JP2009292596A - Automatic library - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To save electric power in an automatic library having various advantages. <P>SOLUTION: The automatic library includes a plurality of containers 2 capable of storing a plurality of books, a library portion 1 storing the plurality of the containers, a stacker crane 3 capable of taking out the containers 2 stored in the library portion 1 and storing that again, a taking in/out station 5 taking out the books from the containers and returning the books to the containers, a carrying device carrying the containers between the taking in/out station 5 and the stacker crane 3, a weight detecting device detecting the weight of the containers carried by the carrying device, a display device displaying the container weight according to a detection signal by the weight detecting device, and a control device controlling the action of the stacker crane 3, the carrying device, and the display device according to taking in/out instructions of the books. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention stores a large number of graphic documents, can search for a desired graphic document from the stored graphic documents, lend it out, and store the returned graphic document in an appropriate position. The present invention relates to an automatic library, and is particularly characterized by including a weight detection device useful for reducing power consumption.

  An automatic library has been introduced in order to speed up and save labor in storing library documents and putting in and out, that is, lending and returning operations. The automatic library is a library unit that stores graphic documents, a container that can store and store the appropriate number of graphic documents in the library unit, horizontal direction (horizontal direction) and vertical direction (vertical direction) based on the accounting information of the graphic documents ) To take out the target container from the archive unit and store it in an appropriate storage position, a transport device for transporting the container between the stacker crane and the depositing / dispensing station, and the stacker crane based on the document depositing / dispensing command. A control device for controlling operations of a crane and a transport device is provided.

  In this specification, “documents” means books such as general books and magazines, as well as electronic recording media such as compact discs (CDs), DVDs, recording tapes, videotapes, publications, reports, records, and materials. Etc. Hereinafter, these “books” are simply referred to as “books”.

  Various configurations and control methods of the automatic library can be considered, but the general configuration is as follows. When a library user designates a book that he or she wants to borrow and enters the data, the control device searches for the presence of the book, and if the book is stored in the library, the location information of the container in which the book is stored Based on the above, the stacker crane is moved to that position, and the target container is taken out. The stacker crane delivers the container to the transfer device, and the transfer device transfers the container to the depositing / dispensing station. The user can take out the target book from the books stored in the container. An ID for identification is attached to each book by a bar code or the like, and an ID reader is provided in the depositing / dispensing station. When the book is taken out from the depositing / dispensing station, the reader reads the ID. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the target book designated by the user has been taken out, and by recording the ID of the book taken out by the user in the memory, it is recognized that the book is being lent out. be able to.

  When a user returns a book, a return command is issued by an operation such as pressing a return button at the cashier station. When the control device receives the return instruction, it extracts a container with an empty space from the stored management data, and selects an appropriate container from among the containers stored in the archive unit, and stacks it to that position. Move the crane and remove the container. The container is transported to the depositing / dispensing station by the transport apparatus in the same manner as in the case of lending books, and returned by storing the books in the empty space of the container at the depositing / dispensing station. Even when the book is returned, the ID of the book is read by the reader, and the fact that the book has been returned is recorded in the memory. Each container is also individually assigned an ID, for example, by a barcode, and the ID of the container in the depositing / dispensing station and the ID of the book stored in this container are linked and recorded. The container is transported by a transport device and stored in a container storage section of the library unit by a stacker crane. The combination of the container storage section of the library unit, that is, the location and the container stored in this section is not determined in advance, and any container can be stored in each container storage section. Such a mechanism is called a “free location system”. However, which container is stored in which partition is recorded in the memory, for example, by associating the partition number with the container ID.

  The outline of the automatic library has been described above. There are the following as prior art relating to such an automatic library. Patent Document 1 is an automatic archiving system as described above, which includes input means for inputting warehousing information / exit information, reading means for reading a book code, thickness measuring means for measuring the thickness of a book, Container transport means for taking containers into and out of the library part, container entry / exit control means for specifying a container corresponding to warehousing information or delivery information, and controlling the container transportation means to carry in / out the corresponding container to and from the receipt / payment part, and this container Describes an automatic library system that includes an operation / update means for calculating the empty space and updating the empty space data. The invention described in Patent Document 1 is intended to make it possible to manage the empty space of a container even if the thickness of a book fluctuates without the need to create a database of the thickness of each book. Yes.

  In Patent Document 2, in an automatic library, containers that can accommodate a plurality of books are made to have a uniform horizontal width, and books can be stood and accommodated regardless of the size of the books. The compartments of the container have a uniform horizontal width and different heights, and based on the maximum height of the books accommodated in the container, search for a compartment having a height that allows the container to be taken in and out as a container accommodation destination. An automatic library is listed. The invention described in Patent Document 2 aims to make it possible to efficiently use the space of the shelf.

  Patent Document 3 relates to a book filling rate management method in an automatic library system, and estimates the average thickness of books accommodated in a container and calculates the total thickness of the books by adding the average thickness to each of the books. A technique is described in which the book filling rate in a container is calculated and managed for each individual. The invention described in Patent Document 3 aims to easily manage the filling rate of books without installing a book thickness measuring device.

JP 2006-213485 A JP-A-2005-59997 JP 2004-345768 A

According to the automatic archive or automatic archive system described above, it is possible to facilitate, improve accuracy, and save labor in the collection management in the library.
As described so far, in an automatic library, books are generally managed in units of containers, and are loaded and unloaded in units of containers such as stacker cranes and transport devices. Whether or not books can be accommodated in one container is determined by whether or not there is free space, so the size of books accommodated in containers varies, and large-sized books are concentrated in one container. In rare cases, the total book weight in the container exceeds the design weight of the container. Therefore, when deciding the specifications of a stacker crane, a transport device, etc., it is necessary to design a specification that can sufficiently withstand this load, that is, an excessive specification, assuming that a large load is applied to the container. However, there is a difficulty in increasing the power consumption.

  An object of the present invention is to save power in an automatic library having various advantages as described above.

  The present invention relates to a plurality of containers that can store a plurality of documents, a library unit that stores a plurality of containers, a stacker crane that can take out and store a container stored in the library unit, and a container A loading / unloading station for taking out the documents from the container and returning the documents to the container, a transfer device for transferring the container between the check-in station and the stacker crane, and a weight for detecting the weight of the container transferred by the transfer device A detection device; a display device that displays a container weight based on a detection signal from the weight detection device; and a control device that controls the operations of the stacker crane, the transport device, and the display device based on a document document input / output command. This is the main feature.

The control device permits the transport of the container by the transport device when the container weight detected by the weight detection device is less than a certain weight, and causes an error in the display device when the container weight is greater than the certain weight. It is good to display.
The weight detection device may be arranged at a cashier station. In that case, when the container weight is a certain weight or more, the control device may display an error on the display device and reject the transport of the container by the transport device.

The weight detection device may be arranged on a conveyance path by a conveyance device in the vicinity of the depositing / dispensing station. In this case, the control device may display an error on the display device when the container weight is equal to or greater than a certain weight, and reversely transport the container by the transport device toward the depositing / dispensing station.
The weight detection device may be composed of a load cell or an ammeter that measures the current value of the drive motor of the transport device.

  Since the display device that displays the container weight based on the detection signal from the weight detection device is provided, it is determined whether or not the weight of the contained book is equal to or less than a certain weight from the container weight displayed on the display device. If the weight exceeds a certain weight, a part of the book stored in the container is taken out and stored in another container. In this way, the load applied to each container can be kept below a certain level, and the specifications of the transport device and stacker crane need to be designed to be over-specification assuming that the container is overloaded. Therefore, the cost of the automatic archive can be reduced, and the amount of power consumed by the operation of the automatic archive can be reduced.

Embodiments of an automatic library according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, the code | symbol 1 has shown the library part. The archive unit 1 in this embodiment is composed of four movable racks 11, 12, 13, and 14 and two fixed racks 15 and 16. The four mobile racks have frontage surfaces, that is, both sides of the container 2 which will be described in detail later. For example, traveling wheels are placed on guide rails laid in a direction perpendicular to the frontage surface. It is arrange | positioned so that a movement in the direction orthogonal to a frontage surface is possible. The fixed racks 15 and 16 are arranged on both sides of the moving rack in the moving direction. In the fixed racks 15 and 16, the side facing the movable rack is the loading / unloading surface of the container 2. Each movable rack and fixed rack have a plurality of container storage sections (locations) divided into a plurality of parts in the horizontal direction (horizontal direction) and the vertical direction (vertical direction). Numbered.

  By moving at least one of the four movable racks 11, 12, 13, and 14, the stacker crane passage 17 can be formed between desired movable racks or between the movable rack and the fixed rack. The rack and the fixed rack are kept close to each other. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a stacker crane passage 17 is formed between the movable racks 2 and 3. A traverser 4 is arranged on the side of the plurality of movable racks and fixed racks arranged as described above, and the traverser 4 is guided by guide rails and moved parallel to the side surfaces of the racks. It is possible to stop at a position where the crane passage 17 is formed. The traverser 4 carries the stacker crane 3 and stops at a position corresponding to the stacker crane passage 17. The stacker crane 3 can enter the stacker crane passage 17 along the guide rail from the traverser 4 at the stop position of the traverser 4. The stacker crane 3 can move up and down along the column, and includes a transfer device for the container 2 with respect to the container storage section, and takes out the container 2 stored in a specific storage section in response to a command. In addition, the container 2 can be stored in a specific storage section. The movement of each movable rack, the movement of the traverser 4 and the operation of the stacker crane 3 are controlled by commands from a control device described later.

  A delivery station 6 is provided on one side of the moving range of the traverser 4 on the side of the library unit 1. The delivery station 6 is provided to deliver the container 2 to and from the stacker crane 3 on the traverser 4, and has a two-stage configuration of an upper storage station 61 and a lower delivery station 62. The warehousing station 61 is connected to a warehousing conveyor 71, and the warehousing station 62 is connected to a warehousing conveyor 72. The warehousing conveyor 71 and the warehousing conveyor 72 are both connected to the depositing / dispensing station 5. As will be described in detail later, books are lent out and returned on the upper side of the depositing / dispensing station 5.

  The warehousing conveyor 71 and the delivery station 6 constitute a transfer device that transports the container 2 from the depositing / dispensing station 5 toward the stacker crane 3, and the delivery station 6 and the delivery conveyor 72 are containers from the stacker crane 3 toward the depositing / receiving station 5. 2 is constituted.

  The component part which consists of the library part 1, the stacker crane 3, the said conveying apparatus, etc. can be installed over the several floors of the building in which an automatic library is installed. On the other hand, the cashier station 5 is not necessarily installed on all floors where the above-described library unit 1 is installed, and the cashier station 5 may be installed only on one floor. Therefore, in the case where the floor where the container 2 is entered and exited is different from the floor where the depositing and unloading station 5 is installed, in order to transport the container 2 to the position of the depositing and unloading station 5, They are provided at the start end of the entry conveyor 71 and the end of the exit conveyor 72, respectively. In addition, on the installation floor of the depositing / dispensing station 5, as in the example shown in FIG. 1, in the example in which the warehousing conveyor 71 and the warehousing conveyor 72 are arranged one above the other, There is a step between them. Therefore, a vertical transfer machine having a stroke corresponding to the above step is disposed at the end of the delivery conveyor 72, and the container 2 is transported in a horizontal plane at the depositing / dispensing station 5.

  The container 2 that has been transported to the depositing / dispensing station 5 by the transporting device on the warehousing side, is transported on the floor where the depositing / dispensing station 5 is not arranged, and is transported vertically by the vertical transporting machine 52 to reach the depositing / dispensing station 5. 5 is transported forward by the transport device in 5 and further transported laterally to reach the work position 53. In the work position 53, a turntable 54 for turning the container 2 back and forth as necessary is incorporated. As will be described in detail later, each container 2 has a book storage space that is divided into two parts in the front and the back, and each book 2 is stored with the back cover of the book facing outward. Therefore, when the target book is stored in the storage space behind the container 2, the book cannot be taken out at the depositing / dispensing station 5. Therefore, the container 2 can be rotated 180 degrees in the horizontal plane by the turntable 54 so that the container 2 can be reversed back and forth.

  Here, the configuration of the container 2 used in the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the container 2 is a rectangular box-shaped storage body whose upper surface is open, and the storage space is divided into front and rear storage spaces 22 by a partition plate 21 in the horizontal direction. Each storage space 22 is stored in a posture in which a plurality of books 25 are erected and with the back cover facing outward, so that the books 25 in the two storage spaces 22 are placed in a bellows. Yes. Regarding the size of the books stored in the container 2, the size in the vertical direction is basically arbitrary, although there is a certain limit.

  6 and 7 show in more detail the part of the turntable 54 provided in the depositing / dispensing station 5. 6 and 7, the turntable 54 is disposed below the work position 53 of the depositing / dispensing station 5. The turntable 54 integrally includes a rotation shaft 47 that is rotatably supported by a lifting platform 46 that is provided so as to be movable up and down with respect to the support platform 59. A vertical rack 57 extends downward from the lifting platform 46, and a pinion 56 provided on the output shaft of the lifting motor 55 attached to the support platform 59 is engaged with the rack 57. Therefore, when the pinion 56 is rotationally driven by the lifting motor 55, the lifting platform 46 moves up and down together with the rack 57, and the turntable 54 moves up and down at the same time.

  A large-diameter pulley 43 is integrally provided on the rotary shaft 47 of the turntable 54. A rotating motor 41 is attached to the lift 46, and a small-diameter pulley 42 is integrally provided on the output shaft of the motor 41. A belt 44 is stretched between the pulley 42 and the pulley 43 to constitute a speed reduction mechanism. Therefore, when the motor 41 is driven, the rotational force of the pulley 42 is decelerated through the belt 44 and the pulley 43 and transmitted to the rotary shaft 47, so that the turntable 54 rotates. The rotation angle of the turntable 54 is 180 degrees, and the rotation angle is regulated by detecting the rotation angle with a limit switch or the like. You may make it rotate by 180 degree | times to one direction, and you may make it rotate by 180 degree | times alternately by the forward direction and a reverse direction. The speed reduction mechanism may be composed of a chain and a sprocket, or may be composed of a combination of gears.

  When the container 2 transported to the work position 53 needs to be reversed in the front-rear direction, the elevating motor 55 is activated, the elevating table 46 is raised together with the rack 57, and the turntable 54 is raised. As indicated by a two-dot chain line 5A in FIG. 7, the turntable 54 advances above the upper surface of the transfer device at the depositing / dispensing station 5 and separates the container 2 on the turntable 54 from the transfer device. In this state, the rotation motor 41 is started, the turntable 54 is rotated 180 degrees as described above, and the container 2 is reversed back and forth. Next, the raising / lowering motor 55 is reversely rotated to lower the turntable 54, the container 2 is placed on the upper surface of the transfer device in the depositing / dispensing station 5, and the reversing operation is completed. Thereafter, the transfer device at the depositing / dispensing station 5 is activated, and the container 2 is conveyed toward the rear of the depositing / dispensing station 5, reaches the start end of the warehousing conveyor 71, and is conveyed toward the library unit 1 by the warehousing conveyor 71. As shown in FIG. 6, a roller conveyor 58 is used in this embodiment as a front-rear direction transport device in the depositing / dispensing station 5. An appropriate device such as a pressing device or a belt can be used for the lateral movement. An open space in which the turntable 54 can move up and down is formed at the installation position of the turntable 54.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the weight detection device 10 is incorporated in a roller conveyor 58 that conveys the container 2 rearward from the work position 53 of the depositing / dispensing station 5 toward the starting end of the warehousing conveyor 71. In other words, the weight detection device 10 is disposed at a position immediately behind the work position 53. The weight detection device 10 includes, for example, a load cell, and a unit of one roller conveyor 58 is assembled on the load cell. Therefore, the load of the roller conveyor 58 is always applied to the weight detection device 10, and the load of the container 2 is applied when the container 2 is conveyed. Therefore, the load of the container 2 can be detected from the difference between the detection signal when the load of the container 2 is applied and the detection signal when only the load of the roller conveyor 58 is applied. Based on this detection signal, the container weight may be displayed on the display device. When the container weight is equal to or less than a certain weight, the container 2 is allowed to be transported by the transport device, and the container weight is constant. If it is more than the weight, an error may be displayed on the display device.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the appearance of the cashier station 5 in the above embodiment. In FIG. 9, the depositing / dispensing station 5 is covered with an open cover only at the work position 53, and a work table 64 is installed on the front side of the cover. A display device 8 for displaying the container weight based on the detection signal is attached to the upper surface of the cover, and a rotation button 65 for giving a command for rotating the turntable 54 is provided on the front surface of the cover. A completion button 66 that is operated when the operation is completed is attached. In addition, for example, a display 67 that can display appropriate data such as the book data being searched, the ID of the container in which the book is stored, and the location of the library unit 1 in which the container is stored is attached. Yes.

  An example of the control system of each unit described above is shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, the “entry / exit cart” refers to the delivery station 6 shown in FIG. 1. “Conveyance conveyor” refers to the warehousing conveyor 71 and the warehousing conveyor 72. In this example, the archive unit 1 is divided into two floors, and a cashier station 5 is installed on each floor where the library unit 1 is installed. The transfer device of the cashier station 5 on each floor is designated as “1F It is expressed as “Telephone station conveyor” 58 and “2F cash station station conveyor” 58. Stacker crane 3, traverser 4, loading / unloading cart 6, moving racks 11 to 14, transfer conveyors 71 and 72, vertical transfer machines 51 and 52, 1F transfer station conveyor 58 and 2F transfer station conveyor 58 are individually controlled by central control panel 20. The operation is controlled. The central control panel 20 constitutes a control device that controls the entire automatic library. The central control panel 20 is connected via a hub together with a system manager 31, an interface PC (personal computer: the same applies hereinafter) 32, a 1F work PC 33, and a 2F work PC 34 to exchange signals.

  The system manager 31 is a manager located at a higher level that stores all data necessary for controlling the entire automatic library. The interface PC 32 functions as a connection device that exchanges signals between the system management machine 31 and the central control panel 20 that controls each device such as the stacker crane 3 and the traverser 4. The 1st floor work PC 33 and the 2nd floor work PC 34 are used to designate a book when renting a book and to call a container when returning a book at each of the accounting stations installed on the first and second floors. These input data are displayed on the display 67.

  When the book lending operation or return operation is completed at the depositing / dispensing station 5, the completion button 66 (see FIG. 9) is pressed. FIG. 11 shows a transmission system of signals output when the completion button 66 is pressed. The signal transmission system will be described with reference to FIG. 11 together with the operation when the completion button 66 is pressed. When the completion button 66 is pressed, an instruction signal for starting container warehousing is output from the completion button 66 and input to the central control panel 20. The central control panel 20 comprises a computer and includes a central control unit (CPU), ROM, and RAM. The central control panel 20 outputs a weight detection command signal to the weight detection device 10 when the warehousing / conveyance start instruction signal is input.

  The weight detection device 10 includes a piezoelectric element 101 as a weight detection element. The piezoelectric element 10 generally operates on the same principle as that of a strain gauge, and outputs a voltage corresponding to the load when a load is applied. The output signal is input to the control unit 102 in the weight detection apparatus 10. The control unit 102 includes an input circuit 103 for the voltage signal, a converter 104 that converts the voltage signal into weight, and an output circuit 105 that outputs the weight signal as a measurement weight signal. The measured weight signal is input to the central control panel 20, and the central control panel 20 outputs the measured weight data to each of the work PCs 33 and 34. The work PCs 33 and 34 further output to the display 67 corresponding to each of the work PCs 33 and 34. Output and display weight. The weight is also displayed on the display device 8.

  The librarian or library user can determine whether the weight of the container 2 is equal to or greater than a certain weight by reading the weight displayed on the display device 8 or the like. If the weight is equal to or greater than a certain weight, the container 2 is returned to the work position 53, a part of the stored book is taken out, and the weight of the container 2 is set to a certain weight or less. The retrieved books are called up and stored in another container 2 having a free space.

  Whether or not the weight of the container 2 is equal to or greater than a certain weight is determined by the control device, that is, the central control panel 20, and if it is equal to or greater than the certain weight, an error may be displayed on the display 67 or the display device 8. Further, when the control device determines that the weight of the container 2 is equal to or greater than a certain weight, it is more preferable that an error display is displayed on the display device and the transport of the container by the transport device is rejected. Furthermore, when the weight detection device 10 is located at a position other than the work position 53, the container 2 is separated from the work position 53 when it is determined that the weight of the container 2 is equal to or greater than a certain weight. It is even better to configure so as to return to the work position 53.

  Hereinafter, the weight detection of the container 2 and the operation based on the detection signal will be described mainly with respect to the series of operations of the above embodiment. FIG. 12 shows the operation when returning a book. Reference numerals S1, S2,. A book to be stored is prepared (S1), and a container is called from the work PC (S2). Calling a container is equivalent to a kind of search. Select the free space required for the book to be returned, the number of empty containers, the direct container specification, or any combination. be able to. The control device searches for the corresponding container and allocates it as a container to be delivered (S3). When the container to be delivered is determined, the location of the relevant container is known from the data of the system management machine 31. Therefore, the central control panel 20 provides the stacker crane 3, the traverser 4, the mobile racks 11 to 14, the entry / exit cart 6. Then, the conveyors 71 and 72 and the vertical conveyors 51 and 52 are controlled, and the allocated containers are unloaded from the library unit 1 and conveyed toward the depositing / dispensing station 5 (S4).

  The container 2 transported to the depositing / dispensing station 5 is transported in the depositing / dispensing station 5, arrives at the work position 53, and stops (S5). It is convenient to provide an indicator light indicating that the container 2 has arrived at the work position 53. The librarian or the user specifies the book to be returned by reading the book ID, for example, a barcode, records the data in the database of the system management machine 31, and stores the book in the container 2 (S6). It is determined whether there are other books to be stored (S7). If there are other books, step S6 is repeated, and if there are no other books, the completion button 66 is pressed. As a result, the operation of warehousing the container 2 in the archive unit 1 is started. That is, the conveyance apparatus which consists of the roller conveyor 58 of the depositing / dispensing station 5 is started, and conveyance of the container 2 toward the warehousing conveyor 71 is started (S8).

  While the container 2 is being transported by the roller conveyor 58 of the depositing / dispensing station 5, the weight of the container 2 is detected as described above by reaching the position of the weight detection device 10. Based on this detection signal, the control device determines whether or not the container weight is within the specified value (S9), and if it is equal to or greater than the specified value, the roller conveyor 58 is rotated in the reverse direction so as to return the container to the working position 53. Control (S10). When the container returns to the working position 53, the librarian or the user takes out the excess weight of the book from the container, and when the book is taken out, causes the reader to read the ID, and confirms that the specific book has been taken out from the container. Record (S11). Steps S8 and S9 are repeated again. If the container weight is within the specified value, the process proceeds to step S12. The central control panel 20 moves the stacker crane 3, the traverser 4, the moving racks 11 to 14, the loading / unloading cart 6, the transfer conveyors 71 and 72. Then, the vertical conveyors 51 and 52 are controlled, the container is stored in an appropriate section of an appropriate rack (S12), and a series of operations is terminated.

  Next, the operation at the time of lending the book shown in FIG. 13 will be described. At the time of lending the book, since the book desired by the user is specified, an instruction to take out the specified book is given on the work PC (S21). The container in which the corresponding book is stored is searched from the database of the system manager 31 and assigned as a container to be delivered (S22). When the containers to be delivered are determined, the central control panel 20 is connected to the stacker crane 3, the traverser 4, the movable racks 11 to 14, the entry / exit carts 6, the conveyors 71 and 72, and the vertical conveyor 51 as in the case of the entry. , 52 are controlled, the allocated container is unloaded from the library unit 1 and conveyed toward the depositing / dispensing station 5 (S23). The container 2 transported to the depositing / dispensing station 5 is transported in the depositing / dispensing station 5, arrives at the work position 53, and stops (S24).

  The librarian or user takes out the target book from the container at the work position 53 and causes the reader to read the ID (S25). It is determined whether there are other books to be taken out (S26). If there are other books to be taken out, step S25 is repeated. If there are no other books to be taken out, the completion button 66 is pushed and the container 2 is stored in the library unit 1. The operation to start is started. That is, the conveyance apparatus which consists of the roller conveyor 58 of the depositing / dispensing station 5 is started, and conveyance of the container 2 toward the warehousing conveyor 71 is started (S27).

  While the container 2 is being transported by the roller conveyor 58 of the depositing / dispensing station 5, the weight of the container 2 is detected as described above by reaching the position of the weight detection device 10. Based on this detection signal, the control device determines whether or not the container weight is within the specified value (S28), and if it is equal to or greater than the specified value, the roller conveyor 58 is rotated in the reverse direction so as to return the container to the working position 53. Control (S29). When the container returns to the working position 53, the librarian or the user takes out the excess weight of the book from the container, and when the book is taken out, causes the reader to read the ID, and confirms that the specific book has been taken out from the container. Recording is performed (S30). Steps S27 and S28 are repeated again, and if the container weight is within the specified value, the process proceeds to step S31, where the stacker crane 3, the traverser 4, the moving racks 11 to 14, the loading / unloading cart 6, the conveyors 71 and 72, and the vertical conveyor 51 , 52 are stored, the container is stored in an appropriate section of an appropriate rack (S31), and a series of operations is terminated.

  In the operation of lending a book, the target book is taken out from the container. Therefore, the weight of the container usually does not exceed the specified value, but the container that has been transported to the work position 53 for lending the book is used. Since books may be stored for return, even when books are lent out, the container weight is detected so that each container does not exceed the prescribed weight.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the weight detection device 10 for detecting the weight of the container 2 transported by the transport device is provided in the transport path of the container 2, and the weight of the container 2 including the accommodated books is determined. It detects and displays the weight of each container 2 on the display device 8. Further, when the weight of the container 2 is equal to or more than the prescribed weight, an error is displayed on the display device 8 and further, the container 2 is reversely conveyed to the work position 53. Therefore, it is necessary to suppress the maximum load applied to the stacker crane 3, the traverser 4, the movable racks 11 to 14, the loading / unloading cart 6, the conveyors 71 and 72, the vertical conveyors 51 and 52, and to make these so-called excessive specifications. Therefore, cost and power consumption can be reduced.

When there are a plurality of floors where the banking station 5 is installed, it is necessary to provide the weight detecting device 10 at the banking station 5 on each floor accordingly, resulting in high costs.
Therefore, when there are a plurality of floors where the depositing / dispensing station 5 is installed, if the weight detecting device 10 is incorporated in the warehousing side vertical transfer machine 51, the weight detecting device 10 can be integrated into one, which is effective for cost reduction. It is.

  Individual books and individual containers are given IDs for identification. This ID may be, for example, a barcode, or any ID can be selected and used as long as it can identify an individual, such as a non-contact IC tag such as RF-ID. The accounting station 5 is provided with a reader capable of reading such an identifier and transferring the data to the control device to be stored in the memory. The ID of each book, the ID of the container in which the book is stored, and the location of the library unit 1 in which the container is stored are always linked and recorded, and which book is stored in which container. You can see where it is stored. However, in light of the technical idea of the present invention, it is not essential that each book and each container have an ID, and no ID is attached separately from the book or article to which the ID is attached. Books and articles may be stored and managed in the library unit 1.

  When there is no empty space for storing books in the storage space on the front side of the container 2 that has been transported to the work position 53 for returning books, the container 2 that has been transported to the work position 53 for lending books If there is no target book in the front storage space, the librarian or user presses the rotation button 65. As a result of this operation, the turntable 54 is moved upward, followed by a rotating operation, and further moved downward, and the container 2 is rotated 180 degrees so that a book can be stored in a vacant space or taken out. Become.

  Depending on the size of the books stored in the container 2 or the storage posture, it may not be suitable for transport by the transport device, storage in the library unit 1, and the like. Therefore, a package shape detection device is installed in the container transport path, and when an inappropriate book size or posture is detected, an error is displayed to prompt the user to take measures such as removing the book or correcting it to the correct posture. It is good to do so. It is optional whether or not to provide a package appearance detection device.

  If the weight detection apparatus 10 is in the conveyance path of the container 2 between the depositing / dispensing station 5 and the stacker crane 3, such as a conveying apparatus such as the warehousing conveyor 71 and the unloading conveyor 72, and a conveying apparatus in the depositing / dispensing station 5, It can be provided at any position. However, when the weight of the container 2 including the storage book is more than a certain value, it is necessary to return the container 2 to the work position 53 and take out the book. Therefore, the weight detection device 10 is as shown in the illustrated embodiment. It is desirable to provide in or near the cash-out station 5.

  The weight detection device 10 is most preferably provided at the work position 53. This is because when the weight of the container 2 is detected at the work position 53 and the specified weight is exceeded, the book can be taken out on the spot, and the weight after taking out the book can be sensed on the spot. . In the illustrated embodiment, since the turntable 54 is disposed at the work position 53, the turntable 54 is raised by the activation of the lifting motor 55, and the container 2 is lifted by the turntable 54 to detect its weight. Also good. That is, a weight detection device may be provided on the turntable 54.

  Although the weight detection device 10 in the illustrated embodiment is assumed to be a load cell that is a mechanical detection device, the weight of the container 2 may be detected from the current value of the motor that drives the container 2. For example, the raising / lowering motor 55 of the turntable 54 may be activated to lift the container 2 by the turntable 54, and the current flowing through the motor 55 at that time may be measured and converted to the weight of the container 2. Alternatively, the current flowing through the motor that drives the roller conveyor 58 when the container 2 is transported by the roller conveyor 58 in the depositing / dispensing station 5, and the current that flows through the motor that drives the storage conveyor 71 when the container 2 is transported by the storage conveyor 71 are measured. Then, the weight of the container 2 may be converted.

It is a perspective view which shows the Example of the automatic library which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the container used for the said Example. It is a top view of the said container. It is a perspective view which shows the example in which the book is accommodated in the said container. It is a top view which shows the example in which the book is accommodated in the said container. It is a top view which shows the inside of the banking station in the said Example. It is a front view which shows the inside of the said banking station. It is a figure which shows the inside of the said banking station, and is a side view which shows a mode that the weight detection apparatus is integrated. It is a perspective view which shows the example of the external appearance of the said banking station. It is a block diagram which shows the example of the control system in the Example of the automatic library which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows examples, such as a weight detection apparatus among the said control systems, and the processing system of the detection signal. It is a flowchart which shows the book return operation | movement of the said Example. It is a flowchart which shows the book rental operation | movement of the said Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Library part 2 Container 3 Stacker crane 4 Traverser 5 Cash-in / out station 6 Delivery station 8 Display apparatus 10 Weight detection apparatus 20 Control apparatus 71 Carry-in conveyor as a conveying apparatus 72 Carry-out conveyor as a conveying apparatus

Claims (8)

Multiple containers that can hold multiple graphic documents,
An archive section that stores multiple containers;
A stacker crane that can take out and store the container stored in the archive section;
A depositing / dispensing station for taking out the documents from the container and returning the documents to the container;
A transport device for transporting the container between the cashier station and the stacker crane;
A weight detection device for detecting the weight of the container transported by the transport device;
A display device for displaying the container weight based on a detection signal from the weight detection device;
An automatic library comprising: a control device that controls operations of the stacker crane, the transport device, and the display device based on a document depositing / dispensing command.   The control device permits the transport of the container by the transport device when the container weight detected by the weight detection device is less than a certain weight, and causes an error in the display device when the container weight is greater than the certain weight. The automatic library according to claim 1 to be displayed.   The automatic archive according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weight detection device is arranged at a cashier station.   4. The automatic archive according to claim 3, wherein the control device displays an error on the display device and rejects the conveyance of the container by the conveyance device when the container weight is a certain weight or more.   The automatic library according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the weight detection device is arranged in a conveyance path by a conveyance device in the vicinity of the depositing / dispensing station.   7. The automatic archive according to claim 6, wherein the control device displays an error on the display device when the container weight is equal to or greater than a certain weight and reversely conveys the container by the conveying device toward the depositing / dispensing station.   The automatic library according to claim 1, wherein the weight detection device includes a load cell.   2. The automatic library according to claim 1, wherein the weight detection device comprises an ammeter that measures a current value of a drive motor of the transport device.

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