JP2015168573A - automatic warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make gaps between rows as small as possible in an automatic warehouse in which a plurality of rows of storage parts and lifting mechanism parts are disposed.SOLUTION: An automatic warehouse is configured as follows: a storage shelf 10 including a plurality of stages of storage shelves, and a lifting mechanism part 30, which includes a lifting support pillar part 31 and a lifting transfer part 32 supported liftably and movably along the pillar part 31, for lifting and moving a plurality of work pieces W by lifting and moving the lifting transfer part 32 are arranged in a row to form a storage row 4; and a plurality of storage rows 4 are arranged in parallel. In at least one gap between the plurality of storage rows 4, the pillar parts 31 of the lifting mechanism parts 30 included in the two storage rows adjacent through the gap are provided in such a manner that the positions of the pillar parts 31 are shifted along an extension direction of the gap.

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic warehouse for loading and unloading articles.

  Patent document 1 is disclosing the automatic warehouse provided with two temporary storage shelves and two storage parts so that the raising / lowering mechanism part might be pinched | interposed. Further, in this automatic warehouse, two sets of two temporary storage shelves and two storage units are provided via a cart travel path, and the transfer cart travels along the cart travel path. In addition, pillars for raising and lowering support of the lifting mechanism part are provided on both sides of the carriage traveling path so that the transfer carriage can travel between each pair of lifting mechanism parts. .

JP2013-245057A

  However, in the automatic warehouse disclosed in Patent Document 1, the column portion is provided outside the carriage traveling passage. For this reason, when it is going to provide a storage part and a raising / lowering mechanism part over many rows, it is necessary to prevent a pillar part from interfering with each other, and it is necessary to provide sufficient clearance gaps between each row | line | column. As a result, the number of storage units installed per unit area is restricted, and there is a problem that the storage efficiency deteriorates.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to make the gap between the rows as small as possible in an automatic warehouse in which the storage portion and the lifting mechanism portion are arranged over a plurality of rows.

  The first aspect includes a storage unit including a plurality of stages of shelves, a column unit for lifting and lowering support, and a lifting and lowering transfer unit supported so as to be movable up and down along the column unit. A plurality of storage rows provided so as to be arranged in a row with a lifting mechanism portion that moves up and down a plurality of articles by moving the items up and down is provided in at least one gap in the plurality of storage rows. The lifting / lowering support pillars of the lifting mechanism included in the two storage rows adjacent to each other through the gap are provided with their positions shifted along the extending direction of the gap. .

  A 2nd aspect is an automatic warehouse which concerns on a 1st aspect, Comprising: Each of these storage row | line | columns is the state which has arrange | positioned the said raising / lowering mechanism part between two said storage parts, and they are in a line. The two storage rows are arranged in parallel via a carriage travel passage, and the column portions of the lifting mechanism portion of the two storage rows are provided on both outer sides. A plurality of storage set portions in which the transfer cart is allowed to travel in the cart travel passage through the lifting mechanism portion, and at least one gap between the plurality of storage set portions, The elevating support column portions of the elevating mechanism included in the two storage rows adjacent to each other via a gap are provided with their positions shifted along the extending direction of the gap.

  According to the automatic warehouse according to the first aspect, in the automatic warehouse in which the storage portion and the lifting mechanism portion are arranged in a plurality of rows, the lifting support portion of the lifting mechanism portion included in two adjacent storage rows is used. Even when the pillars are present in the gaps, the pillars can be provided with their positions shifted along the extending direction of the gaps. Thereby, the gap between two adjacent storage columns can be made as small as possible.

  According to the second aspect, in each storage set portion, the column portions of the lifting mechanism portions of two storage rows are provided on both outer sides, and the transfer carriage passes between the lifting mechanism portions and the cart traveling passage. By allowing the vehicle to travel, articles can be transferred to the storage units on both sides of the lifting mechanism by the transfer carriage. Then, at least one gap between the plurality of storage set portions, the lifting / lowering support column portion of the lifting mechanism portion included in the two storage rows adjacent to each other through the gap is extended to the gap. By providing a position shifted along the direction, the gap between two adjacent storage set portions can be made as small as possible.

It is a schematic plan view which shows the whole automatic warehouse which concerns on embodiment. It is a partial expansion schematic plan view of an automatic warehouse same as the above. It is a partial expansion schematic side view of an automatic warehouse same as the above.

  Hereinafter, the automatic warehouse according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing the entire automated warehouse according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged schematic plan view of the automated warehouse, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged schematic side view of the automated warehouse.

<About the overall configuration>
This automatic warehouse is configured such that a plurality of storage set units 2 are provided in parallel.

  Each storage set unit 2 includes two storage rows 4 provided in parallel via a carriage traveling passage 14. A transfer carriage 60 is provided in the carriage travel passage 14 so as to be able to travel.

  In addition, each storage row 4 is configured such that they are arranged in a row in a state where the elevating mechanism 30 is disposed between the two storage shelves 10. Here, two temporary storage shelves 20 are provided on both sides of the lifting mechanism 30, and two storage shelves 10 are further provided on both sides.

  Then, the articles W conveyed by the warehousing conveyor 16 are admitted to the storage shelf 10 via the temporary storage shelf 20 and the transfer cart 60 from the lifting mechanism 30 and stored. In addition, the articles W stored and stored in the storage shelf 10 are discharged from the transfer conveyor 60 to the outside via the temporary storage shelf 20 and the lifting mechanism unit 30 from the shipping conveyor 18.

<Regarding the Configuration of the Storage Set Unit 2>
The storage shelf 10 is configured as a storage unit having shelves 12 extending in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, and is configured to be able to store a plurality of articles W arranged vertically and horizontally. With respect to each shelf 12, articles W can be taken in and out at least from the cart traveling passage 14 side.

  Here, temporary storage shelves 20 are disposed on both sides of the lifting mechanism 30, and two storage shelves 10 are further disposed on both sides thereof, and these are arranged in a line.

  The storage column 4 is configured by providing the storage shelf 10, the temporary storage shelf 20, and the elevating mechanism unit 30 so as to be aligned in a row. However, it is not essential that the temporary storage rack 20 is provided. In addition, it is not essential that the storage shelves 10 are provided on both sides of the lifting mechanism 30.

  Two such storage rows 4 are arranged to face each other with a cart traveling passage 14 interposed therebetween. Then, the transfer cart 60 that travels in the cart travel path 14 puts and removes articles W into and from the storage shelves 10 and the temporary storage shelves 20 that sandwich the cart travel channel 14.

  The warehousing conveyor 16 is a warehousing transport mechanism that is disposed on a path from a predetermined carry-in location of the article W to the storage shelf 10 and transports the article W from the outside toward the lifting mechanism 30. The conveyor 16 for warehousing should just be provided along the shelf 12, and may be provided in the middle stage or the upper stage. Here, the warehousing conveyor 16 is provided so as to reach the lifting mechanism unit 30 from the outside through a position below the lowest shelf 12 of the storage shelf 10 on one side of the lifting mechanism unit 30. In other words, in the plan view, a part of the warehousing conveyor 16 is provided at a position overlapping the storage shelf 10 on one side of the lifting mechanism 30. Then, when the article W is placed on the warehousing conveyor 16 at the carry-in location, the article W is directed toward the elevating mechanism section 30 by the transport operation of the transport mechanism section configured by a motor, a plurality of rollers, etc. (not shown). Are conveyed to the lifting mechanism 30.

  The unloading conveyor 18 is an unloading transport mechanism, and has the same configuration as the unloading conveyor 16 except that the articles are transported in a direction away from the storage shelf 10. Here, the unloading conveyor 18 reaches the outside of the outer end of the storage shelf 10 from the other side of the elevating mechanism 30 through the lower position of the shelf 12 at the lowermost stage of the storage shelf 10 on the other side. Is provided. The delivery conveyor 18 only needs to be provided along the shelf 12 and may be provided in the middle or upper level. Here, the delivery conveyor 18 is provided on the opposite side of the entry conveyor 16 with the lifting mechanism 30 interposed therebetween. The unloading conveyor 18 is configured to convey the article W transferred from the elevating mechanism unit 30 toward a predetermined unloading location through the lower side of the storage shelf 10.

  In this example, the example in which the articles W are received from one end side of each storage row 4 and the articles W are output from the other end side has been described. However, the arrangement examples of the entry conveyor 16 and the delivery conveyor 18 are described above. It is not limited to examples. In each of the one end side and the other end side of the plurality of storage rows 4, a warehousing conveyor and a warehousing conveyor may be provided alternately. Moreover, it is not necessary to provide both the warehousing conveyor and the warehousing conveyor for all the storage rows 4.

  The lifting mechanism unit 30 moves the article W up and down to each position corresponding to the plurality of stages. After receiving the article W to be stored from the storage conveyor 16, the lifting mechanism part 30 moves up and down to any stage position. The article W that is moved and received can be delivered to the corresponding stage of the temporary storage shelf 20. Contrary to this, the elevating mechanism unit 30 moves up and down to a position of one of the stages, receives the article W from the corresponding stage of the temporary storage shelf 20, and then the height position of the delivery conveyor 18 In this state, the received article W is transferred to the delivery conveyor 18.

  More specifically, the elevating mechanism 30 is a position adjacent to the conveyance direction end portion of the warehousing conveyor 16 and the conveyance direction start end portion of the warehousing conveyor 18, and a position between the two temporary storage shelves 20. Provided with a column part 31 and an up-and-down transfer part 32.

  The column portion 31 is provided at a position between the two temporary storage shelves 20 in the row direction of the storage row 4. In addition, the column portion 31 is located at an outer position of the carriage traveling passage 14 at a position between the two, more specifically at an outer position on the opposite side of the carriage traveling passage 14 with respect to the storage shelf 10 and the temporary storage shelf 20. Is provided. The column portion 31 is set to a height that exceeds the uppermost level of the shelf 12, and supports the up-and-down transfer unit 32 so as to be movable up and down over a plurality of levels. In addition, a lifting / lowering drive unit such as a motor (not shown) and a lifting / lowering transmission mechanism such as a chain or a belt wound along the vertical direction of the column part 31 are incorporated in the column part 31. Is transmitted to the up-and-down transfer unit 32 via the up-and-down transmission mechanism, whereby the up-and-down transfer unit 32 reaches the heights of the shelves 12 of each stage, the entrance conveyor 16 and the exit conveyor 18. So as to move up and down.

  The up-and-down transfer part 32 is supported so as to be movable up and down along the pillar part 31 (for convenience of explanation in FIG. 3, the up-and-down transfer part 32 is shown in two places above and below, but actually one) A plurality of articles W (here, two, which will be described in the following two examples) are received from the conveyor 16 and moved up and down to the height position of one of the steps, and the articles W are moved to the temporary storage shelf 20. Included. Further, on the contrary, the up-and-down transfer part 32 moves up and down to the height position of one of the stages, receives the article W from the temporary storage shelf 20, and then moves to the height position of the delivery conveyor 18. Then, the article W is transferred to the delivery conveyor 18. As described above, the plurality of articles W are moved up and down by moving the lifting and lowering transfer unit 32 up and down.

  The temporary storage shelf 20 is a portion called a reservoir, and is provided corresponding to a plurality of stages. In each stage, two temporary storage shelves 20 are provided on both sides of the lifting mechanism 30 so as to sandwich the lifting mechanism 30.

  Each temporary storage shelf 20 is configured to receive an article W from the elevating mechanism 30 and to temporarily place the article until the article W is transferred to the storage shelf 10 by the transfer carriage 60. Contrary to this, it is configured such that the article W can be temporarily placed until the article W is received from the transfer carriage 60 and the elevating mechanism 30 receives the article W.

  Note that the transfer of the article W between the temporary storage shelf 20 and the up-and-down transfer unit 32 is performed, for example, by rotating the rollers provided on the shelf W in both forward and reverse directions by a rotation drive unit such as a motor. Can do.

  The transfer carriage 60 is a part called a dolly, and is configured to be able to transfer articles W between a plurality of shelves and the temporary storage shelves 20 corresponding to the respective shelves. When the temporary storage shelf 20 is omitted, the transfer cart 60 may be configured to be able to transfer the article W to the lifting / lowering transfer unit 32.

  Here, the transfer cart 60 is provided corresponding to each stage. Further, one transfer carriage 60 is provided corresponding to each stage. In each stage, one transfer cart 60 travels between the two lifting mechanisms 30 on both sides of the cart travel path 14. Thus, the articles W can be taken in and out of the temporary storage shelves 20 and the storage shelves 10 in each row on both sides of the carriage traveling passage 14. Note that a plurality of transfer carts may be provided in each stage of the cart travel passage 14.

  More specifically, a carriage travel passage 14 is provided at each stage between the opposing storage shelves 10. The bogie travel path 14 is configured as an elongate travel path that passes between the two lifting mechanisms 30 and linearly connects the storage shelves 10 of the opposing storage rows 4. In particular, since the column portions 31 of the two lifting mechanisms 30 are erected on the outside of the storage shelf 10 when viewed from the carriage traveling passage 14, the pillar portions 31 do not interfere with the carriage traveling passage 14. The transfer carriage 60 can reciprocate from one outer end to the other outer end of the storage shelves 10 arranged in a straight line by reciprocating the carriage travel passage 14 from end to end. . Thereby, in each stage, the two temporary storage shelves 20 and the two storage shelves 10 provided on both sides of the elevating mechanism unit 30 can be taken in and out by one transfer carriage 60.

  The transfer carriage 60 is moved by a traveling mechanism including a motor and wheels. Each transfer cart 60 has a picker that can move forward and backward toward the storage shelf 10 and the temporary storage shelf 20 and can grip and release the article W. The picker is driven by a picker drive mechanism including a motor and various power transmission mechanisms.

  Note that the picker can move forward and backward with respect to both sides of the cart traveling passage 14, and therefore, the article W can be taken in and out of the temporary storage shelf 20 and the storage shelf 10 on both sides of the cart traveling passage 14.

  Then, by moving the picker in a state where the transfer cart 60 has moved to a position corresponding to one of the temporary storage shelves 20, the article W is transferred to and from the temporary storage shelf 20 in the loading / unloading direction. be able to. Further, the transfer cart 60 moves to a position opposite to a predetermined storage position of the storage shelf 10 and operates the picker, whereby the article W can be transferred to and from the storage shelf 10 in the loading / unloading direction. .

  Here, the example in which the transfer carriage 60 is provided for each stage has been described, but this is not necessarily required. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which one transfer carriage is provided for each of the plurality of stages, and a plurality of stages of pickers are provided on the one transfer carriage.

  The operation control of each unit is performed by a control unit including a microprocessor, a main storage unit coupled to the microprocessor, and an auxiliary storage unit.

<About Mutual Configuration of Storage Set Unit 2>
In the automatic warehouse, the storage set units 2 as described above are provided in a parallel positional relationship, that is, in parallel (see FIG. 1).

  In the storage set unit 2, column portions 31 are provided at positions outside the storage row 4 on both sides of the carriage traveling passage 14. For this reason, the transfer cart 60 can travel through the cart travel path 14 between the lifting mechanism portions 30, and one transfer cart 60 has two temporary storage shelves on both sides of the lifting mechanism portion 30. Article W can be transferred to 20 and storage shelf 10. For this reason, there is an advantage that the number of installation of the transfer cart 60 can be reduced.

  But since the column part 31 is provided in the outer side of the some storage set part 2, the column part 31 exists between each storage set part 2, and tries to make the clearance gap between the storage set parts 2 small. Can be a limiting factor.

  Therefore, in this case, in the gaps between the plurality of storage set parts 2, the column part 31 of the lifting mechanism part 30 included in the two storage rows 4 adjacent via the gaps is positioned along the extending direction of the gaps. Are provided.

  More specifically, in FIG. 1, a plurality of storage set units 2 are provided in parallel, and a plurality of first type storage set units 2A and a second type storage set unit 2B alternate. Is provided.

  In the first type storage set unit 2 </ b> A, the elevating mechanism unit 30 is provided at a position biased to one side from the center of the storage row 4.

  Further, in the second type storage set unit 2B, the lifting mechanism unit 30 is provided at a position deviated from the center of the storage row 4 to the other.

  Further, between the first type storage set portion 2A and the second type storage set portion 2B, the column portion 31 is displaced along the gap or the extending direction of the storage row 4 and does not overlap each other. Are arranged. Here, not only the column part 31 but also related structural parts such as the support structure part of the lifting mechanism part 30 are arranged at positions that do not overlap each other in the extending direction of the gap or the storage row 4.

  Thereby, in the gap between the storage set portions 2A and 2B, the related structural portions of the column portion 31 and the lifting mechanism portion 30 are less likely to interfere with each other, and the gap between the storage set portions 2A and 2B is made as small as possible. 2A and 2B can be laid out. As a result, the number of storage shelves 10 installed per unit area can be increased as much as possible to improve the storage efficiency.

  In addition, the size of the gap between the storage set parts 2A and 2B is not limited to the size of the column part 31, but includes the installation space for other parts, the work space for assembly of the automatic warehouse, the maintenance space after assembly, etc. Since it is determined in consideration, it is not essential that the column portions 31 are in a positional relationship or the like in the extending direction of the gap.

  In the automatic warehouse as described above, it is not essential that the two storage columns 4 are incorporated as the configuration of the storage set units 2A and 2B. In at least one gap of each storage row 4, when the column portion of the elevating mechanism part included in the adjacent storage row through the gap is provided in the gap, the column portion is arranged in the extending direction of the gap. If the position is shifted along, the gap can be made as small as possible.

  Further, in this automatic warehouse, the transfer cart 60 can pass the lifting mechanism portion 30 through the lifting mechanism portion 30 and put the articles W in and out of the storage shelves 10 on both sides thereof. , The ability to put in and out the article W on both sides is large and it is difficult to be unbalanced.

  As described above, the present invention has been described in detail. However, the above description is illustrative in all aspects, and the present invention is not limited thereto. It is understood that countless variations that are not illustrated can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention.

W Article 2 (2A, 2B) Storage set unit 4 Storage row 10 Storage shelf 12 Shelf 14 Car travel path 20 Temporary storage shelf 30 Elevating mechanism unit 31 Pillar unit 32 Elevating transfer unit 60 Transfer cart

Claims (2)

A storage unit including a plurality of shelves;
An elevating mechanism that includes an elevating support column part and an elevating / lowering part supported so as to be movable up and down along the pillar part, and moving the elevating / lowering part up and down to move a plurality of articles up and down. And
A plurality of storage columns provided so that are arranged in a row are provided in parallel,
At least one gap in the plurality of storage rows, the lifting and lowering support pillars included in the two storage rows that are adjacent to each other through the gap, along the direction in which the gap extends. An automated warehouse with a different location. An automatic warehouse according to claim 1, wherein
Each of the plurality of storage rows is configured such that they are arranged in a row in a state where the lifting mechanism is disposed between the two storage portions.
The two storage rows are provided in parallel via a carriage travel path, the column portions of the lifting mechanism portions of the two storage rows are provided on both outer sides, and the transfer carriage is between the lifting mechanism portions. A plurality of storage set portions that are allowed to travel through the bogie travel passage through, provided in parallel,
In at least one gap between the plurality of storage set parts, the lifting support column part of the lifting mechanism part included in the two storage rows adjacent to each other through the gap extends in the direction in which the gap extends. An automatic warehouse that is located along the same location.

Images