JP2009220986A - Load storing method for automatic warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a load storing method for an automatic warehouse can surely dispense with a worker's load delivering work when carrying commodities out of the warehouse. <P>SOLUTION: In this load storing method for the automatic warehouse, if there is a set of shelves including the front shelf and the innermost shelf for storing different kinds of loads depending on the front shelf and the innermost shelf, a load on the front shelf is predetermined as the load to be moved. If there is a set of shelves including empty front shelf and the innermost shelf storing the load having lower order of priority in delivery than order of priority of the load to be moved, the load to be moved is moved onto the front shelf and, if there is no such set of shelves, the load to be moved is moved onto the innermost shelf in a set of shelves including empty front shelf and empty innermost shelf. If the same kind of loads are stored on the front shelf and the innermost shelf and there is a set of shelves including the front shelf storing the load having lower order of priority in delivery than order of priority of the load stored on the innermost shelf, the load on the front shelf is predetermined as the load to be moved. If there is a set of shelves including empty front shelf and the innermost shelf storing the load having lower order of priority in delivery than order of priority of the load to be moved, the load to be moved is moved onto the front shelf and, if there is no such set of shelves, the load to be moved is moved onto the innermost shelf in the set of shelves including empty front shelf and empty innermost shelf. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a load storage method for an automatic warehouse provided with a storage shelf having a front shelf and a back shelf.

  As a storage shelf of an automatic warehouse, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, there is a so-called double reach type having a front shelf and a back shelf. By the way, in an automatic warehouse, so-called first-in first-out control of unloading items in order from the previously loaded items may be performed. However, in the double-reach type storage shelf, it is unavoidable that an article stored first is stored in the back shelf, and an article stored later is stored in the front shelf, so that first-in first-out control becomes difficult.

In view of this, in an automatic warehouse equipped with such a double reach type storage shelf, as a prior art that enables strict adherence to the first-in first-out of articles, an article loading / unloading method as described in Patent Document 2, for example, has been proposed. . In Patent Document 2, when the goods to be delivered are present on the back shelf, the goods present on the front shelf corresponding to the back shelf are evacuated to the back shelves of empty front and rear shelves, and then the goods to be delivered are delivered. Thereafter, the re-stocking shelf is determined based on the re-stocking shelf selection process, and the goods to be delivered are re-stocked in the re-stocking shelf.
JP-A-63-97504 JP 2007-238302 A

  In the article loading / unloading method described in Patent Document 2, the article can be prevented from being retracted at the time of the next shipment after the article that has been delivered once is re-stocked. However, when goods are present on both the front and back shelves of the front and rear set shelves, when the goods on the back shelf are first issued, the goods on the front shelf are temporarily taken out and retreated to another shelf. It is necessary to perform unloading work.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic warehouse load storage method capable of reliably eliminating the work of unloading at the time of delivery.

  The present invention relates to a load storage method for an automatic warehouse having a plurality of shelves composed of a front shelf and a back shelf for storing loads, and among the plurality of shelf sets, different types of loads are used for the front shelf and the back shelf. It is determined whether or not there is a stored first movement source shelf group, and when it is determined that there is a first movement source shelf group, the load stored in the front shelf of the first movement source shelf group is moved first. The first process of moving to another shelf as a target load, and the same kind of load is stored in the front shelf and the back shelf among the plurality of shelf sets, and the order of delivery of the loads stored in the front shelf is It is determined whether or not there is a second movement source shelf set that is lower than the delivery priority order of the cargo stored in the back shelf, and when it is determined that there is a second movement source shelf set, A second step of moving the load stored in the front shelf to another shelf set as a second movement target load, and in the first step, a plurality of shelf sets It is determined whether or not there is a first destination shelf set in which the front shelf is vacant and the same type as the first movement target load and lower in the priority order of delivery than the first movement target load is stored in the back shelf. When it is determined that there is a first movement destination shelf group, the first movement target load is moved to the front shelf of the first movement destination shelf group, and when it is determined that there is no first movement destination shelf group, It is determined whether there is a second movement destination shelf assembly in which the front shelf and the back shelf are vacant, and if it is determined that there is a second movement destination shelf assembly, the first movement target load is moved second. It is made to move to the back shelf of the first shelf group, and in the second step, the front shelf is vacant among the plurality of shelf groups and is the same type as the second movement target load and the priority of delivery over the second movement target load If there is a third destination shelf set in which a low load is stored in the back shelf, and if it is determined that there is a third destination shelf set, 2. Move the load to be moved to the front shelf of the third destination shelf group, and when it is determined that there is no third destination shelf group, the fourth movement in which the front shelf and the back shelf are vacant among the plurality of shelf groups It is determined whether there is a front shelf group, and when it is determined that there is a fourth movement destination shelf group, the second movement target load is moved to the back shelf of the fourth movement destination shelf group. is there.

  In such an automatic warehouse load storage method, when there is a first movement source shelf group in which different types of loads are stored in the front shelf and the back shelf among the plurality of shelf groups, the first movement source The load stored in the front shelf of the shelf group is moved to another shelf group as the first movement target load. At this time, the first movement destination shelf in which the front shelf among the plurality of shelves is vacant and the same type as the first movement target load and the lower priority of delivery than the first movement target load is stored in the back shelf If there is a set, the first movement target load is moved to the front shelf of the first destination shelf set. As a result, there is a first movement target load having a higher order of delivery than the loads stored in the same shelf in the front shelf of the first movement destination shelf group. As a result, when unloading the first movement target load, the first movement target load may be taken out from the front shelf of the first movement destination shelf group and transported as it is to the loading / unloading position. Is no longer necessary.

  In addition, the same type of load is stored in the front shelf and the back shelf among the plurality of shelf groups, and the delivery priority order of the loads stored in the front shelf is higher than the delivery priority order of the loads stored in the back shelf. When there is a low second movement source shelf group, the load stored in the front shelf of the second movement shelf group is moved to another shelf group as a second movement target load. At this time, the third movement destination shelf in which the front shelf among the plurality of shelf groups is vacant and the same type as the second movement target load and the lower priority of delivery than the second movement target load is stored in the back shelf When there is a set, the second movement target load is moved to the front shelf of the third destination shelf set. As a result, the second movement target load having a higher priority of delivery than the load stored in the same rear shelf exists in the front shelf of the third movement destination shelf group. As a result, when the second movement target load is unloaded, the second movement target load may be taken out from the front shelf of the third movement destination shelf group and transported to the loading / unloading position as it is. Is no longer necessary.

  Preferably, it is determined whether or not there is a third movement source shelf group in which a front shelf is vacant and loads are stored in the back shelf among the plurality of shelf groups, and it is determined that there is a third movement source shelf group In some cases, the method further includes a third step of moving the load stored in the back shelf of the third movement source shelf set to another shelf set as the third movement target load, and in the third step, among the plurality of shelf sets Determining whether there is a fifth destination shelf set in which the front shelf is vacant and the same type as the third movement target load and the lower priority of delivery than the third movement target load is stored in the back shelf; If it is determined that there is a fifth movement destination shelf group, the third movement target load is moved to the front shelf of the fifth movement destination shelf group.

  In this case, there is a third movement target load having a higher order of delivery than the loads stored in the rear shelf in the front shelf of the fifth destination shelf group. As a result, when the third movement target load is unloaded, the third movement target load may be taken out from the front shelf of the fifth movement destination shelf group and transported as it is to the loading / unloading position. Is no longer necessary. In addition, since the front shelf and the back shelf of the third movement source shelf assembly are both empty, the shelf assembly for warehousing increases.

  According to the present invention, the work of unloading at the time of delivery can be made unnecessary. As a result, the number of times the cargo is conveyed at the time of delivery can be minimized, and the cycle time can be improved. Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide an empty shelf for temporarily retracting the load, the load storage amount can be sufficiently maintained.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a load storage method for an automatic warehouse according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an automatic warehouse to which an embodiment of an automatic warehouse load storage method according to the present invention is applied. In the figure, an automatic warehouse 1 is installed so as to be able to reciprocate between a pair of storage shelves (rack) 2A, 2B for storing a large number of loads W, and the load storage shelves 2A, 2B. , 2B and a stacker crane 3 for carrying in and out the load W and transporting the load W.

  The load storage shelves 2A and 2B are double reach type load storage shelves having a plurality of shelves 4 for storing the load W. The shelf assembly 4 includes a front shelf 5 arranged on the stacker crane 3 side and a back shelf 6 arranged on the rear side (back side) of the front shelf 5. These shelf assemblies 4 are provided in a plurality of stages along the moving direction of the stacker crane 3.

  On one end side of the load storage shelf 2A, for example, a conveyor type loading / unloading station 7 is installed. The loading / unloading station 7 is an entrance / exit of the load W in the automatic warehouse 1. Specifically, the loading / unloading station 7 is a place where the load W to be unloaded is loaded / unloaded from the stacker crane 3 or the load W to be loaded is loaded onto the stacker crane 3.

  An inventory management computer 8 is installed at a location adjacent to the loading / unloading station 7. The stock management computer 8 performs stock management of the load W stored in the load storage shelves 2A and 2B, allocation of loading and unloading, instructions for loading and unloading the load W by the stacker crane 3, and instructions for conveyance. The inventory management computer 8 will be described in detail later.

  The stacker crane 3 can travel along a traveling rail 9 laid between the load storage shelves 2A and 2B. The stacker crane 3 includes two masts 10 extending in the vertical direction, and a carriage 11 that is supported by each mast 10 so as to be movable up and down and on which a load W is placed. The carriage 11 is provided with a slide fork (not shown) for transferring the load W to the load storage shelves 2A and 2B and the loading / unloading station 7.

  Further, the stacker crane 3 has a crane controller 12. The crane controller 12 is connected to the inventory management computer 8 and controls each part of the stacker crane 3 in accordance with an instruction signal from the inventory management computer 8.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the inventory management computer 8. In the figure, the inventory management computer 8 is connected to an input operation unit 13 for an operator to perform an entry / exit instruction operation or the like.

  The inventory management computer 8 has a storage shelf setting unit 14 and a moving shelf setting unit 15. Based on the inventory information of the automatic warehouse 1 registered in the inventory information database 16, the warehousing shelf setting unit 14 sets a shelf (a warehousing shelf) for storing the warehousing target goods to be warehousing, and this warehousing shelf data is stored in the crane. Send to the controller 12. Then, the crane controller 12 controls the drive system of the stacker crane 3 so as to convey the warehousing target cargo from the warehousing / unloading station 7 to the warehousing shelf and store it on the warehousing shelf.

  Here, the inventory information of the automatic warehouse 1 is stored in the information on the presence / absence of the load W in all the front shelves 5 and the back shelves 6 of the load storage shelves 2A and 2B, and stored in these front shelves 5 and the back shelves 6. There is information such as the item, type, item number, quantity, and priority of delivery of the load W. The delivery priority order is a priority order at the time of delivery. For example, when the product is a food product, it is determined by the date of manufacture. In this case, the older the date of manufacture, the higher the order of delivery.

  Based on the inventory information of the automatic warehouse 1 registered in the inventory information database 16, the movement shelf setting unit 15 stores a shelf (movement source shelf) in which the movement target load to be moved and a movement target load are moved. (Movement destination shelf) is set, and these setting data are sent to the crane controller 12. Then, the crane controller 12 controls the drive system of the stacker crane 3 so as to convey the movement target load from the movement source shelf to the movement destination shelf and store it in the movement destination shelf.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing details of the warehousing shelf setting processing procedure executed by the warehousing shelf setting unit 14. This processing procedure corresponds to a known technique.

  In the figure, first, it is determined whether or not an entry instruction operation has been performed by the input operation unit 13 (step S51). When the entry instruction operation has been performed, the inventory information in the inventory information database 16 is subsequently determined from the previous information. It is determined whether there is a shelf group 4 in which the shelf 5 is empty (step S52).

  When there is a shelf group 4 in which the front shelf 5 is vacant, a load of the same type as the warehousing target load and having a lower priority of warehousing than the warehousing target load is stored in the back shelf 6 from the stock information in the stock information database 16. It is determined whether or not there is a shelf set 4 (step S53). When there is such a shelf set 4, the front shelf 5 of the shelf set 4 is set as a storage shelf, and data of this storage shelf is sent to the crane controller 12 (step S54).

  When it is determined in step 53 that there is no shelf assembly 4 in the back shelf 6 that has the same type as the warehousing object and lower in priority than the warehousing object, the inventory information in the inventory information database 16 is stored. From this, it is determined whether there is a shelf assembly 4 in which both the front shelf 5 and the back shelf 6 are empty (step S55). When there is such a shelf set 4, the back shelf 5 of the shelf set 4 is used as a storage shelf, and data of this storage shelf is sent to the crane controller 12 (step S56).

  When it is determined in step S55 that there is no shelf group 4 in which neither the front shelf 5 nor the back shelf 6 is empty, from the inventory information in the inventory information database 16, the same type as the warehousing target cargo is given priority over the warehousing target cargo. It is determined whether or not there is a shelf set 4 in which high-order loads are stored in the back shelf 6 (step S57). When there is such a shelf set 4, the front shelf 5 of the shelf set 4 is set as a storage shelf, and data of this storage shelf is sent to the crane controller 12 (step S58).

  If it is determined in step S57 that there is no shelf assembly 4 in the back shelf 6 that has the same type as the warehousing target and higher in priority than the warehousing target load, a different type from the warehousing target load The front shelf 5 corresponding to the back shelf 6 in which the load is stored is used as a storage shelf, and data of this storage shelf is sent to the crane controller 12 (step S59).

FIG. 4 shows a specific example of determining a storage shelf according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the figure, if there is a rack set 4 of receipts target load of the same type A in receipts target low load W _AL of unloading priority than the load are stored in Okutana 6, in front of the shelf assembly 4 storing receipts target load in the shelf 5 (see figure P _1). In this case, since the delivery priority order of the load existing on the front shelf 5 of the shelf set 4 is higher than the delivery priority order of the load _WAL existing on the back shelf 6, the load existing on the front shelf 5 is delivered. When doing so, it is only necessary to take the load from the front shelf 5 by the stacker crane 3 and transport it to the loading / unloading station 7 as it is. Therefore, it is not necessary to carry out the work of unloading the load on the front shelf 5 and taking it back to another shelf in order to take out the load on the back shelf 6.

There is no rack set 4 to a low load W _AL of unloading priority is stored in the Okutana 6 than receipts target load in receipts target load of the same type A, shelf before the shelf 5 also Okutana 6 are also available If there is a set 4 stores warehousing target load to Okutana 6 of the shelf assembly 4 (see figure P _2). In this case, since the front shelf 5 of the shelf assembly 4 is empty, when the load existing on the back shelf 6 is unloaded, the load is taken out from the back shelf 6 by the stacker crane 3 as it is. It is sufficient to carry up to 7, so that unloading work becomes unnecessary.

Shelf set 4 of receipts target load of the same type A in receipts target low load W _AL of unloading priority than the load is stored in Okutana 6, rack set 4 to the front shelf 5 also Okutana 6 are also available However, if there is a shelf group 4 in which the load W _{AH of the} same type A as the warehousing target cargo and having a higher priority of delivery than the warehousing target cargo is stored in the back shelf 6, storing receipts target load forward shelf 5 (see figure P _3). Load In this case, higher than unloading priority of the load to unloading priority of the load W _AH present in Okutana 6 of the shelf assembly 4 is present in the front shelf 5, which is present in Okutana 6 above W _AH needs to be issued. Therefore, unloading work at the time of delivery is required.

Although not all of the above three shelf pairs 4, if there is a rack set 4 to load W _B of the receipts target load different types B are stored in Okutana 6 received into front shelf 5 of the shelf assembly 4 storing target load (see figure _{P 4).} In this case, different types of loads exist between the front shelf 5 and the back shelf 6 of the shelf assembly 4. Therefore, when the unloading of the load W _B present in Okutana 6 above, it is necessary to load repeatedly work.

  As described above, when the goods are simply stored according to the known processing procedure shown in FIG. 3, there is a case where the unloading work at the time of the delivery is inevitably required. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the above moving shelf setting unit 15 is provided, and the loaded cargo is moved to another shelf as appropriate so that it is not necessary to perform the unloading operation at the time of delivery.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the details of the moving shelf setting processing procedure executed by the moving shelf setting unit 15, and shows the processing procedure corresponding to the present invention.

  In the figure, it is first determined whether or not it is time to move the load (step S61). Here, it is assumed that the movement of the load is performed every night or every several days at night (for example, 12:00 midnight) when the loading / unloading operation is not performed. In this case, for example, based on a clock function (timer) built in the inventory management computer 8, it is determined whether it is time to move the load.

  When it is time to move the load, from the inventory information in the inventory information database 16, the shelf group 4 (first movement source shelf group) in which different types of loads are stored in the front shelf 5 and the back shelf 6 is stored. It is determined whether or not there is (step S62). When there is such a first movement source shelf group, the load stored in the front shelf 5 of the first movement source shelf group is set as a movement target load (first movement target load) (step S63).

  Subsequently, it is determined from the inventory information in the inventory information database 16 whether there is a shelf assembly 4 in which the front shelf 5 is empty (step S64). When there is a shelf group 4 in which the front shelf 5 is vacant, from the inventory information in the inventory information database 16, the same type as the first moving target load and a load with a lower priority of delivery than the first moving target load 6 is determined whether there is a shelf group 4 (first movement destination shelf group) stored in 6 (step S65). When there is such a first movement destination shelf set, the front shelf 5 of the first movement destination shelf set is set as the movement destination shelf, and data of the movement destination shelf is sent to the crane controller 12 (step S66).

  Then, the crane controller 12 controls the drive system of the stacker crane 3 in accordance with the data of the movement destination shelf, so that the first movement target load existing on the front shelf 5 of the first movement source shelf group is transferred to the first movement destination. Move to the front shelf 5 of the shelf group.

  When it is determined in step S65 that there is no first destination rack set, the shelf set 4 (second destination shelf set) in which the front shelf 5 and the back shelf 6 are vacant is determined from the inventory information in the inventory information database 16. ) Is determined (step S67). When there is such a second movement destination shelf set, the back shelf 6 of the second movement destination shelf set is set as the movement destination shelf, and data of the movement destination shelf is sent to the crane controller 12 (step S68).

  Then, the crane controller 12 controls the drive system of the stacker crane 3 in accordance with the data of the movement destination shelf, whereby the first movement target load existing on the front shelf 5 of the first movement source shelf group is transferred to the second movement destination. Move to the back shelf 6 of the shelf set.

  When it is determined in step S62 that there is no first movement source shelf set, the same type of load is stored in the front shelf 5 and the back shelf 6, and the load stored in the front shelf 5 is stored. It is determined whether or not there is a shelf group 4 (second movement source shelf group) whose delivery priority order is lower than the delivery priority order of goods stored in the back shelf 6 (step S69). When there is such a second movement source shelf group, the load stored in the front shelf 5 of the second movement source shelf group is set as a movement target load (second movement target load) (step S70).

  Subsequently, it is determined from the inventory information in the inventory information database 16 whether there is a shelf assembly 4 in which the front shelf 5 is empty (step S71). When there is a shelf group 4 in which the front shelf 5 is vacant, from the inventory information in the inventory information database 16, the same type as the second movement target load and a lower priority of delivery than the second movement target load 6 determines whether there is a shelf group 4 (third movement destination shelf group) stored in 6 (step S72). When there is such a third movement destination shelf group, the front shelf 5 of the third movement destination shelf group is set as the movement destination shelf, and data of the movement destination shelf is sent to the crane controller 12 (step S73).

  Then, the crane controller 12 controls the drive system of the stacker crane 3 in accordance with the data of the movement destination shelf, so that the second movement target load existing on the front shelf 5 of the second movement source shelf group is transferred to the third movement destination. Move to the front shelf 5 of the shelf group.

  If it is determined in step S72 that there is no third destination shelf set, the shelf set 4 in which both the front shelf 5 and the back shelf 6 are empty (the fourth destination shelf set) is determined from the inventory information in the inventory information database 16. ) Is determined (step S74). When there is such a fourth movement destination shelf set, the back shelf 6 of the fourth movement destination shelf set is set as the movement destination shelf, and data of the movement destination shelf is sent to the crane controller 12 (step S75).

  Then, the crane controller 12 controls the drive system of the stacker crane 3 in accordance with the data of the movement destination shelf, so that the second movement target load existing on the front shelf 5 of the second movement source shelf group is transferred to the fourth movement destination. Move to the back shelf 6 of the shelf set.

  When it is determined in step S69 that there is no second moving source shelf set, there is a shelf set 4 (third moving source shelf set) in which the front shelf 5 is empty and loads are stored in the back shelf 6. Is determined (step S76). When there is such a third movement source shelf set, the load stored in the back shelf 6 of the third movement source shelf set is set as a movement target load (third movement target load) (step S77).

  Subsequently, it is determined from the inventory information in the inventory information database 16 whether there is a shelf set 4 in which the front shelf 5 is empty (step S78). When there is a shelf group 4 in which the front shelf 5 is vacant, from the inventory information in the inventory information database 16, the same type as the third movement target load and a lower priority of delivery than the third movement target load Whether there is a shelf group 4 (fifth destination shelf group) stored in 6 is determined (step S79). When there is such a fifth movement destination shelf group, the front shelf 5 of the fifth movement destination shelf group is set as the movement destination shelf, and the data of the movement destination shelf is sent to the crane controller 12 (step S80).

  Then, the crane controller 12 controls the drive system of the stacker crane 3 according to the data of the movement destination shelf, thereby transferring the third movement target load existing on the back shelf 6 of the third movement source shelf group to the fifth movement destination. Move to the front shelf 5 of the shelf group.

  In the above, the steps S62 to S68 determine whether there is a first movement source shelf group in which different types of loads are stored in the front shelf and the back shelf among the plurality of shelf groups, and the first movement source shelf. When it is determined that there is a set, a part of the first process of moving the load stored in the front shelf of the first movement source shelf set to another shelf set as the first movement target load is performed. In the above steps S69 to S75, the same kind of load is stored in the front shelf and the back shelf among the plurality of shelves and the delivery priority order of the loads stored in the front shelf is stored in the back shelf. It is determined whether or not there is a second movement source shelf set lower than the order of priority for delivery, and when it is determined that there is a second movement source shelf set, the load stored in the front shelf of the second movement source shelf set is A part of the second process of moving to another shelf set as the second movement target load is performed. The above steps S76 to S80 determine whether or not there is a third movement source shelf group in which the front shelf is vacant and loads are stored in the back shelf among the plurality of shelf groups, and there is a third movement source shelf group. When it is determined that the load is stored in the back shelf of the third movement source shelf group, a part of the third process of moving the load to the other shelf group as the third movement target load is performed.

FIG. 6 shows a specific example of determining the movement source shelf and the movement destination shelf according to the flowchart shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 (A), is stored load W _AH types A forward shelf 5, if there is a rack set 4 to the Okutana 6 load W _B Type B is stored, the front shelf 5 of the shelf assembly 4 becomes the highest priority to the movement Mototana, load W _AH is migrated load stored in the front shelf 5.

At this time, the front shelf 5 has emptied, if there is another shelf assembly 4 load W _AL of lower unloading priority than the load W _AH type A is stored in Okutana 6, the shelf assembly The front shelf 5 of _No. 4 becomes the destination shelf, and the load _WAH is moved to the front shelf 5 (see Q1 in the figure). In this case, when unloading a load W _AH present in front shelf 5 of the destination shelf by the stacker crane 3 may be conveyed from the front shelf 5 to load W _AH the removed intact goods movements station 7 , Unloading work becomes unnecessary. Further, since the same type A loads W _AH and W _AL are stored in the same shelf set 4, inventory management is facilitated.

On the other hand, even if there is no such shelf set 4, if there is another shelf set 4 in which both the front shelf 5 and the back shelf 6 are empty, the back shelf 6 of the shelf set 4 becomes the destination shelf. , move the load _{W AH} its Okutana 6 (see _{Q 2} in the figure). Load In this case, since the front shelf 5 corresponding to Okutana 6 destination shelf is empty, when unloading a load W _AH present in the Okutana 6, the stacker crane 3 from Okutana 6 The _WAH may be taken out and transported to the loading / unloading station 7 as it is, and the unloading work becomes unnecessary.

Because they were receipts, for example, the lowest priority (see P ₄ in FIG. 4), as shown in FIG. 6 (A), different types of loads are present on the front shelf 5 and Okutana 6 of the same shelf set 4 Even if it happens, it is not necessary to perform unloading work at the time of delivery by moving the load as described above while the entry / exit operation is not being performed.

There is no rack set 4 to the front shelf 5 and Okutana 6 with different types of cargo is stored, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 (B), in front shelf 5 load W _AN Type A is stored, If there is a rack set 4 to load W _AH of the load W _aN high type a of unloading priority than is stored in Okutana 6 becomes a mobile Mototana front shelf 5 of the shelf assembly 4 is preferentially , load W _aN is migrated load stored in the front shelf 5.

At this time, the front shelf 5 has emptied, if there is another shelf assembly 4 load W _AL of lower unloading priority than the load W _AN type A is stored in Okutana 6, the shelf assembly The front shelf 5 of _No. 4 becomes a destination shelf, and the load _WAN is moved to the front shelf 5 (see R1 in the figure). In this case, when unloading a load W _AN present in front shelf 5 of the destination shelf by the stacker crane 3 may be conveyed from the front shelf 5 to load W _AN the removed intact goods movements station 7 , Unloading work becomes unnecessary.

On the other hand, even if there is no such shelf set 4, if there is another shelf set 4 in which both the front shelf 5 and the back shelf 6 are empty, the back shelf 6 of the shelf set 4 becomes the destination shelf. , move the load _{W aN} to the Okutana 6 (see _{R 2} in the figure). Load In this case, since the front shelf 5 corresponding to Okutana 6 destination shelf is empty, when unloading a load W _AN present in the Okutana 6, the stacker crane 3 from Okutana 6 The _WAN may be taken out and transported to the loading / unloading station 7 as it is, and the unloading work becomes unnecessary.

For example, to have been receipts at a lower priority to the second (see P ₃ in FIG. 4), as shown in FIG. 6 (B), goods issue priority is the back of the load which is present in front shelf 5 of the shelf assembly 4 Even if it becomes lower than the order of priority for delivery of the load existing on the shelf 6, it is not necessary to carry out the unloading operation at the time of delivery by moving the load as described above while the entry / exit operation is not performed. become.

The shelf assembly 4 in which different types of loads are stored in the front shelf 5 and the back shelf 6, and the delivery priority order of the loads stored in the front shelf 5 is higher than the delivery priority order of the loads stored in the back shelf 6. Although it is not a rack set 4 which is lower, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 (C), front shelf 5 has emptied, shelf set to the Okutana 6 load W _AH type a is stored If the 4 have the Okutana 6 of the shelf assembly 4 becomes mobile Mototana, load W _AH is migrated load stored in the Okutana 6.

At this time, the front shelf 5 has emptied, if there is another shelf assembly 4 load W _AL of lower unloading priority than the load W _AH type A is stored in Okutana 6, the shelf assembly The fourth front shelf 5 becomes a destination shelf, and the load _WAH is moved to the front shelf 5 (see S in the figure). In this case, when unloading a load W _AH present in front shelf 5 of the destination shelf by the stacker crane 3 may be conveyed from the front shelf 5 to load W _AH the removed intact goods movements station 7 , Unloading work becomes unnecessary. Further, since the rack set 4 to the front shelf 5 and Okutana 6 are both becomes empty increases, for example, load W _AH, will be set shelves for warehousing different kinds of cargo can be secured to the W _AL, This is a favorable condition for warehousing.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the load that may be unloaded at the time of unloading is moved to another shelf while the unloading operation is not performed. Can be made unnecessary. As a result, the number of times the stacker crane 3 unloads and conveys the load is reduced, and the cycle time for unloading can be improved. In addition, since it is not necessary to add empty shelves for temporary retraction necessary for unloading work to the load storage shelves 2A and 2B, it is possible to secure a sufficient amount of load storage.

  In addition, since the movement source shelf in which the movement target load is stored is selected in the reverse order of the priority of the determination of the warehousing shelf (see FIG. 4), the determination of the movement destination shelf to which the movement target load is transferred is repeated. The number of times can be reduced. Further, when determining the movement source shelf and the movement destination shelf, it is only necessary to check the current inventory information, and it is not necessary to enter / exit schedules and past history information. As described above, the moving shelf setting process can be simplified.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the moving shelf setting process by the moving shelf setting unit 15 is automatically executed at a predetermined time every day or every few days. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an operator inputs The moving shelf setting process by the moving shelf setting unit 15 may also be executed when the operation unit 13 instructs to move the load.

1 is a schematic plan view showing an automatic warehouse to which an embodiment of a load storage method for an automatic warehouse according to the present invention is applied. It is a figure which shows the functional block of the inventory management computer shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the receipt shelf setting process procedure performed by the receipt shelf setting part shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the specific example which determines a receipt shelf by the receipt shelf setting part shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the movement shelf setting process procedure performed by the movement shelf setting part shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the specific example which determines a movement origin shelf and a movement destination shelf by the movement shelf setting part shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automatic warehouse, 4 ... Shelf assembly, 5 ... Front shelf, 6 ... Back shelf, 8 ... Inventory management computer, 12 ... Crane control controller, 15 ... Moving shelf setting part, W ... Load.

Claims (2)

A load storage method for an automatic warehouse having a plurality of shelves consisting of a front shelf and a back shelf for storing loads,
It is determined whether or not there is a first movement source shelf group in which different types of loads are stored in the front shelf and the back shelf among the plurality of shelf groups, and it is determined that there is the first movement source shelf group. A first step of moving the load stored in the front shelf of the first movement source shelf set to another shelf set as a first movement target load,
Of the plurality of shelves, the same type of load is stored in the front shelf and the back shelf, and the priority of delivery of the loads stored in the front shelf is the priority of delivery of the loads stored in the back shelf. It is determined whether there is a second movement source shelf set lower than the order, and when it is determined that there is the second movement source shelf set, the load stored in the front shelf of the second movement source shelf set is determined. A second step of moving the item as a second object to be moved to another shelf set,
In the first step,
The first movement in which the front shelf of the plurality of shelves is vacant and the same type as the first movement target load and lower priority in order of delivery than the first movement target load is stored in the back shelf It is determined whether there is a first shelf group, and when it is determined that there is the first movement destination shelf group, the first movement target load is moved to the front shelf of the first movement destination shelf group,
When it is determined that there is no first movement destination shelf group, it is determined whether there is a second movement destination shelf group in which the front shelf and the back shelf are vacant among the plurality of shelf groups, and the second When it is determined that there is a destination shelf set, the first movement target load is moved to the back shelf of the second destination shelf set,
In the second step,
The third movement in which the front shelf of the plurality of shelves is vacant and the same type as the second movement target load and having a lower delivery priority than the second movement target load is stored in the back shelf It is determined whether there is a front shelf set, and if it is determined that there is the third destination shelf set, the second movement target load is moved to the front shelf of the third destination shelf set,
When it is determined that there is no third movement destination shelf group, it is determined whether there is a fourth movement destination shelf group in which the front shelf and the back shelf are vacant among the plurality of shelf groups. A load storage method for an automatic warehouse, wherein when it is determined that there is a destination shelf set, the second movement target load is moved to the back shelf of the fourth destination shelf set. It is determined whether or not there is a third movement source shelf group in which the front shelf is vacant among the plurality of shelf groups and a load is stored in the back shelf, and it is determined that there is the third movement source shelf group. A third step of moving the load stored in the back shelf of the third movement source shelf set to another shelf set as a third movement target load,
In the third step,
The fifth movement in which the front shelf of the plurality of shelves is vacant and the same kind as the third movement target load and lower in the priority order of delivery than the third movement target load is stored in the back shelf It is determined whether there is a front shelf group, and when it is determined that there is the fifth movement destination shelf group, the third movement target load is moved to the front shelf of the fifth movement destination shelf group. The load storage method for an automatic warehouse according to claim 1.

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