to the present invention, the tracks of the plurality of stacker cranes are made common so that the plurality of stacker cranes move on one track, and a retreat area is provided in which the plurality of stacker cranes can be retreated in the event of a failure. Even when one stacker crane breaks down, the stacker crane is retreated to the retreat area, and the other stacker cranes are operated so as to take over the work of the failed stacker crane. Therefore, stoppage of production can be prevented, or even if production stops, it can be restarted promptly and inexpensive equipment can be configured. In addition, the track of the plurality of stacker cranes is made common so that the plurality of stacker cranes move on one track, and an intermediate transfer unit that can store the transport container along the track is provided between the stacker cranes. By providing, since a conveyance container can be delivered between stacker cranes via this intermediate delivery part, an auxiliary conveyance facility becomes unnecessary.

  A first embodiment of a stacker crane conveyance facility of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 shows an example of a pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1, for example, to which a stacker crane transportation facility of the present invention is applied. First, the overall configuration of the pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1 will be described. A chain line portion in the figure indicates an outer wall 11 of the pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1, and the inside of the outer wall 11 is divided into, for example, two layers vertically by a floor 12. Further, a flat rectangular parallelepiped passage (moving space) 13 called a stacker crane shaft for moving a stacker crane 2 to be described later is provided in the outer wall 11. Each layer is provided so as to divide each layer into the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) along the horizontal direction (X-axis direction in the figure) across each layer, and its periphery is surrounded by a wall (wall surface) 14 Yes.

  In each layer, on either the left or right side or one side across the passage 13 (wall 14), there are a large number of processing chambers for performing predetermined processing on the pharmaceutical raw materials and storage chambers for storing intermediate raw materials being processed. Are provided along the length direction (X direction). These processing chambers include a transport area in which a material to be transported (transport container C) described later is transported. For example, weighing of a pharmaceutical raw material, filling of the measured raw material into the transport container C, and in the transport container C Processing units (not shown) that perform different processes on pharmaceutical raw materials and products obtained from such raw materials, such as granulation, sieving of pharmaceutical raw materials, molding into tablets (tablet), or inspection of molded products (products) )).

  The wall 14 that defines the passage 13 is formed with a delivery port for delivering the transfer container C to a position corresponding to the processing chamber or the storage chamber. The delivery port is, for example, a door that can be opened and closed laterally. 16 is partitioned. The transfer container C is transferred between the stacker crane 2 that moves in the passage 13 via the door 16 and the mounting table 15 that is a transfer portion provided inside the door 16 (in the processing chamber or the storage chamber). .

  The mounting table 15 is composed of, for example, two square members bent in an inverted U shape and disposed at a predetermined interval. Each processing chamber includes a processing unit (not shown) that performs predetermined processing on each of the pharmaceutical raw materials or intermediate products, and a transport mechanism (not shown) for delivering the transport container C between the processing unit and the mounting table 15. Is provided. Also, one processing section is divided into upper and lower floors, and the raw material or intermediate product received on the upper floor (layer) is dropped to the lower floor, and the processed material is transferred to the transport container C on the lower floor. It is good also as a system which moves to and returns to the stacker crane 2. In addition, although description is abbreviate | omitted so that a figure may not become complicated, the process chamber of each layer is divided mutually by the wall, and is maintained by the predetermined | prescribed cleanliness.

Next, the stacker crane 2 that moves in the passage 13 will be described with reference to FIG. The stacker crane 2 includes a base 21, vertically extending pillars 22, 22 provided on the base 21, a lift 23 movable in the vertical direction between the pillars 22, 22, and a carriage 24 installed on the lift 23. It is composed of The transport table 24 is configured as a delivery means for the transport container C, moves in the front-rear direction (Y direction in the figure) of the passage 13, and between the mounting table 15 in the door 16 through the door 16 described above. Then, the transfer container C is delivered.
A track 25 is provided on the floor 12 in the passage 13 along the length direction of the passage 13, and the stacker crane 2 is laterally moved along the track 25 by wheels 26 provided on the base 21. Move in the direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the stacker crane 2 includes a plurality of, for example, two stacker cranes 2a and 2b arranged in the left-right direction in the drawing on one track 25, and these stacker cranes 2a. 2b, during normal operation, each moves within the work areas 30a and 30b for performing work (delivery of the transfer container C between the storage room and the processing room), and as described above, the mounting table 15, the transfer container C is delivered via the door 16. The work areas 30a and 30b are configured to be areas obtained by dividing the passage 13 into approximately two equal parts in the length direction. One track 25 is composed of one rail or a plurality of parallel rails.

  In addition, outside the respective work areas 30a and 30b (both ends of the passage 13), retreat areas 31a and 31b in which one stacker crane 2a (2b) can be retreated are provided, respectively. Even when the other stacker crane 2a (or 2b) is retracted to the retreat area 31a (or 31b) due to a malfunction or the like, the other stacker crane 2b (or 2a) is stacked in the work area 30a (30b). It is comprised so that the work of (2b) can be taken over. The work areas 30a, 30b and the retreat areas 31a, 31b are not particularly physically partitioned, but are provided for the purpose of explaining the role of each area for convenience.

  The pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1 which is a stacker crane transport facility including the stacker cranes 2a and 2b includes a control unit 4 that controls the operation of the stacker cranes 2a and 2b. As shown in FIG. , A CPU 42 connected to the bus 41, a memory 43, and a program storage unit 44. The program storage unit 44 has an instruction to control each part of the stacker cranes 2a and 2b so that the stacker cranes 2a and 2b deliver the transfer container C to and from the mounting table 15 in the respective work areas 30a and 30b. After the normal operation program 46 and the stacker crane 2a (or 2b) retreat to the retreat area 31a (or 31b), the other stacker crane 2b (2a) takes over the work of one stacker crane 2a (2b). Thus, a backup program 45 in which a command is set to control the operation of the stacker crane 2b (2a) is provided.

  The backup program 45 and the normal operation program 46 are installed in the control unit 4 from a storage medium such as a hard disk, a compact disk, a magnetic optical disk, or a memory card. For example, an operation screen 47 that is a mode selection unit that also serves as a display unit and an operation unit is connected to the bus 41. The operation screen 47 is configured so that, for example, either the backup program 45 or the normal operation program 46 can be selected, and an operator in the pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1 operates, for example, a soft switch on the screen. Each mode is selected. Then, the backup program 45 or the normal operation program 46 corresponding to each selected mode is read by the CPU 42, and each step is executed.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, when an operator in the pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1 selects the normal operation program 46 on the operation screen 47, the stacker cranes 2a and 2b are moved to the respective work areas 30a as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). 30b, and the transfer container C is transferred between the storage chamber and the processing chamber. That is, after the stacker cranes 2a and 2b move in front of the door 16 in front of the storage room or the processing room, and the lift 23 of the stacker cranes 2a and 2b moves to a height corresponding to the height of the door 16, the door 16 is opened. Then, the transfer table 24 moves into the storage chamber or the processing chamber, and the transfer container C is delivered between the stacker cranes 2a and 2b and the storage chamber or the processing chamber.

  During normal operation, the stacker cranes 2a and 2b deliver the transport container C in the respective work areas 30a and 30b as described above. For example, when a failure such as a failure occurs in one stacker crane 2a, An alarm sounds, for example, the power of the stacker crane 2a is turned off, and production in the pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1 is temporarily stopped. Then, the operator retracts one of the stacker cranes 2 a in which the trouble has occurred to the retreat area 31 a, and then selects the backup program 45 on the operation screen 47. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the other stacker crane 2b operates to perform not only work in the work area 30b but also work performed by the stacker crane 2a in the work area 30a. . Thereby, the operation of the production line of the pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1 is resumed.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the track 25 on which the stacker crane 2a and the stacker crane 2b move is shared, and the retreat areas 31a and 31b for retreating the stacker cranes 2a and 2b are provided. For example, when the stacker cranes 2a and 2b are out of order, one stacker crane 2a (2b) can be retreated, and the other stacker crane 2b (2a) can take over the work of one stacker crane 2a (2b). For this reason, for example, even if there is no spare stacker crane 2 in each stacker crane 2a, 2b, even if production in the pharmaceutical manufacturing plant 1 is stopped due to a failure of the stacker crane 2a (2b), production is immediately resumed. It is possible to suppress a decrease in the operating rate of the pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1.

  Next, an example of the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The configurations of the stacker cranes 2a and 2b, the work areas 30a and 30b, and the retreat areas 31a and 31b are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, but at the approximate center between the work area 30a and the work area 30b, Intermediate transfer portions 50 that are shelves for temporarily stocking the transport containers C are provided on both sides of the passage 13. The intermediate transfer section 50 is formed with a plurality of stages, for example, 10 stages in the vertical direction, in which the passage 13 side is opened and the transfer container C can be carried in and out. Although five rows are formed, the number is omitted in the figure. The area in which the intermediate delivery section 50 is provided forms a delivery area 52 of the transport container C between the stacker cranes 2a and 2b, and both of the stacker cranes 2a and 2b move in the delivery area 52, and the intermediate delivery is performed. It is configured so that the transfer container C can be transferred to and from each storage unit 51 in the unit 50.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Similarly to the first embodiment described above, during normal operation, the transfer container C is transferred between the stacker crane 2a (2b) and the storage chamber or the processing chamber via the door 16. When the transfer container C is transferred between the stacker crane 2 a and the stacker crane 2 b, for example, one stacker crane 2 a places the transfer container C in the storage unit 51 of the intermediate transfer unit 50. Thereafter, when the other stacker crane 2b receives the transfer container C, the transfer of the transfer container C between the stacker cranes 2a and 2b is performed.
This intermediate delivery section 50 is also used when, for example, the transport container C in which the processed raw material is stored is stored for a predetermined time other than when the transport container C is delivered between the stacker cranes 2a and 2b. It may be used as a temporary storage place.

  For example, when one of the stacker cranes 2a breaks down, the same stacker crane 2a is retreated to the retreat area 31a as in the first embodiment, and the other stacker crane 2b is It is configured to take over the work of the stacker crane 2a.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects of the first embodiment. That is, since the track 25 on which the stacker cranes 2a and 2b move is made common, and the intermediate transfer section 50 is further provided between the work area 30a of the stacker crane 2a and the work area 30b of the stacker crane 2b, the stacker crane 2a And the stacker crane 2b can share the intermediate transfer section 50, so that it is transported between the stacker cranes 2a and 2b via the intermediate transfer section 50 without providing a separate traverser, belt conveyor or another stacker crane as a transfer means. The container C can be delivered.

  In the above-described embodiment, the intermediate transfer unit 50 is formed by collecting the storage units 51 in one place. However, for example, the storage units 51 are dispersed in gaps such as between the doors 16 and 16 so that the entire pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1 You may comprise so that a space may become small. Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 12 described later, the orbit 25 is branched in the vertical direction in the work areas 30a and 30b, and the retreat areas 31a and 31b are formed. It may be provided.

Next, an example of the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 shows an example in which the passage 13 in the second embodiment is formed in a U shape, and the configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment except for the shape of the passage 13.
Also in this example, the retreat areas 31a and 31b of the stacker cranes 2a and 2b are provided at both ends of the passage 13, and, for example, when one of the stacker cranes 2a and 2b fails, one of the failed stacker cranes 2a (2b) is retreated. Thus, the work of the other stacker crane 2b (2a) is replaced. Further, an intermediate transfer unit 50 is provided between the work areas 30a and 30b, and the stacker cranes 2a and 2b share the intermediate transfer unit 50, so that the transport container C can be connected between the stacker cranes 2a and 2b. It is configured to allow delivery.

  According to the above-described embodiment, in addition to the effects of the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. That is, by forming the passage 13 in a U-shape, the intermediate transfer section 50 is provided in a region different from the region in which the storage chamber or the processing chamber is provided (that is, the outer wall 11 side of the pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1 in FIG. 1). Therefore, the length of the passage 13 in FIG. 1 in the X direction can be suppressed, and the area of the pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1 can be reduced. That is, the storage chamber or the processing chamber is longer in depth than the intermediate delivery unit 50. Therefore, when the intermediate delivery unit 50 is installed in the same area as the storage chamber or the processing chamber, the rear side of the intermediate delivery unit 50 is located. Although the area (the area opposite to the passage 13 in the intermediate delivery section 50) becomes a dead space, the space in the pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1 can be effectively utilized by providing the intermediate delivery section 50 along the outer wall 11. .

  In this embodiment, the accommodating portions 51 are gathered in one place to form the intermediate transfer portion 50. However, as in the second embodiment, the accommodating portions 51 are dispersed in the gaps between the doors 16 and 16, for example. The space of the entire pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1 may be reduced. Moreover, although the intermediate delivery part 50 was formed similarly to 2nd Embodiment, it does not provide the intermediate delivery part 50 similarly to 1st Embodiment, and the channel | path 13 of 1st Embodiment is made U The structure formed in the shape of a character may be sufficient. Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the track 25 may be branched in the vertical direction in the work areas 30a and 30b in FIG. 10 to provide the retreat areas 31a and 31b.

  Next, an example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 shows an example in which three stacker cranes 2 a, 2 c, and 2 b are installed on one track 25 from the left side in the drawing. A passage 13a is connected to the passage 13 in the work area 30c of the stacker crane 2c, and a track 25a branched from the track 25 is laid in the passage 13a. The tip of the passage 13a is bent substantially parallel to the passage 13, and forms a retreat area 31c of the stacker crane 2c. The stacker crane 2c is configured to be able to move from the track 25 onto the track 25a by a switching unit between the track 25 and the track 25a (not shown).

  At both ends of the passage 13, retreat areas 31a and 31b are provided as in the above-described embodiment. Also, intermediate transfer portions 50a and 50b are provided between the work areas 30a, 30c and 30b, respectively, and the areas where the intermediate transfer portions 50a and 50b are provided form transfer areas 52a and 52b, respectively. .

  As described above, when the stacker cranes 2a, 2b, and 2c break down, they can be retreated to the retreat areas 31a, 31b, and 31c, respectively. In the transfer areas 52a and 52b, the transfer container C can be transferred between the stacker cranes 2a and 2c and between the stacker cranes 2c and 2b via the intermediate transfer portions 50a and 50b.

  According to the above-described embodiment, a plurality of stacker cranes 2a, 2b, and 2c are installed on the same track 25 by providing the retreat areas 31a, 31b, and 31c in which the respective stacker cranes 2a, 2b, and 2c can be retracted. Even if any of the stacker cranes 2a, 2b, 2c breaks down, the other stacker cranes 2a, 2b, 2c can take over the work of the failed stacker cranes 2a, 2b, 2c. . Further, by installing the intermediate transfer portions 50a and 50b between the stacker cranes 2a and 2c and between the stacker cranes 2c and 2b, the transfer container C can be provided between the stacker cranes 2a, 2b and 2c without providing a separate transfer means. Can be delivered.

  In the second to fourth embodiments described above, the intermediate delivery unit 50 is provided in the pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1, but is not limited to such a pharmaceutical manufacturing factory 1. For example, in a warehouse, a plurality of stacker cranes are provided. The present invention may be applied to a case where the transfer container C is delivered between two members. As described above, when the present invention is applied to a warehouse, the intermediate transfer section 50 is arranged in which storage areas are partitioned vertically and horizontally so as to face a common movement area in which the tracks 25 of the plurality of stacker cranes 2 are shared. A shelf is provided. Each storage area provided in a matrix on the shelf is configured as an area surrounded by, for example, a horizontal plate provided above and below and a vertical plate provided on the left and right.

  In this embodiment, three stacker cranes 2a, 2b, 2c are installed on the track 25. However, even if there are three or more, for example, five, each stacker crane 2 can be retracted and each stacker crane An intermediate transfer section 50 may be provided between the two. Moreover, although the accommodating part 51 was gathered in one place and the intermediate delivery part 50a (50b) was formed, as above-mentioned, the accommodating part 51 is disperse | distributed to gaps, such as between the doors 16 and 16, for example, a pharmaceutical manufacturing factory You may comprise so that the space of 1 whole may become small. Furthermore, as in the first embodiment, the intermediate transfer unit 50 may not be provided.

It is a perspective view of the factory where the stacker crane of the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view of the stacker crane of the present invention. It is a top view of the channel | path in which the stacker crane in the 1st Embodiment of this invention is installed. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the channel | path where said stacker crane is installed. It is a block diagram of the control part which controls operation | movement of said stacker crane. It is explanatory drawing of the stacker crane at the time of normal operation | movement in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the stacker crane at the time of backup mode in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the stacker crane in the 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of said stacker crane. It is a top view of said stacker crane. It is a top view of the stacker crane in the 3rd embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the stacker crane in the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 Stacker crane 2a Stacker crane 2b Stacker crane 13 Passage 25 Track 30a Work area 30b Work area 31a Retreat area 31b Retreat area 50 Intermediate transfer section

Claims (5)

In a stacker crane transportation facility equipped with a stacker crane that moves on a track and delivers a transported object to and from a delivery unit provided in a work area,
A plurality of stacker cranes installed on the same track and each assigned a plurality of work areas arranged along the track;
When a failure occurs in one stacker crane, the failure occurs in an area outside the work area of each stacker crane in order to share the work in the work area of the one stacker crane with another stacker crane. A stacker crane transportation facility comprising: a retreat area provided so that the stacker crane can be retreated.   2. The stacker according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate transfer unit is provided between the work areas of the stacker cranes adjacent to each other, and any of these stacker cranes can transfer the object to be conveyed. Crane transport equipment.   3. The stacker crane conveyance facility according to claim 1, wherein two stacker cranes are provided, and the retreat areas are provided at both ends of the track.   3. The stacker crane conveyance facility according to claim 1, wherein the retreat area is provided so as to be branched from the track so that any stacker crane can be retreated. A program for normal operation for normal operation of the plurality of stacker cranes, a backup program for sharing work by another stacker crane when a failure occurs in the stacker crane, and a program selected from these programs 5. The stacker crane transport equipment according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that outputs a control signal for the stacker crane based on the program.

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