JP2015078068A - Automatic library system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic library system which allows a user to view a back cover of a book even when the book is stored in a container.SOLUTION: An automatic library system 1 comprises: a container 13 having a side wall 13a for storing plural books 16a in a standing state and in a state that back covers 16b of the books face one direction; a rack for storing the plural containers 13; a take-out station 10 having a work table 18 for taking out the books 16a; transport means 50 for transporting the container 13 between the rack and the take-out station 10; and a transport device 40 for transporting the container 13 in the take-out station 10. The container 13 is formed so that at least the side wall 13a is transparent so as to allow a user to view the back cover 16b of the book 16a, and the transport device and the work table 18 are configured so that an upper surface of the work table 18 and a lower end of the container 13 become almost equal height.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic library system capable of automatically loading and unloading books, and more specifically, a technique for easily visualizing books stored in a container at a depositing and unloading station for loading and unloading books in a container. About.

  There is known an automatic loading / unloading system for automatically loading / unloading specified articles to / from a storage. As an example of this automatic loading / unloading system, in a relatively large library or the like, a plurality of box-shaped containers storing dozens of books are stored in a library having fixed shelves and moving shelves. In addition, an automatic library system is employed in which shelves are associated with each other and stored in a storage device. According to this automatic library system, books are lent out by a container in which books lent out by a stacker crane, a transport carriage, a transport conveyor, etc. are automatically transported to a depositing / unloading station and taken out from the container by an operator. This is done by handing over the book to the user. At this time, the contents of the storage device are updated, and the data of the lent book is moved from the book column stored in the container to the book column being lent. In addition, books are returned in the reverse order of lending, and containers that can store returned books are automatically transported to the depositing / dispensing station, and books returned by the operator are stored in the containers. Is done. At this time as well, the contents of the storage device are updated, and the returned book data is moved from the book column being rented to the book column stored in the container.

  There is a work table on the front side of the depositing / dispensing station where the operator puts books into and out of the container, a conveyor for transporting the container in the middle, and an embedded monitor that provides information to the operator on the back side. Is provided. The container for storing books is provided with a side wall that is raised so that the books do not fall in the middle of conveyance.

JP 2006-103918 A

  However, in the conventional configuration, there is a problem that the label attached to the lower half of the back cover of the book stored in the container or the lower part of the back cover cannot be seen by the side wall provided in the container. This problem makes it difficult to find the designated book displayed on the monitor when taking out the book from the container that has arrived at the cashier station. As an example, books with the same title but different numbers only cannot be distinguished.

In addition, the work counter of the depositing / dispensing station has a height substantially equal to the upper end of the side wall of the container. This is to make it easier to put and remove books from the container while the container is on the travel path. However, since the lower half of the back cover of the book stored in the container is hidden behind the work counter and cannot be seen, the same problem as described above occurs. Especially for books with a small size, most of the spine cannot be seen.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an automatic library system capable of visually recognizing a back cover of a book even when stored in a container.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container having a side wall for accommodating a plurality of books in a standing state and a back cover facing one side, a rack for storing a plurality of the containers, and an operation for taking out the books. A depositing / dispensing station having a table, a transporting means capable of transporting the container between the rack and the depositing / dispensing station, and a transporting device for transporting the container in the depositing / dispensing station, wherein the container is accommodated. At least the side wall is made of a transparent material so that the back cover of the book can be visually recognized, and the lower end of the container and the upper surface of the work table are approximately the same height in the transport device and the work table. It is comprised as follows.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a container having a side wall that accommodates a plurality of books in a standing state and a back cover facing one side, a rack for storing a plurality of the containers, and an operation for taking out the books. A depositing / dispensing station having a table, a transporting means capable of transporting the container between the rack and the depositing / dispensing station, and a transporting device for transporting the container in the depositing / dispensing station, wherein the container is accommodated. The side wall corresponding to the back cover is removed so that the back cover of the book is visible, and the lower end of the container and the upper surface of the work table have substantially the same height as the transport device and the work table. It is comprised so that it may become.

  The invention according to claim 3 is a container having a side wall that accommodates a plurality of books in a standing state and a back cover facing one side, a rack for storing a plurality of the containers, and an operation for taking out the books. A depositing / dispensing station having a table, a transporting means capable of transporting the container between the rack and the depositing / dispensing station, and a transporting device for transporting the container in the depositing / dispensing station, wherein the container is accommodated. At least the side wall is made of a transparent material so that the back cover of the book can be visually recognized, and the conveying device is at a height at which the lower end of the container is located below the upper surface of the work table, Has an elevating device for raising the container so as to be substantially the same height as the upper surface of the work table.

  The invention according to claim 4 is a container having a side wall that accommodates a plurality of books in a standing state and a back cover facing one side, a rack for storing a plurality of the containers, and an operation for taking out the books. A depositing / dispensing station having a table, a transporting means capable of transporting the container between the rack and the depositing / dispensing station, and a transporting device for transporting the container in the depositing / dispensing station, wherein the container is accommodated. The side wall corresponding to the back cover is removed so that the back cover of the book is visible, and the transport device is at a height where the lower end of the container is positioned below the upper surface of the work table, It has a raising / lowering device which raises the container so that a lower end becomes substantially the same height as the upper surface of the work table.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the automatic library system according to the third or fourth aspect of the invention, the lifting device occupies a raised position at the time of taking out the books.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic library system according to the third or fourth aspect, the lifting device occupies a lowered position during the storing operation of the books.

  The invention according to claim 7 is a container having a side wall which accommodates a plurality of books in a standing state and a back cover facing one side, a rack for storing a plurality of the containers, and an operation for taking out the books. A depositing / dispensing station having a table, a transporting means capable of transporting the container between the rack and the depositing / dispensing station, and a transporting device for transporting the container in the depositing / dispensing station, wherein the container is accommodated. At least the side wall is made of a transparent material so that the back cover of the book can be visually recognized, and the transport device is at a height where the lower end of the container is located below the upper surface of the work table, The means is adapted to the accounting station so that the lower end of the spine occupies a position where it can be seen at the time of taking out the books. Characterized by conveying the Na.

  The invention according to claim 8 is a container having a side wall that accommodates a plurality of books in a standing state and a back cover facing one side, a rack for storing a plurality of the containers, and an operation for taking out the books. A depositing / dispensing station having a table, a transporting means capable of transporting the container between the rack and the depositing / dispensing station, and a transporting device for transporting the container in the depositing / dispensing station, wherein the container is accommodated. The side wall corresponding to the back cover is removed so that the back cover of the book is visible, and the transport device is at a height where the lower end of the container is positioned below the upper surface of the work table, The transport means is configured to be connected to the depositing station so that the lower end of the spine occupies a position where it can be seen at the time of taking out the books. Characterized by conveying the Na.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic library system according to the seventh or eighth aspect, the transport means occupies a position closer to the work table than a position at the time of taking out the book at the time of storing the book. The container is transported to the depositing / dispensing station.

  According to the present invention, when a container carried from the library arrives at the depositing / dispensing station, the back of the book stored in the container by the operator without removing the container from the conveyor and without taking out the book from the container. Since all the covers can be confirmed, work efficiency can be significantly improved.

1 is a schematic plan view of an automatic archive system to which an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. It is the schematic which shows the arrangement structure of a library part and a depositing / dispensing station. It is the schematic which shows one structure of a cashier station and a conveying apparatus. It is the schematic of the accounting station used for one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows one form with the control system of an automatic library system. It is the schematic explaining the container used for the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the banking station used for the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic explaining the container used for the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the banking station used for the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the banking station used for the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the banking station used for the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part schematic plan view of the accounting station used for the 5th Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an automatic archive system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the mechanical elements of the automatic archive system will be described, and then the control system will be described.

  The automatic library system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged in a library library unit 4 and includes racks 2A and 2B that serve as container storage shelves for storing a large number of containers 15 that can store a plurality of books 16, and racks 2A and 2B. Stacker cranes 6A, 6B that are movable in the passages 5A, 5B formed between them, transport conveyors 7, 8 that transport containers 15 ... carried out by each stacker crane 6 to the transport cart 9, and transport carts 9, A horizontal transfer conveyor 38 that transfers the containers 15 between them, a vertical transfer conveyor 39, a delivery station 10 in which the containers 15 are transported and an operator performs the work of taking out and storing the books 16 from the containers 15. It has a reception counter 12 and the like. The automatic library system 1 includes a stacker crane 6A, 6B, a transfer conveyor 7, 8, a transfer carriage 9, a horizontal transfer conveyor 38, and a vertical transfer conveyor 39. Warehousing and unloading are performed between the depositing / dispensing station 10 and the racks 2A and 2B.

  The racks 2A and 2B are of a single type having a row, a series and a step on the front surface with respect to the passages 5A and 5B, and a double type having a row, a series and a step on the front surface and the rear surface with respect to the passages 5A and 5B. The racks 2A and 2B shown in FIG. 1 are of a double type, and the sections facing the passages 5A and 5B are the front side and the opposite side is the rear side. For example, in the rack 2B, reference numeral 201 indicates the front side, and reference numeral 202 indicates the rear side. Although a double rack is illustrated in FIG. 1, a single rack may be used. The racks 2 </ b> A and 2 </ b> B include a type that is fixed to the library unit 4 and a type that is movable in the library unit 4. In this embodiment, a fixed type is described as an example, but a moving type may be used.

  The stacker cranes 6A and 6B reciprocate and move up and down in the passages 5A and 5B, respectively, and select a container 15 that has received a conveyance instruction from a plurality of containers 15 stored in the racks 2A and 2B. 7 and 8 are transported to the unloading conveyors 7A and 8A, and the containers 15 located on the receiving conveyors 7B and 8B of the conveyors 7 and 8 are transported to the racks 2A and 2B.

  The transport cart 9 reciprocates between the transport conveyors 7 and 8 and the horizontal transport conveyor 38 to transport the container 15, and the exit cart 9 </ b> A and the entrance cart 9 </ b> B are arranged vertically. The transfer conveyors 7 and 8 are used to transfer the containers 15 between the stacker cranes 6A and 6B and the transfer cart 9, and the transfer conveyors for discharging the containers 15 from the stacker cranes 6A and 6B to the output cart 9A. 7A and 8A, and unloading conveyors 7B and 8B for conveying the container 15 from the trolley 9B to the stacker cranes 6A and 6B are arranged above and below, respectively.

  The horizontal transport conveyor 38 transports the container 15 between the transport cart 9 and the vertical transport conveyor 39, and a shipping horizontal transport conveyor 38A that transports the container 15 from the transport cart 9A to the vertical transport conveyor 39A. A warehousing horizontal transfer conveyor 38B for transferring the container 15 from the vertical transfer conveyor 39B to the trolley 9B is disposed up and down.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the vertical transfer conveyor 39 includes a vertical transfer conveyor 39 </ b> A for transferring the container 15 transferred by the horizontal transfer conveyor 38 </ b> A to the loading / unloading station 10, and a horizontal transfer container 15 from the loading / unloading station 10. And a vertical transfer conveyor 39B for warehousing that is transferred to the transfer conveyor 38B.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a station conveyor 40 is installed inside the depositing / dispensing station 10 as a transfer device that moves the container 15 in the station. As shown in FIG. 3, the station conveyor 40 includes a delivery station conveyor 40A that receives the containers 15 from the delivery vertical transfer conveyor 39A, and a storage station conveyor that transports the containers 15 from the delivery station 10 to the entry vertical transfer conveyor 39B. 40B, and is configured so that the container 15 can be transferred between the depositing / dispensing station 10 and the vertical transfer conveyor 39. Between the unloading station conveyor 40A and the unloading station conveyor 40B, there is disposed a transformer that transfers containers from the unloading station conveyor 40A to the unloading station conveyor 40B. This transformer will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cashier station 10 is installed on a different floor F2 with respect to the floor F1 of the building where the library unit 4 is located. For this reason, the banking station 10 is connected to the vertical transfer conveyor 39. Although it is the arrangement | positioning form of the depositing / dispensing station 10 and the library part 4, it does not matter even if the both are installed in the same floor. In this case, the vertical transfer conveyor 39 is not necessary. The arrangement of the cashier station 10 and the library unit 4 can be appropriately changed according to the building where the system is introduced and the usage pattern.

  The depositing / dispensing station 10 is composed of a housing having an appearance as shown in FIG. 4, and a work table 18 is installed on the front side thereof, and a station conveyor 40 for transporting the containers 15 is installed therein. A monitor 20 serving as a display means for displaying various information and a work completion button 23 are provided on each side of the housing. The work completion button 23 is operated when returning the container 15 that has completed the work of taking out and storing the book 16 in the depositing / dispensing station 10 to the library unit 4 (at the time of warehousing), and a completion signal is output by this button operation. The

  On the upper surface of the work table 18, a book information reading unit 21, a mouse 22, a keyboard 25, and the like are provided. The book information reading means 21 includes an IC tag reader that reads book information from an IC tag (not shown) provided in the book 16. Book information for identifying the book 16 is stored in the IC tag. Although an IC tag is used here, it may be anything that can identify the book 16 such as a barcode. The container 15 for storing the book 16 is provided with a barcode (not shown) in which container information for identifying the container 15 is stored. The mouse 22 and the keyboard 25 serving as information input means are used when inputting various information. As shown in FIG. 4, the accounting station 10 is provided with covers 28 and 28 for covering the station conveyor 40. Each cover 28 is provided with a door 29 that can be opened and closed in the width direction of the depositing / dispensing station 10. The door 29 is normally closed and is manually opened when the container 15 arrives at a predetermined position. These monitor 20, book information reading means 21, mouse 22, work completion button 23, and keyboard 25 are communicably connected to a station terminal 61 installed in the depositing / dispensing station 10.

  Next, the control system will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the automatic archive system 1 has a system manager 60 as a control unit having a server function, a station terminal 61 that is provided in the depositing / dispensing station 10 and functions as a control unit and output means, and functions as a control unit. And a central control panel 62. The system manager 60, the station terminal 61, and the central control panel 62 are composed of computers, and are connected to each other via communication lines, and information is transmitted between the system manager 60, the station terminal 61, and the central control panel 62. Each communication is possible.

  The system manager 60 includes a storage unit 70 and stores various data. Various data stored in the storage unit 70 can be updated. Further, the system management device 60 is connected to a library system 63 for general library management of the library via a communication line so as to be capable of bidirectional communication, and various information can be transmitted and received between the two. The crane 6A, 6B and the conveying means 50 are provided with a function of sending an operation command of each conveyor constituting the conveyor means 50 to the central control panel 62.

  The central control panel 62 is connected to the crane control panels 6a and 6b mounted on the stacker cranes 6A and 6B and the cart control panels 9a and 9b mounted on the transport carts 9A and 9B so as to be able to communicate with each other wirelessly. Stacker cranes 6A and 6B and conveying carts 9A and 9B are controlled via boards 6a and 6b and cart control boards 9a and 9b. The central control panel 62 controls container conveyance of the conveyors 7 and 8, the horizontal conveyor 38, the vertical conveyor 39, and the station conveyor 40.

The station terminal 61 has a function of instructing work in the work of taking out and storing the books 16 at the depositing / dispensing station 10. The station terminal 61 uses the mouse 22 or the keyboard 25 to input conditions for instructing the delivery of the container 15 storing the books 16 at the depositing / dispensing station 10, a function for transmitting these information to the system management machine 60, and the system management machine And a function for displaying the search result transmitted from 60.
The library system 63 is a system unique to the library different from the automatic library system 1, but is configured to sequentially transmit and receive various data with the system manager 60.

  Based on the above-described configuration, when the user searches for a book 16 to be borrowed and performs a predetermined procedure, the container 15 storing the book 16 is automatically transferred from the storage location to the depositing / dispensing station 10. When the operator M takes out the book 16 from the container 15 based on the relevant book information displayed on the monitor 20, the user can receive the relevant book 16. The return is performed in the reverse procedure, and the user brings a book 16 to be returned to a predetermined return place or the reception counter 12. At the depositing / dispensing station 10, the operator M returns it to the container 15 that has been transported. When the operator M stores the book 16 in the container 15, the IC tag reader 21 reads the IC tag of the book 16 again, whereby the container 15 and the book 16 are associated with each other and stored in the automatic library system 1. Thereafter, the work completion button 23 is pushed by the operator M, and the return work is completed when the container 15 is received in the library unit 4.

  FIG. 6 shows the container 13 used in the first embodiment of the present invention. As the container 13 used here, a book in which the length in the width direction and the length in the thickness direction of the book 16 are matched to the size of the book 16 is used. In the illustrated example, two A4 size books 16a are arranged in the width direction. A total of 40 books in 20 rows in the thickness direction are stored. Each book 16a is stored in the container 13 such that the respective backstrips 16b face each other. The container 13 is transported to the depositing / dispensing station 10 in such a manner that one surface of the length in the thickness direction faces the operator M.

  The conventional container is formed of a colored resin material, and its side wall covers the lower part of the book 16a, so that the entire back cover 16b of the book 16a cannot be seen. Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, the container 13 is made of a transparent resin material, and even if the lower part of the book 16a is covered with the side wall 13a, the entire back cover 16b can be visually recognized. It is comprised so that it may become.

  FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the accounting station 10 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the conventional delivery station 10 has a lower conveyor transport surface 19 of the station conveyor 40 than the work table 18, and the upper surface of the work table 18 and the upper end of the side wall 13 a of the container 13. Are configured to have substantially the same height. This is to prevent the side wall 13a from getting in the way when the book 16a is taken in and out of the container 13. However, in such a configuration, the lower part of the book 16a is hidden by the work table 18, and the entire back cover 16b of the book 16a cannot be visually recognized. Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7A, the height of the conveyor transport surface 19 is made substantially equal to that of the work table 18 so that the upper surface of the work table 18 and the lower end of the container 13 are almost the same height. It is composed.

  With the above-described configuration, when the container 13 carried from the library unit 4 arrives at the depositing / dispensing station 10, the operator M does not remove the container 13 from the station conveyor 40 and removes the book 16a from the container 13. Since all the spine covers 16b of the books 16a stored in the container 13 can be confirmed, work efficiency can be significantly improved.

  FIG. 8 shows the container 14 used in the second embodiment of the present invention. The container 14 used here has the same size as the container 13. As shown in FIG. 8, the container 14 has a portion corresponding to the spine 16b of the side wall 14a (the portion shown by hatching in FIG. 7B) removed so that the lower portion of the book 16a can be seen. It is configured. Further, a fall prevention bar 14b for preventing the book 16a from falling from within the container 14 is provided between the side walls 14a facing each other. With this configuration, even if it is formed of a colored resin material as in the case of a conventional container, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is different from the conventional one in the relative position of the work table 18 and the conveyor transport surface 19 but only in that an elevating device 17 for lifting the container is provided in the station conveyor 40. Other configurations are the same.

  The station conveyor 40 has a lifting device 17 below the conveyor transport surface 19. The lifting / lowering device 17 is installed at a location where the container 13 is held as a work position in the depositing / dispensing station 10. The elevating device 17 has a motor (not shown), is connected to the elevating table 17a via a ball screw 17b, and can move the elevating table 17a up and down by rotating a motor (not shown). As a result, the container 13 held in the depositing / dispensing station 10 can selectively occupy the raised position shown in FIG. 9A and the lowered position shown in FIG.

  When the lifting platform 17a occupies the raised position, the back cover 16b of the book 16a in the container 13 (which may be the container 14) is all visible by the operator, so that the work for taking out the book 16a from the container 13 is facilitated. When 17a occupies the lowered position, the book 16a can be stored in the container 13 easily. In the third embodiment, the same function and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

  FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the relative positions of the work table 18 and the conveyor transport surface 19 are the same as the conventional one, but the position of the container 13 arriving at the depositing / dispensing station 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. It differs only in that it occupies a position farther from the operator than the form, and the other configurations are the same.

  The delivery station conveyor 40A conveys the container 13 to the delivery station 10 so that the container 13 occupies a position away from the operator by a predetermined amount. As a specific configuration, the central control panel 62 that controls the operation of the delivery station conveyor 40 </ b> A moves the delivery station conveyor 40 </ b> A until the end of the container 13 is detected by the sensor 41 provided in the delivery station 10. Operate. With this configuration, the container 13 can be positioned at a position away from the work table 18 by a predetermined amount, so that the operator can visually recognize the spine 16b, and the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be obtained. Can do. FIG. 10 shows 150 mm as an example of the predetermined amount. However, this value is not limited to this because it changes depending on the height of the worker, the distance of the worker to the container 13, and the like.

  In the fourth embodiment, an example is shown in which the operation of the exit station conveyor 40A is controlled to position the container 13 with respect to the worker. However, the position of the station conveyor 40 itself in the first embodiment shown in FIG. A similar effect can be obtained by changing the distance to the direction away from the operator.

  FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment, the relative position of the work table 18 and the conveyor transport surface 19 is the same as that of the conventional one, but the position of the container 13 that arrives at the depositing / dispensing station 10 is the same as when the book 16a is stored and taken out. Are different only in that they are different from each other, and the other configurations are the same.

  Two sensors 30 and 31 for detecting the container 13 are arranged on the warehousing station conveyor 40B arranged inside the depositing / dispensing station 10. Detection signals from the sensors 30 and 31 are input to the central control panel 62, and the operation of the station conveyor 40 is controlled by receiving signals from the central control panel 62.

  The sensors 30 and 31 are photoelectric sensors, and as shown in FIG. 12, one is a transmissive sensor in which one is a projector (30a, 31a) and the other is a light receiver (30b, 31b). The sensors 30 and 31 are disposed so that the light projector and the light receiver face each other with the warehousing station conveyor 40B interposed therebetween, and the sensor 31 is located in the vicinity of the work table 18 at a position away from the work table 18 by a predetermined amount. Are arranged respectively. The warehousing station conveyor 40B is provided with a barcode reader (not shown) that reads a barcode (container ID) that is an identification code of the container 13.

  A transformer 42 is disposed at a position connecting the exit station conveyor 40A and the entrance station conveyor 40B. The transformer 42 rises on the spot when it receives the container 13 from the exit station conveyor 40A, and then moves leftward in FIG. 12 and descends when it occupies a position corresponding to the entry station conveyor 40B. Is delivered to the warehousing station conveyor 40B. The transformer 42 that has delivered the container 13 further descends, moves to the right in FIG. 12, and returns to the initial position.

  As shown in FIG. 12A, the central control panel 62 stops the operation of the transformer 42 when the sensor 31 detects the container 13. Next, the ID of the container 13 is read by a barcode reader (not shown), and it is determined from the read container ID whether the system management device 60 is a container for extraction work or a container for storage work. If it is determined that the storage operation is performed, it is not necessary to check the spine 16b, so the container 13 is held at the storage operation position as it is.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that the operation is the take-out operation, the central control panel 62, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), separates the container 13 from the operator by the warehousing station conveyor 40B, that is, the vertical conveyor conveyor 39 side. To transport. When the container 13 is detected by the sensor 30, the central control panel 62 stops the operation of the warehousing station conveyor 40B. Thereby, the container 13 holds the position detected by the sensor 30 as an extraction work position.

  With this configuration, the container 13 can be positioned at a position away from the work table 18 by a predetermined amount, so that the operator can visually recognize the spine 16b, and the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be obtained. Can do. FIG. 10 shows 150 mm as an example of the predetermined amount. However, this value is not limited to this because it changes depending on the height of the worker, the distance of the worker to the container 13, and the like.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the container 13 of the taking-out operation | work was moved to the vertical conveyance conveyor 39 side by the warehousing station conveyor 40B, and was located in the position which left | separated predetermined amount from the work table 18. In the case of a storage work container, the container 13 may be moved to the worker side by the warehousing station conveyor 40B, and the container 13 may be positioned close to the work table 18 so that the storage work can be easily performed.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and the present invention described in the claims is not specifically limited by the above description. Various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the above. For example, the containers 13 and 14 in the above-described form are matched to the size of an A4 size book, but may be matched to other sizes. Further, although the lifting device 17 uses the ball screw 17b, a linear motion type using a cylinder or the like, a system driven by a gear, or a system using a cam mechanism may be used. In addition, although the transmission type sensors are used as the sensors 30 and 31, a regression reflection type sensor may be used. The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely a list of the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. Absent.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automatic library system 2 Rack 10 Depositing station 13, 14 Container 13a, 14a Side wall 17 Lifting device 18 Work table 40 Conveying device (station conveyor)
50 Conveying means

Claims (9)

  A container having a side wall for accommodating a plurality of books in a state where the back cover is directed to one side, a rack for storing a plurality of the containers, and a depositing / dispensing station having a work table for taking out the books, It has a transport means capable of transporting the container between the rack and the depositing / dispensing station, and a transport device for transporting the container in the depositing / dispensing station, and the container can visually recognize the back cover of the book accommodated therein. So that at least the side wall is made of a transparent material, and the conveying device and the work table are configured such that the lower end of the container and the upper surface of the work table are substantially at the same height. system.   A container having a side wall for accommodating a plurality of books in a state where the back cover is directed to one side, a rack for storing a plurality of the containers, and a depositing / dispensing station having a work table for taking out the books, It has a transport means capable of transporting the container between the rack and the depositing / dispensing station, and a transport device for transporting the container in the depositing / dispensing station, and the container can visually recognize the back cover of the book accommodated therein. The side wall corresponding to the spine is removed so that the transport device and the work table are configured so that the lower end of the container and the upper surface of the work table are substantially at the same height. Archive system.   A container having a side wall for accommodating a plurality of books in a state where the back cover is directed to one side, a rack for storing a plurality of the containers, and a depositing / dispensing station having a work table for taking out the books, It has a transport means capable of transporting the container between the rack and the depositing / dispensing station, and a transport device for transporting the container in the depositing / dispensing station, and the container can visually recognize the back cover of the book accommodated therein. And at least the side wall is made of a transparent material so that the lower end of the container is positioned below the upper surface of the work table, and the lower end is substantially the same as the upper surface of the work table. An automatic library system having an elevating device for raising the container so as to have the same height.   A container having a side wall for accommodating a plurality of books in a state where the back cover is directed to one side, a rack for storing a plurality of the containers, and a depositing / dispensing station having a work table for taking out the books, It has a transport means capable of transporting the container between the rack and the depositing / dispensing station, and a transport device for transporting the container in the depositing / dispensing station, and the container can visually recognize the back cover of the book accommodated therein. The side wall corresponding to the spine is removed so that the lower end of the container is located below the upper surface of the work table, and the lower end of the side wall is the upper surface of the work table. An automatic library system having an elevating device for raising the container so as to have substantially the same height. In the automatic archive system according to claim 3 or 4,
The automatic lifting system according to claim 1, wherein the lifting device occupies a raised position at the time of taking out the book. In the automatic archive system according to claim 3 or 4,
2. The automatic library system according to claim 1, wherein the lifting device occupies a lowered position when storing the books.   A container having a side wall for accommodating a plurality of books in a state where the back cover is directed to one side, a rack for storing a plurality of the containers, and a depositing / dispensing station having a work table for taking out the books, It has a transport means capable of transporting the container between the rack and the depositing / dispensing station, and a transport device for transporting the container in the depositing / dispensing station, and the container can visually recognize the back cover of the book accommodated therein. At least the side wall is made of a transparent material so that the lower end of the container is positioned below the upper surface of the work table, and the transfer means is used when taking out the books. In the automatic library for transporting the container to the depositing station so as to occupy a position where the lower end of the spine is visible Stem.   A container having a side wall for accommodating a plurality of books in a state where the back cover is directed to one side, a rack for storing a plurality of the containers, and a depositing / dispensing station having a work table for taking out the books, It has a transport means capable of transporting the container between the rack and the depositing / dispensing station, and a transport device for transporting the container in the depositing / dispensing station, and the container can visually recognize the back cover of the book accommodated therein. The side wall corresponding to the spine is removed so that the lower end of the container is located below the upper surface of the work table, and the transport means is the work of taking out the books. An automatic library for transporting the container to the depositing / dispensing station so that the lower end of the spine occupies a visible position Stem. In the automatic archive system according to claim 7 or 8,
The automatic transport system according to claim 1, wherein the transport means transports the container to the depositing / dispensing station so as to occupy a position closer to the work table than a position at the time of taking out the book.

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