JP2019014583A - Conveyance vehicle system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a conveyance vehicle system capable of efficiently handling a large number of articles by a large number of conveyance vehicles.SOLUTION: A conveyance vehicle system 1 comprises: a carrying-in conveyor 30A and a carrying-out conveyor 30B adjacently arranged; and a conveyance vehicle 40 capable of transferring an article L between the carrying-in conveyor 30A and the carrying-out conveyor 30B. The conveyance vehicle 40 travels along a predetermined route R. The conveyance vehicle 40 has a lifter 42 for lifting/lowering the article L to be conveyed. In the carrying-in conveyor 30A, a conveyance direction gap 61 enabling the conveyance vehicle 40 to slide into a lower part of the carrying-in conveyor 30A is formed. Between the carrying-in conveyor 30A and the carrying-out conveyor 30B, an adjacent direction gap 62 enabling the conveyance vehicle 40 to move from the lower part of the carrying-in conveyor 30A to a lower part of the carrying-out conveyor 30B is formed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a transport vehicle system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a transport vehicle system including a mounting table on which an article is mounted and a plurality of transport vehicles that travel along a predetermined route and can transfer the article to and from the mounting table. Yes. For example, in the transport vehicle system described in Patent Document 1, articles are transferred by the transport vehicle to stations (mounting tables) provided on both sides of the rack.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-11004

  In the above-described conventional technology, when an article is transferred to a mounting table by a transport vehicle, for example, a handling operation including forward, backward, reverse, etc. of the transport vehicle may be required. The handling operation may be an inefficient operation when handling a large number of articles by a large number of transport vehicles.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the conveyance vehicle system which can handle many articles | goods efficiently with many conveyance vehicles.

  The transport vehicle system according to the present invention is arranged adjacent to each other, and a plurality of mounting tables on which articles are mounted, and a plurality of vehicles that can travel along a predetermined route and transfer articles between the mounting tables. A transfer vehicle, and the transfer vehicle has a lifter for moving up and down an article to be transferred, and at least one of the plurality of mounting tables is a first gap that allows the transporting vehicle to enter the lower part of the mounting table. A second gap is formed between a plurality of adjacent mounting tables to enable the transport vehicle to move from a lower portion of one mounting table to a lower portion of the other adjacent mounting table.

  In this transport vehicle system, a transport vehicle for transferring an article can sink into the lower portion of the mounting table, and can move between the lower portions of a plurality of adjacent mounting tables. Therefore, even when a large number of transport vehicles travel, the transport vehicle can be operated efficiently and continuously using the lower part of the mounting table. A large number of articles can be efficiently handled by a large number of transport vehicles.

  In the transport vehicle system according to the present invention, the mounting table is a conveyor, and the first gap allows the transport vehicle when transporting the article with the lifter raised along the transport direction of the conveyor to enter the lower portion of the conveyor. The second gap may be movable along the direction intersecting the transport direction so that the transport vehicle when the article is not transported with the lifter lowered. Thereby, when transferring goods between conveyors, many goods can be efficiently handled by many conveyance vehicles.

  In the transport vehicle system according to the present invention, the conveyors may be arranged in a line along the transport direction, and may be arranged adjacent to each other along a direction intersecting the transport direction. In this case, a plurality of conveyor rows are formed adjacent to each other, and a plurality of second gaps exist along the conveyance direction. Thereby, simultaneous transfer by a plurality of transport vehicles is possible using the lower part of the conveyor, and a large number of articles can be handled more efficiently.

  In the transport vehicle system according to the present invention, at least one of the plurality of conveyors may be formed with a third gap that allows the transported vehicle to exit out of the conveyor. According to this structure, the freedom degree of driving | running | working of a conveyance vehicle can be raised.

  In the transport vehicle system according to the present invention, the plurality of conveyors include a storage conveyor and a transport conveyor, and a route along which the transport vehicle travels enters the transport conveyor, moves from the transport conveyor to the transport conveyor, and exits from the transport conveyor. May include a one-way route. According to this configuration, it is possible to continuously realize the unloading by the warehousing conveyor and the unloading by the unloading conveyor.

  In the transport vehicle system according to the present invention, the mounting table may be provided in a lower part of a rack of the automatic warehouse. According to this configuration, a large number of articles can be efficiently handled by a large number of transport vehicles when the articles are transferred to and from the mounting table provided in the lower part of the rack.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the conveyance vehicle system which can handle many articles | goods efficiently with many conveyance vehicles can be provided.

It is a schematic plan view which shows the arrangement configuration of the conveyance vehicle system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (A) is a schematic front view which shows the conveyance vehicle system of FIG. (B) is a schematic side view which shows the conveyance vehicle system of FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows the arrangement configuration of the conveyance vehicle system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic front view which shows the conveyance vehicle system of FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows the arrangement configuration of the conveyance vehicle system which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic plan view which shows the arrangement configuration of the conveyance vehicle system which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is a schematic plan view which shows the arrangement configuration of the automatic warehouse system to which the carrier system according to the fifth embodiment is applied. It is a schematic plan view which shows the arrangement structure which concerns on the modification of the automatic warehouse system of FIG. It is a schematic plan view which shows the arrangement structure which concerns on the other modification of the automatic warehouse system of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 (a) and FIG. 2 (b), the transport vehicle system 1 according to the first embodiment constitutes a transport system for loading and unloading articles L in, for example, an automatic warehouse. In this case, a plurality of conveyors 30, a transport vehicle 40, and a controller 50 are provided. The size, shape, weight, and the like of the article L are not particularly limited, and any object can be applied as the article L.

  In the following, the terms “upper” and “lower” correspond to the upper and lower parts in the vertical direction. The “Z direction” is the vertical direction. The “X direction” is a horizontal direction and is a conveyance direction of the conveyor 30. The “Y direction” is a horizontal direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Z direction, and is a parallel direction of the rows of the conveyors 30.

  The conveyors 30 are arranged in a row with the X direction as the transport direction. The rows of the conveyors 30 are arranged adjacent to each other in the Y direction. Here, the conveyors 30 are arranged close to each other in two rows. The conveyor 30 places the article L and conveys the article L along the X direction. One row of the conveyor 30 conveys the articles L along the X direction from the end in the X direction. The other row of the conveyor 30 conveys the articles L along the X direction to the end in the X direction. The type or configuration of the conveyor 30 is not particularly limited. As the conveyor 30, various conveyors, such as a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, or a roller conveyor, can be used, for example. The conveyor 30 constitutes a placing table on which the article L is placed. The conveyor 30 here is an apparatus including not only a pair of drive units 35 such as a conveyor belt or a conveyor chain extending along the X direction, but also its peripheral configuration (peripheral structure). In other words, the conveyor 30 includes a pair of drive units 35, a support member such as a support leg that supports the pair of drive units 35, and a connecting member that is provided below the support member to prevent frame bending and the like. It has a configuration. The distance in the Y direction between the pair of drive units 35 is narrower than the size (length) of the article L in the Y direction.

  The conveyor 30 includes an incoming conveyor 30A and an outgoing conveyor 30B. The warehousing conveyor 30A is a conveyor for warehousing the articles L to the automatic warehouse, and the articles L are transferred from the transport vehicle 40. The delivery conveyor 30 </ b> B is a conveyor for delivering the article L from the automatic warehouse, and transfers the article L to the transport vehicle 40. The warehousing conveyor 30 </ b> A is disposed at an end portion in the X direction in one row of the conveyor 30. The delivery conveyor 30 </ b> B is disposed at the end in the X direction in the other row of the conveyor 30. The entrance conveyor 30A and the exit conveyor 30B are adjacent to each other in the Y direction. The conveyor 30 is controlled by the controller 50 for its conveying operation. In addition, although the conveyor 30 is divided into a plurality by the function of conveying the article L, a part or all of the plurality of conveyors 30 may be integrated as a structure.

  The transport vehicle 40 is a transport cart that travels unattended. The transport vehicle 40 travels along a predetermined route R. The transport vehicle 40 can transfer the article L between the warehousing conveyor 30A and the warehousing conveyor 30B. An AGV (Automatic Guided Vehicle) is used as the transport vehicle 40. The transport vehicle 40 includes a vehicle main body 41 that is guided by the route R and travels, and a lifter 42 that is provided on the vehicle main body 41 and moves up and down the article L. The guidance method employed in the transport vehicle 40 is not particularly limited, and may be any of a magnetic guidance type, a laser guidance type, a track type, and the like. The route R can be constituted by, for example, a magnetic tape (magnetic marker), a laser reflecting plate, a rail, or the like. The operation of the transport vehicle 40 is controlled by the controller 50. In addition, as the conveyance vehicle 40, it is not specifically limited to AGV, For example, an overhead traveling vehicle or a tracked vehicle may be used.

  The route R on which the transport vehicle 40 travels includes a one-way route R1 that enters the entry conveyor 30A, moves from the entry conveyor 30A to the exit conveyor 30B, and exits from the exit conveyor 30B. On the one-way route R1 of the entrance conveyor 30A and the exit conveyor 30B, a transport direction gap 31, an adjacent direction gap 32, and a transport direction gap 33 for the transport vehicle 40 to pass through are formed.

  The conveyance direction gap 31 is a gap formed in the warehousing conveyor 30A and opened outward in the X direction. The conveyance direction gap 31 constitutes a first gap that enables the conveyance vehicle 40 to sink into the lower portion of the warehousing conveyor 30A. The conveyance direction gap 31 is a space that allows the conveyance vehicle 40 during article conveyance with the lifter 42 raised along the X direction to sink into the lower portion of the warehousing conveyor 30A. The conveyance direction gap 31 is formed between and below a pair of drive units 35 (for example, a conveyance belt or a conveyance chain) included in the warehousing conveyor 30A. In the conveyance direction gap 31, a joining material or the like that normally exists in the lower portion of the conveyor 30 is not provided. In the Y direction, the width of the conveyance direction gap 31 (the width corresponding to the interval between the support members of the conveyor 30) is wider than the carriage width of the conveyance vehicle 40.

  The adjacent direction gap 32 is a gap formed in each of the entering conveyor 30A and the leaving conveyor 30B and opened along the Y direction. Adjacent direction gap 32 constitutes the 2nd gap between adjoining entrance conveyor 30A and exit conveyor 30B. The adjacent direction gap 32 is a space that allows the transport vehicle 40 to move from the lower part of the warehousing conveyor 30A to the lower part of the warehousing conveyor 30B. The adjacent direction gap 32 allows the transport vehicle 40 when the article is not transported with the lifter 42 lowered to move along the Y direction (direction intersecting the transport direction). The adjacent gap 32 is formed below the drive unit 35 of the conveyor 30. In the adjacent gap 32, a connecting material or the like that normally exists in the lower portion of the conveyor 30 is not provided. In the X direction, the width of the adjacent direction gap 32 (the width corresponding to the interval between the support members of the conveyor 30) is wider than the carriage length of the transport vehicle 40.

  The conveyance direction gap 33 is a gap formed on the delivery conveyor 30B and opened outward in the X direction. The conveyance direction gap 33 constitutes a third gap that allows the conveyance vehicle 40 that has entered the lower part of the delivery conveyor 30B to be moved out of the delivery conveyor 30B. The conveyance direction gap 33 is a space that enables the conveyance vehicle 40 during article conveyance with the lifter 42 raised along the conveyance direction of the unloading conveyor 30B to exit the unloading conveyor 30B. The conveyance direction gap 33 is configured similarly to the conveyance direction gap 31. The conveyance direction gap 33 is formed between and below the pair of drive units 35 included in the delivery conveyor 30B. In the conveyance direction gap 33, a connecting material or the like that normally exists in the lower part of the conveyor 30 is not provided.

  In the one-way route R1 configured as described above, the transport vehicle 40 on which the article L is placed on the lifter 42 in the raised state enters the lower portion of the warehousing conveyor 30A via the transport direction gap 31. The transport vehicle 40 advances in the X direction and stops until reaching a position where it completely sinks, and then lowers the lifter 42 to transfer the article L onto the warehousing conveyor 30A. The transport vehicle 40 moves along the Y direction via the adjacent direction gap 32 to the lower part of the delivery conveyor 30B while the lifter 42 is lowered. The transport vehicle 40 moves in the Y direction until it reaches a position where it completely sinks into the delivery conveyor 30B, stops, and then lifts the lifter 42 to transfer the article L from the delivery conveyor 30B to the transport vehicle 40. Then, the transport vehicle 40 proceeds in the X direction with the article L placed on the lifter 42 that has been lifted, and then exits from the delivery conveyor 30B through the transport direction gap 33.

  The controller 50 is a control device that manages the transport vehicle system 1. The controller 50 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) in which a program and the like are stored, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that temporarily stores data, a storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and A computer having a communication circuit and the like. The controller 50 realizes various functions by storing input data in the RAM based on a signal output from the CPU, loading a program stored in the ROM into the RAM, and executing the program loaded into the RAM. To do. The controller 50 is connected to the conveyor 30 by wireless or wired. The controller 50 controls the conveyance of the article L by the conveyor 30. The controller 50 is connected to the transport vehicle 40 wirelessly or by wire. The controller 50 controls the travel of the transport vehicle 40 and the operation of the lifter 42 of the transport vehicle 40.

  As described above, in the transport vehicle system 1, the transport vehicle 40 can sink into the lower part of the warehousing conveyor 30 </ b> A via the transport direction gap 31. Moreover, the conveyance vehicle 40 can move between the lower part of the adjoining entrance conveyor 30A and the lower part of the exit conveyor 30B through the adjacent direction gap 32. Therefore, inefficient operation (for example, unloading operation including forward movement, backward movement, reversal, etc.) can be suppressed using the lower portions of the incoming conveyor 30A and the outgoing conveyor 30B, and a large number of transport vehicles 40 travel. Even so, the transport vehicle 40 can be operated efficiently and continuously.

  Therefore, when the articles L are transferred between the warehousing conveyor 30 </ b> A and the warehousing conveyor 30 </ b> B, a large number of articles L can be efficiently handled by the numerous transport vehicles 40. A high-capacity transport vehicle system 1 can be realized. Furthermore, it is possible to perform the combined operation of the transport vehicle 40, that is, the transfer of the article L to the entrance conveyor 30A and the transfer of the article L from the exit conveyor 30B without the transport vehicle 40 moving in the X direction. It becomes.

  In the transport vehicle system 1, a transport direction gap 33 is formed in the delivery conveyor 30B. The transport vehicle 40 that has entered the unloading conveyor 30 </ b> B can leave the unloading conveyor 30 </ b> B via the transfer direction gap 33. According to this configuration, the transport vehicle 40 can not only enter the lower portion of the entry conveyor 30A and move to the exit conveyor 30B, but can also move out of the exit conveyor 30B, increasing the freedom of travel of the transport vehicle 40. be able to.

  In the transport vehicle system 1, the route R on which the transport vehicle 40 travels includes a one-way route R1 that enters the warehousing conveyor 30A, moves to the warehousing conveyor 30B, and then exits the warehousing conveyor 30B. According to this configuration, it is possible to continuously realize unloading at the entrance conveyor 30A and unloading at the exit conveyor 30B by the transport vehicle 40.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a transport vehicle system according to the second embodiment will be described. In the description of the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the transport vehicle system 101 according to the second embodiment, the conveyor 30 includes a first warehousing conveyor 30A1, a second warehousing conveyor 30A2, a first warehousing conveyor 30B1, and a second warehousing conveyor 30B2. And including. The first warehousing conveyor 30 </ b> A <b> 1 is disposed at the end in the X direction in one row of the conveyor 30. The second warehousing conveyor 30 </ b> A <b> 2 is disposed on the downstream side of the first warehousing conveyor 30 </ b> A <b> 1 in one row of the conveyor 30. The first delivery conveyor 30 </ b> B <b> 1 is disposed at the end in the X direction in the other row of the conveyor 30. The second delivery conveyor 30B2 is disposed on the upstream side of the first delivery conveyor 30B1 in the other row of the conveyor 30.

  1st warehousing conveyor 30A1 and 2nd warehousing conveyor 30A2 are comprised similarly to warehousing conveyor 30A (refer FIG.1 and FIG.2). The 1st delivery conveyor 30B1 and the 2nd delivery conveyor 30B2 are comprised similarly to the delivery conveyor 30B (refer FIG.1 and FIG.2). The conveyance direction gap 31 of the second warehousing conveyor 30A2 is a gap through which the conveyance vehicle 40 enters from the lower part of the first warehousing conveyor 30A1 to the lower part of the second warehousing conveyor 30A2. The adjacent gap 32 between the second warehousing conveyor 30A2 and the second warehousing conveyor 30B2 constitutes a second gap that allows the transport vehicle 40 to move from the lower part of the second warehousing conveyor 30A2 to the lower part of the second warehousing conveyor 30B2. To do. The conveyance direction gap 33 of the second delivery conveyor 30B2 is a gap through which the conveyance vehicle 40 enters from the lower part of the second delivery conveyor 30B2 to the lower part of the first delivery conveyor 30B1.

  The route R on which the transport vehicle 40 travels includes a branched one-way route R2 in addition to the one-way route R1. In the one-way route R1, the transport vehicle 40 enters the lower portion of the first warehousing conveyor 30A1, moves from the lower portion of the first warehousing conveyor 30A1 to the lower portion of the first warehousing conveyor 30B1, and exits from the lower portion of the first warehousing conveyor 30B1. To do. In the branch one-way route R2, the transport vehicle 40 enters the lower part of the second warehousing conveyor 30A2 from the lower part of the first warehousing conveyor 30A1, moves from the lower part of the second warehousing conveyor 30A2 to the lower part of the second warehousing conveyor 30B2, It enters the lower part of the first delivery conveyor 30B1 from the lower part of the second delivery conveyor 30B2.

  In the transport vehicle system 101, simultaneous transfer by two transport vehicles 40 is possible. Specifically, the first transport vehicle 40 is in a state where the article L is placed on the lifted lifter 42, and passes through the lower portion of the first storage conveyor 30A1 via the clearance 31 in the transport direction. It will dive into the lower part of the head and proceed in the X direction until it reaches the full dive position. At the same time, the second transport vehicle 40 enters the lower part of the first warehousing conveyor 30A1 through the clearance 31 in the state where the article L is placed on the lifter 42 that has been lifted, and reaches the position where it completely sinks. Proceed in the X direction and stop. The first transport vehicle 40 lowers the lifter 42 and transfers the article L onto the second warehousing conveyor 30A2. At the same time, the second transport vehicle 40 lowers the lifter 42 and transfers the article L onto the first warehousing conveyor 30A1.

  The first transport vehicle 40 moves to the lower part of the second delivery conveyor 30B2 through the adjacent gap 32 with the lifter 42 lowered, and reaches the position where it completely sinks into the second delivery conveyor 30B2. After proceeding in the Y direction and stopping, the article L is transferred from the second delivery conveyor 30B2 by raising the lifter 42. At the same time, the second transport vehicle 40 moves to the lower part of the first delivery conveyor 30B1 through the adjacent gap 32 while keeping the lifter 42 lowered, and completely sinks into the first delivery conveyor 30B1. After proceeding and stopping in the Y direction until reaching the position, the lifter 42 is raised to transfer the article L from the first delivery conveyor 30B1. The first transport vehicle 40 proceeds in the X direction with the article L placed on the lifted lifter 42, and passes through the transport direction gap 33 from the lower part of the second delivery conveyor 30B2 through the lower part of the first delivery conveyor 30B1. Exit through. At the same time, the second transport vehicle 40 proceeds in the X direction with the article L placed on the lifted lifter 42, and exits from the lower portion of the first delivery conveyor 30B1 through the transport direction gap 33.

  As described above, also in the transport vehicle system 101, a large number of articles L can be efficiently handled by the multiple transport vehicles 40. In the transport vehicle system 101, a line including the warehousing conveyors 30A1 and 30A2 and a line including the warehousing conveyors 30B1 and 30B2 are arranged adjacent to each other. As a result, a plurality of adjacent gaps 32 exist along the X direction, and the route R includes a branched one-way route R2 in addition to the one-way route R1. Accordingly, simultaneous transfer by a plurality of transport vehicles 40 is possible using the lower portions of the first warehousing conveyor 30A1, the second warehousing conveyor 30A2, the first warehousing conveyor 30B1 and the second warehousing conveyor 30B2, and a large number of articles L Can be handled more efficiently.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a transport vehicle system according to a third embodiment will be described. In the description of the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the transport vehicle system 201 according to the third embodiment, three rows of the conveyors 30 are arranged adjacent to each other in the Y direction. The conveyor 30 includes a third warehousing conveyor 30A3, a fourth warehousing conveyor 30A4, and a fifth warehousing conveyor 30A5. The third warehousing conveyor 30 </ b> A <b> 3 is arranged at the end in the X direction in the first row of the conveyor 30. The fourth warehousing conveyor 30 </ b> A <b> 4 is arranged at the end in the X direction in the second row of the conveyor 30. The fifth warehousing conveyor 30 </ b> A <b> 5 is disposed at the end in the X direction in the third row of the conveyor 30. Each row of the conveyor 30 conveys the articles L along the X direction from the X direction end. The third to fifth warehousing conveyors 30A3 to 30A5 are configured in the same manner as the warehousing conveyor 30A (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

  In the first embodiment, as described above, the transport vehicle 40 sinks from the transport direction gap 31 opened in the X direction (transport direction), and the transport vehicle 40 retreats from the transport direction gap 33 opened in the X direction ( That is, the conveyance direction gap 31 constitutes the first gap, and the conveyance direction gap 33 constitutes the third gap). In contrast to the first embodiment, the present embodiment is the same in that the transport vehicle 40 enters from the transport direction gap 31 opened in the X direction, but the transport vehicle 40 is transported from the outer gap described later opened in the Y direction. It is different in that the vehicle 40 exits (that is, it is the same in that the conveyance direction gap 31 constitutes the first gap, but differs in that the outward gap constitutes the third gap).

  Specifically, in the third to fifth warehousing conveyors 30A3 to 30A5, a conveyance direction gap 31 opened outward in the X direction is formed, and the conveyance direction gap 31 allows the conveyance vehicle 40 to sink. Configure the gap. An adjacent direction gap 32 opened along the Y direction is formed between the third to fifth storage conveyors 30A3 to 30A5, and this adjacent direction gap 32 is between the third to fifth storage conveyors 30A3 to 30A5. The 2nd clearance gap which enables the conveyance vehicle 40 to move below is comprised. The fifth receiving conveyor 30A5 is formed with an outward gap having the same configuration as that of the adjacent gap 32, which is opened on the outer side in the Y direction (opposite to the fourth receiving conveyor 30A4). A third gap that allows the transport vehicle 40 to exit is configured.

  The route R on which the transport vehicle 40 travels includes a one-way route R3 for warehousing. On the one-way route R3 for warehousing, the transport vehicle 40 can travel as follows. That is, the transport vehicle 40 enters any one of the lower portions of the third to fifth storage conveyors 30A3 to 30A5. The transport vehicle 40 that has entered the lower portion of the third warehousing conveyor 30A3 moves to the lower portion of the fourth warehousing conveyor 30A4. The transport vehicle 40 that has entered or moved to the lower part of the fourth warehousing conveyor 30A4 moves to the lower part of the fifth warehousing conveyor 30A5. The transport vehicle 40 that has entered or moved to the lower part of the fifth warehousing conveyor 30A5 exits to the outside.

  In the transport vehicle system 201, simultaneous storage by three transport vehicles 40 is possible. Specifically, the first transport vehicle 40 sinks into the lower part of the third warehousing conveyor 30A3 through the clearance 31 in the transport direction with the article L placed on the lifter 42 that has been lifted, and is in a position to completely sink. After proceeding and stopping in the X direction, the lifter 42 is lowered and the article L is transferred onto the third warehousing conveyor 30A3. At the same time, the second transport vehicle 40 enters the lower part of the fourth warehousing conveyor 30A4 through the clearance 31 in the transport direction with the article L placed on the lifter 42 that has been lifted, and reaches the position where the second transport vehicle 40 is completely submerged. After moving in the direction and stopping, the lifter 42 is lowered and the article L is transferred onto the fourth warehousing conveyor 30A4. At the same time, the third transport vehicle 40 enters the lower part of the fifth warehousing conveyor 30A5 through the clearance 31 in the state where the article L is placed on the lifted lifter 42, and reaches the position where it completely enters X After stopping in the direction, the lifter 42 is lowered and the article L is transferred onto the fifth warehousing conveyor 30A5.

  Thereafter, the third transport vehicle 40 moves out in the Y direction from the lower portion of the fifth warehousing conveyor 30A5 through the outward gap while the lifter 42 is lowered. At the same time, the second transport vehicle 40 moves in the Y direction to the lower part of the fifth storage conveyor 30A5 through the adjacent gap 32 while the lifter 42 is lowered, and the lower part of the fifth storage conveyor 30A5. Exits in the Y direction through an outward gap. At the same time, the first transport vehicle 40 moves to the lower part of the fourth storage conveyor 30A4 in the Y direction through the adjacent gap 32 while the lifter 42 is lowered, and the lower part of the fifth storage conveyor 30A5. And moves in the Y direction via the adjacent gap 32 and exits from the lower portion of the fifth storage conveyor 30A5 in the Y direction via the outer gap.

  As described above, also in the transport vehicle system 201, a large number of articles L can be efficiently handled by the multiple transport vehicles 40.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, a transport vehicle system according to a fourth embodiment will be described. In the description of the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the transport vehicle system 301 according to the fourth embodiment, three rows of the conveyors 30 are arranged adjacent to each other in the Y direction. The conveyor 30 includes a third shipping conveyor 30B3, a fourth shipping conveyor 30B4, and a fifth shipping conveyor 30B5. The 3rd delivery conveyor 30B3 is arrange | positioned in the X direction edge part in the 1st row | line | column of the conveyor 30. As shown in FIG. The 4th delivery conveyor 30B4 is arrange | positioned in the X direction edge part in the 2nd row | line | column of the conveyor 30. FIG. The 5th delivery conveyor 30B5 is arrange | positioned at the X direction edge part in the 3rd row | line | column of the conveyor 30. As shown in FIG. Each row of the conveyor 30 conveys the articles L along the X direction to the end in the X direction. The 3rd-5th delivery conveyor 30B3-30B5 is comprised similarly to the delivery conveyor 30B (refer FIG.1 and FIG.2).

  In the first embodiment, as described above, the transport vehicle 40 sinks from the transport direction gap 31 opened in the X direction (transport direction), and the transport vehicle 40 retreats from the transport direction gap 33 opened in the X direction ( That is, the conveyance direction gap 31 constitutes the first gap, and the conveyance direction gap 33 constitutes the third gap). In contrast to the first embodiment, the present embodiment is the same in that the transport vehicle 40 retreats from the transport direction gap 33 opened in the X direction, but from the later-described outer gap opened in the Y direction. The difference is that the transport vehicle 40 enters (that is, the difference is that the outward gap forms the first gap, and the same is that the transfer direction gap 33 forms the third gap).

  Specifically, the third delivery conveyor 30B3 is formed with an outward gap having the same configuration as that of the adjacent gap 32 that opens outward in the Y direction (on the opposite side to the fourth delivery conveyor 30B4). The gap constitutes a first gap that allows the transport vehicle 40 to sink. An adjacent direction gap 32 opened along the Y direction is formed between the third to fifth delivery conveyors 30B3 to 30B5, and this adjacent direction gap 32 is between the third to fifth delivery conveyors 30B3 to 30B5. The 2nd clearance gap which enables the conveyance vehicle 40 to move below is comprised. In the third to fifth delivery conveyors 30B3 to 30B5, a conveyance direction gap 33 opened outward in the X direction is formed, and this conveyance direction gap 33 constitutes a third gap that enables the submerged conveyance vehicle 40 to exit. To do.

  The route R on which the transport vehicle 40 travels includes a one-way route for delivery R4. In the one-way route R4 for unloading, the transport vehicle 40 can travel as follows. That is, the transport vehicle 40 enters the lower part of the third delivery conveyor 30B3. The transport vehicle 40 that has entered the lower part of the third delivery conveyor 30B3 moves to the lower part of the fourth delivery conveyor 30B4 or exits to the outside. The transport vehicle 40 moved to the lower part of the fourth delivery conveyor 30B4 moves to the lower part of the fifth delivery conveyor 30B5 or exits to the outside. The transport vehicle 40 that has moved to the lower part of the fifth delivery conveyor 30B5 exits to the outside.

  In the transport vehicle system 301, simultaneous delivery by three transport vehicles 40 is possible. Specifically, the first transport vehicle 40 enters the lower part of the third delivery conveyor 30B3 through the outer gap with the lifter 42 lowered, and the adjacent gap 32 enters the lower part of the fourth delivery conveyor 30B4. And move in the Y direction via the adjacent direction gap 32 to the lower part of the fifth delivery conveyor 30B5 and then stop. At the same time, the second transport vehicle 40 enters the lower part of the third delivery conveyor 30B3 via the outer gap with the lifter 42 lowered, and passes the adjacent gap 32 to the lower part of the fourth delivery conveyor 30B4. Stop after moving in the Y direction. At the same time, the third transport vehicle 40 stops after entering the lower part of the third delivery conveyor 30B3 via the outer clearance with the lifter 42 lowered. Each of the three transport vehicles 40 moves the lifter 42 so as to transfer the article L from each of the third to fifth delivery conveyors 30B3 to 30B5, and then, via the transport direction gap 33, respectively, in the X direction. To leave.

  As described above, also in the transport vehicle system 301, a large number of articles L can be efficiently handled by the multiple transport vehicles 40.

[Fifth Embodiment]
Next, a transport vehicle system according to a fifth embodiment will be described. In the description of the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the transport vehicle system 401 according to the fourth embodiment is applied to an automatic warehouse system 400 having a plurality of automatic warehouses 430. The automatic warehouse 430 includes the rack 10 and the stacker crane 20. The automatic warehouse 430 is provided in a building, for example. The automatic warehouse 430 automatically stores the articles L that have been transported by the transport vehicle 40 and automatically carries out the stored articles L. The automatic warehouses 430 are juxtaposed along the Y direction.

  In each automatic warehouse 430, a pair of racks 10 are arranged so that the X direction is the longitudinal direction and they are opposed to each other with an interval in the Y direction. The rack 10 has a plurality of load placement portions in which the articles L are placed and stored in the X direction and the Z direction. Thereby, the rack 5 stores the articles L in a matrix in the X direction and the Z direction.

  The stacker crane 20 travels on a traveling rail 22 extending along the X direction between the racks 10 facing each other in the Y direction in each automatic warehouse 430. The stacker crane 20 includes a traveling carriage that can travel along the traveling rail 22 and a lifting platform that is movable up and down along a mast on the traveling carriage and that is provided with a transfer device. The stacker crane 20 conveys the article L between the load placement portion of the rack 10 and a storage port I and a storage port O described later. The stacker crane 20 transfers (loads and unloads) the article L to the loading section, the warehousing port I, and the warehousing port O of the rack 10. The operation of the stacker crane 20 is controlled by the controller 50.

  The stacker crane 20 is not particularly limited, and various known stacker cranes can be used. For example, as the stacker crane 20, for example, a rear hook type that hooks and takes in a hook at the rear end of the article L, a clamp type that holds and transfers both sides of the article L, and a fork that picks up and transfers the article L with a slide fork. A device such as a front hook type that hooks a hook on the front end of the article L and takes it in can be used.

  The transport vehicle 40 loads and unloads the article L with respect to the plurality of automatic warehouses 430. The route R on which the transport vehicle 40 travels passes through the lower part of the rack 10 (the lowest stage of the rack 10). On the route R, at the lower part of the rack 10, an incoming port I and an outgoing port O are provided. In the warehousing port I, the goods L are received into the automatic warehouse 430 by the transport vehicle 40. At the delivery port O, the goods L from the automatic warehouse 430 are delivered by the transport vehicle 40. The controller 50 manages the automatic warehouse system 400.

  Here, the transport vehicle system 401 includes mounting tables provided at the warehousing port I and the warehousing port O at the lower part of the rack 10. The placement table places the article L thereon. A part of the warehousing port I is adjacent to the warehousing port O, whereby at least a part of the plurality of mounting tables are arranged adjacently. The mounting table is not particularly limited, and various mounting tables can be used. In the loading table of the warehousing port I, a first gap is formed in the lower part of the loading table so that the transport vehicle 40 can be submerged and crowded. Between the adjacent mounting bases, a second gap is formed that allows the transport vehicle 40 to move in the lower portion between them. A third gap is formed on the mounting table at the delivery port O so that the transported vehicle 40 can be moved out of the mounting table.

  As described above, according to the transport vehicle system 401, when the article L is transferred between the loading port I and the loading port O mounting tables provided in the lower part of the rack 10 of the automatic warehouse 430, A large number of articles L can be handled efficiently.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. For example, the automatic warehouse system to which the present invention is applicable is not particularly limited to the automatic warehouse system 400 of FIG. 7, and the carrier system 401 may be applied to the automatic warehouse system 500 as illustrated in FIG. However, the transport vehicle system 401 may be applied to the automatic warehouse system 600 as illustrated in FIG.

  In the above description, the conveyors 30 are arranged in a row along the transport direction. The structure in which a plurality of functionally separated conveyors 30 are arranged along the transport direction as in the above embodiment (see FIG. 3). In addition, for example, a structure in which a plurality of small rollers are arranged in the transport direction, and a structure in which one long conveyor exists in the transport direction are included.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101,201,301,401 ... Conveyor vehicle system, 10 ... Rack, 30A ... Warehousing conveyor (mounting table), 30A1 ... First warehousing conveyor (mounting table), 30A2 ... Second warehousing conveyor (mounting table), 30A3 3rd warehousing conveyor (mounting table), 30A4 ... 4th warehousing conveyor (mounting table), 30A5 ... 5th warehousing conveyor (mounting table), 30B ... Warehousing conveyor (mounting table), 30B1 ... 1st warehousing conveyor (mounting table) ), 30B2 ... 2nd delivery conveyor (mounting table), 30B3 ... 3rd delivery conveyor (mounting table), 30B4 ... 4th delivery conveyor (mounting table), 30B5 ... 5th delivery conveyor (mounting table), 40 ... transport vehicle 42 ... Lifter, 430 ... Automatic warehouse, L ... Goods, R ... Route, R1 ... One-way route.

Claims (6)

A plurality of mounting tables that are arranged adjacent to each other and on which articles are mounted;
Traveling along a predetermined route, comprising a plurality of transport vehicles capable of transferring the article to and from the mounting table,
The transport vehicle has a lifter that lifts and lowers articles to be transported,
At least one of the plurality of mounting tables is formed with a first gap that allows the carriage to sink under the mounting table,
A transporting vehicle system in which a second gap is formed between a plurality of adjacent mounting tables so that the transporting vehicle can move from a lower part of one preceding mounting table to a lower part of the other preceding mounting table. . The mounting table is a conveyor,
The first gap enables the conveyance vehicle at the time of article conveyance with the lifter raised along the conveyance direction of the conveyor to enter the lower part of the conveyor,
2. The transport vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the second gap allows the transport vehicle when the article is not transported with the lifter lowered to move along a direction intersecting the transport direction.   The conveyance vehicle system according to claim 2, wherein the conveyors are arranged in a line along a conveyance direction and are arranged adjacent to each other along a direction intersecting the conveyance direction.   4. The transport vehicle system according to claim 2, wherein a third gap is formed in at least one of the plurality of conveyors so that the transported vehicle that has entered can be moved out of the conveyor. 5. The plurality of conveyors include a receiving conveyor and a discharging conveyor,
The route on which the transport vehicle travels is
The conveyance vehicle system as described in any one of Claims 2-4 including the one-way route which approachs the said warehousing conveyor, moves to the warehousing conveyor from the said warehousing conveyor, and exits from the said warehousing conveyor.   The transport vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the mounting table is provided at a lower portion of a rack of the automatic warehouse.

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