JP2019182634A - Floating rack and rack apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a floating rack capable of easily performing a rearrangement.SOLUTION: This floating rack is provided with a rack body 1 provided with shelf frames 15 such as load receiving shelves which incline downward in the forward direction, a baggage A loaded from the rear end side of the load receiving shelf 15 moves forward by its own weight on the load receiving shelf 15, and the baggage A is picked from the front end side of the load receiving shelf 15. Wheels 2 being in rolling-contact with an installation surface and moving the rack body 1 are rotatably provided at a lower end of the rack body 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a floating rack and a rack device used when picking up goods, products, parts, etc. in a factory assembly line, distribution of foodstuffs, daily miscellaneous goods, etc., a warehouse of a wholesale store, and the like.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a rack for picking installed in a factory warehouse or the like, a first-in first-out flow rack (floating rack) that enables efficient and smooth picking of various types of luggage is well known. As shown in the following Patent Document 1, the flow rack includes a plurality of stages of load receiving shelves that are inclined downward toward the front, and each of the load receiving shelves is provided with a self-propelled conveyor such as a roller conveyor, a foil conveyor, or a roller conveyor. Further, it is constituted by a so-called roller-type load receiving shelf. Then, goods such as products, products, parts, etc. are stored in the respective cargo receiving shelves from the rear end side of the rack, moved forward on the conveyor by their own weight, aligned, and stored in the cargo receiving shelves. A take-off table for stopping the load is provided on the front end side of each load receiving shelf, and an operator picks up the load that is sequentially delivered on the table and sends it to the next process.

  Such a conventional flow rack can improve work efficiency by consolidating a large number of picking positions. However, in the pinking work at the time of shipment in recent years with a small variety of products, picking is performed. The picking position is changed or the picking position is further increased or decreased according to the type of luggage to be shipped and the amount of goods to be delivered. On the other hand, since the conventional flow rack is a stationary type, even if the picking position is changed, the worker is currently performing the picking work in accordance with the changed picking position.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-208714

  However, since the conventional flow rack is for the operator to perform the picking operation in accordance with the picking position to be changed, the picking position is arranged at a position that is inconvenient for the operator depending on the type of luggage to be picked. In some cases, an unnecessary picking position where the package is not shipped may remain in the vicinity of the worker, which may cause a reduction in work efficiency.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. For example, the picking position can be easily changed in accordance with the type or amount of the luggage, and the working efficiency can be improved. An object of the present invention is to provide a floating rack and a rack device that can be used.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises the following means.

[1] A rack body provided with a load receiving shelf that is inclined downward toward the front, and a load that is received from a rear end side of the load receiving shelf moves forward through the load receiving shelf due to its own weight. In the floating rack that is picked from the front end side of the receiving shelf,
A floating rack characterized in that a lower end of the rack body is provided in rolling contact with an installation surface and a wheel for moving the rack body is rotatable.

  [2] The floating rack according to item 1, wherein the rack body is moved forward and backward by rotation of the wheel.

  [3] The floating rack according to item 1 or 2, wherein a rail is provided on the installation surface, and the wheel is installed on the rail so as to be able to travel.

[4] A handle is rotatably provided on the outer surface of the rack body.
The rack body is provided with a power transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force of the handle to the wheels,
The floating rack according to any one of the preceding items 1 to 3, wherein the rack body is configured to move by rotating the wheel via the power transmission mechanism by rotating the handle.

  [5] The floating rack according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the rack body is placed on a base member having the wheels.

[6] Two floating racks described in any one of the preceding items 1 to 5 are provided,
The rack apparatus characterized in that the two floating racks are arranged to face each other via a carry-out conveyor.

  According to the floating racks of the inventions [1] and [2], the wheels are attached to the rack main body so as to be movable. Therefore, when the picking position is changed depending on the amount or type of the member to be picked, the change By appropriately moving the rack body in accordance with the picking position that has been made, the picking position can be set to an optimum position for the operator, the work load can be reduced, and work efficiency can be improved.

  According to the floating rack of the invention [3], since the rail is laid on the installation surface and the wheel is installed on the rail, the entire floating rack travels along the rail in a more stable state. Can be made.

  According to the floating rack of the invention [4], the rack body can be easily and smoothly moved by the handle operation, so that the rearrangement such as the change of the picking position can be performed more easily.

  According to the floating rack of the invention [5], it can be easily manufactured simply by mounting an existing rack body on a base member such as a carriage.

  According to the rack device of the invention [6], since the floating rack of the inventions [1] to [4] is provided, the picking position can be set to an optimum position for the operator as described above. , Work efficiency can be improved.

FIG. 1 is a side view on one side showing a floating rack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of the other side showing the floating rack of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the floating rack of the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view for explaining the power transmission mechanism at the bottom of the floating rack of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view for explaining the power transmission mechanism in the side portion of the floating rack of the embodiment. FIG. 6A is a schematic plan view for explaining a normal state of the rack apparatus to which the floating rack of the embodiment is applied. FIG. 6B is a schematic plan view for explaining a deformed state of the rack device of the embodiment. FIG. 7A is a schematic plan view for explaining a normal state of the rack system to which the floating rack of the embodiment is applied. FIG. 7B is a schematic plan view for explaining a first modified state of the rack system of the embodiment. FIG. 7C is a schematic plan view for explaining a second deformation state of the rack system of the embodiment.

  1 and 2 are side views showing a floating rack (flow rack) F according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the floating rack F. In the following description, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention, the right side (picking side, delivery side) is the “front side or front side” and the left side (entry side) is “rear side”. , "Back side or back side".

  As shown in these drawings, the floating rack F includes a rack body 1. The rack body 1 includes a bottom frame 11 having a rectangular shape in a plan view, a plurality of support columns 12 erected on the front and rear edges of the bottom frame 11 at appropriate intervals in the left-right direction, and upper ends of the support columns 12. And a top frame 13 having a rectangular shape in plan view.

  A rack frame 15 constituting a load receiving shelf is supported on the column 1 of the rack body 1. Three shelf frames 15 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction between the columns 12 adjacent to the left and right, and are provided in a so-called three-stage arrangement. Each shelf frame 15 is disposed so as to penetrate the rack body 1 forward and backward, and is disposed so as to incline downward toward the front.

  Further, a foil conveyor 16 is provided on each shelf frame 15 along the front-rear direction (see FIG. 3). Further, an extraction table 17 is attached to the front end portion of each shelf frame 15. When the goods A such as goods, products and parts to be picked are stored on the shelf frame 15 from the back side (rear end side) of the rack body 1, the luggage A moves on the wheel conveyor 16 of the shelf frame 15 by its own weight. It slides forward and is stored on the shelf frame 15 in an aligned state. Further, among the stored packages A, the package A in the front row is discharged onto the take-out table 17, and the worker picks the load A discharged onto the table 17 and sends it to the next process. On the other hand, every time the load A on the take-out table 17 is picked, the next load A is sequentially discharged onto the take-out table 17.

  In the present invention, the picking position is a position at which the load A is taken out from the floating rack F, and corresponds to the take-out table 17 in the present embodiment.

  In the floating rack F of the present embodiment, the shelf frames 15 are provided in three stages between the columns 12 adjacent to each other in the left-right direction as described above. Three routes (flow routes) to be carried out are formed in parallel, and the luggage A can be loaded or unloaded in three rows in the horizontal direction with respect to each shelf frame 15.

  In the present embodiment, each shelf frame 15 may be formed with a partition wall portion for partitioning the flow paths of the luggage A.

  4 is a schematic plan view for explaining the power transmission mechanism at the bottom of the floating rack F, and FIG. 5 is a schematic side view for explaining the power transmission mechanism at the side of the floating rack F of the embodiment.

  As shown in both drawings, axles 21, 21 that extend continuously in the left-right direction are attached to the bottom frame 11 of the rack body 1 via bearings 22 so as to be rotatable around the axis center. Furthermore, wheels 2 are respectively attached to the left and right ends and the center of each axle 21, 21, and each wheel 2 is configured to rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the axles 21, 21.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, rails 5 are laid along the front-rear direction corresponding to each wheel 2 on the installation surface of a warehouse or the like where the floating rack F is installed. Corresponding wheels 2 are supported so as to roll freely. The wheel 2 rolls on the rail 5 so that the floating rack F can travel along the rail 5 in the front-rear direction.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a transmission shaft 25 continuously extending in the left-right direction in the middle in the front-rear direction is attached to the bottom frame 11 of the floating rack F via a bearing 26 so as to be rotatable around the axis. Yes. Further, a sprocket 27 (see FIG. 5) is attached to one end portion of the transmission shaft 25, and two sprockets 28 and 28 (see FIG. 4) are attached to the other end portion (right end portion in FIG. 4). . On the other hand, sprockets 23 are attached to the other end portions (the right end portion in FIG. 4) of each axle 21 corresponding to the sprocket 28 on the other end side of the transmission shaft 25. A chain 20 is bridged between each sprocket 28 on the other end side of the transmission shaft 25 and each sprocket 23 on each axle 21 side. Thereby, when the transmission shaft 25 rotates, the rotational force is transmitted to the axle 21 via the sprockets 23 and 25 and the chain 20 so that the axle 21 rotates in conjunction with the wheel 2. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, an auxiliary frame 31 is mounted substantially horizontally along the front-rear direction on one side end surface (left end surface) of the rack body 1 in the floating rack F so as to bridge between the front and rear columns 12. ing. Further, a cover 32 is attached between the intermediate portion of the auxiliary frame 31 in the front-rear direction and one end face (left end face) of the bottom frame 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the handle 3 is rotatably attached to the outer surface side of the cover 32 of the floating rack F. That is, the rotating shaft of the handle 3 passes through the cover 32 and is rotatably mounted in the cover 32 via the bearing. Further, a sprocket 33 is attached to the end of the rotating shaft of the handle 3, and a relay sprocket 34 is rotatably attached at a position below the sprocket 33 in the cover 32.

  A chain 30 is bridged between the sprocket 33 of the handle 3 and the sprocket 27 on one end side of the transmission shaft 25 via a relay sprocket 34. Thereby, by rotating the handle 3, the rotational force is transmitted to the transmission shaft 25 through the sprockets 33, 34, 27 and the chain 30, and the transmission shaft 25 rotates, and the rotational force of the transmission shaft 25 is also rotated. Is transmitted to each wheel 21 as described above, and each wheel 21 is configured to rotate. In this configuration, by rotating the handle 3 in one direction, for example, clockwise in FIG. 1, each wheel 21 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and the floating rack F travels forward along the rail 5. While moving, by rotating the handle 3 in the other direction, for example, counterclockwise in FIG. 1, each wheel 21 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, and the floating rack F moves rearward along the rail 5. It is comprised so that it may run and move to.

  Here, in the present embodiment, a power transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force of the handle 3 to the wheel 21 by the chains 20 and 30, the axle 21, the sprockets 23, 27, 28, 33 and 34, and the transmission shaft 25 is provided. It is configured.

  Although illustration is omitted, in the floating rack F of the present embodiment, a stopper for prohibiting or allowing the floating rack F to move back and forth is provided, and the floating rack F is moved and moved by operating the stopper. Is prohibited, and the traveling movement of the floating rack F is allowed by releasing the operation of the stopper.

  According to the floating rack F of the present embodiment having the above configuration, since the wheel 2 is attached to the bottom frame 11 and is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction, the picking position is changed depending on the amount and type of the picked-up luggage A. When this is done, the picking position can be set to the optimum position for the operator by appropriately moving the entire floating rack back and forth according to the changed picking position, and the work load can be reduced. Work efficiency can be improved.

  Furthermore, according to the floating rack F of the present embodiment, it can be moved easily and smoothly by a handle operation, and rearrangement such as change of picking position (layout change) can be performed more easily.

  Further, according to the floating rack F of the present embodiment, the rail 5 is laid on the installation surface, and the wheels 2 are installed and moved on the rail 5, so that the floating rack F is moved along the rail 5. It can be moved in a more stable state, and rearrangement can be performed more smoothly.

  FIG. 6A is a plan view schematically showing an example of a rack apparatus using two floating racks of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, in this rack apparatus, two (two) floating racks F1 and F2 are arranged in an opposing state, and a carry-out conveyor 6 is arranged between the floating racks F1 and F2. 6A, in the normal state of FIG. 6A, both floating racks F1, F2 are moved backward with respect to the carry-out conveyor 6, and picking paths (work paths) P1, P2 are secured on both sides of the carry-out conveyor 6, respectively. An operator M is kept waiting in front of the floating racks F1 and F2 in the picking paths P1 and P2. Then, the cargo A unloaded from the floating racks F1 and F2 is picked by the worker M in the picking paths P1 and P2 as appropriate and transferred to the carry-out conveyor 6, so that the load A is transferred to the next process by the carry-out conveyor 6. Try to send it out.

  On the other hand, in the rack apparatus in the normal state shown in FIG. 6A, when the output amount from the floating racks F1 and F2 decreases, as shown in FIG. 6B, the one-side floating rack F1 is advanced by a handle operation. The picking passage P1 on one side disappears, while only the picking passage P2 on the other side remains, and the worker M is kept waiting only in the passage P2. The worker M in the other picking path P2 picks the load A over the carry-out conveyor 6 and places it on the carry-out conveyor 6 for the load A that is unloaded from the floating rack F1 on the one side. With respect to the load A that is unloaded from the floating rack F2 on the other side, the load A is picked up with the unloading conveyor 6 in the back, and then turned around and the load A is placed on the unloading conveyor 6.

  Thus, by moving the floating racks F1 and F2 back and forth according to the shipment amount, picking position, etc. of the luggage A, unnecessary picking paths can be eliminated while securing the necessary picking paths. It is possible to adjust the number of workers M to an optimal number while ensuring sufficient efficiency and workability, and improve work efficiency.

  FIG. 7A is a plan view schematically showing an example of a rack system using a plurality of (four) floating racks of the present embodiment. As shown in the figure, in this rack system, the rack apparatus R1 having two floating racks F1 and F2 arranged in an opposed state with the carry-out conveyor 61 sandwiched therebetween, and the rack device R1 in the opposed state with the carry-out conveyor 62 interposed therebetween. And a rack device R2 having two floating racks F3 and F4. Furthermore, both rack devices R1, R2 are arranged side by side so that the floating rack F2 of one rack device R1 and the floating rack F3 of the other rack device R2 are back to back. In a normal state in this rack system, as shown in FIG. 7A, the floating racks F1 to F4 of the rack devices R1 and R2 are moved backward with respect to the corresponding carry-out conveyors 61 and 62, thereby both sides of the carry-out conveyors 61 and 62. The floating rack F2 of one rack device R1 and the floating rack F3 of the other rack device R2 are arranged close to each other while securing the picking paths P1 to P4 respectively. In this normal state, the worker M is kept waiting in each of the picking paths P1 to P4, and the worker M in each of the picking paths P1 to P4 picks the cargo A discharged from each of the floating racks F1 to F4 as appropriate. Then, it is transferred to the carry-out conveyor 6.

  In this rack system, for example, as shown in FIG. 7B, the floating racks F2 and F3 arranged back to back are moved forward in accordance with the shipment amount and type of the cargo A, respectively, and the front of the floating racks F2 and F3 is moved forward. The picking paths P2 and P3 are eliminated, and the worker M is made to wait in the remaining picking paths P1 and P4. Similarly to the above, the cargo A shipped from the floating racks F1 and F4 is picked as usual and placed on the carry-out conveyors 61 and 62, and the cargo shipped from the floating racks F2 and F3. For A, the load A is picked through the carry-out conveyors 61 and 62 and placed on the carry-out conveyors 61 and 62.

  In the deformed rack system shown in FIG. 7B, the replenishment passage Q is formed between the back surfaces of the floating racks F2 and F3 by advancing the floating racks F2 and F3 arranged back to back. Therefore, the replenishment passage Q can be used to easily and reliably store (replenish) the cargo A from the rear end side (rear side) with respect to the floating racks F2 and F3.

  Further, in this rack system, wheels are provided at the bottom of the carry-out conveyors 61 and 62, and the carry-out conveyors 61 and 62 are configured to be movable in the front-rear direction similarly to the floating racks F1 to F4, thereby realizing a more flexible layout. can do. That is, as shown in FIG. 7C, the floating racks F3 and F4 are moved backward so that the picking paths P3 and P4 are formed on both sides of the carry-out conveyor 62 as usual on the rack device R2 side. On the other hand, on the rack device R1 side, the floating racks F1 and F2 are advanced together so as to eliminate the picking paths P1 and P2, the rack devices R1 are brought together, and the discharge conveyor 61 is included in the gathered state. As a whole, they are moved close to the rack device R2 side. In this state, on the rack device R2 side, the worker M waiting in the two picking paths P3 and P4 picks the cargo A from the floating racks F3 and F4 and places it on the carry-out conveyor 62, thereby performing a normal picking work. It can be performed. On the other hand, on the rack device R1 side, there is no picking passage (work space), and the work is suspended.

  In the rack system in the deformed state shown in FIG. 7C, the unused rack device R1 side is brought close together and brought close to the rack device R2 side, so that it can be arranged compactly as a whole, and space saving is achieved. Can do.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the picking indicator 10 is attached to each picking position of each of the floating racks F1 to F4 in the rack system. You may make it comprise so that it may ship. In this case, since it is possible to easily and accurately grasp from which picking position of each floating rack F1 to F4 the cargo A is delivered based on the information from the picking indicator 10, each floating rack F1 to F4 can be identified. By performing the moving operation, the picking paths P1 to P4 can be reliably formed at the optimum positions, and the working efficiency can be improved with certainty.

  The flora rack of the above embodiment is configured to be moved by a manual handle operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the present invention, the motor or the like is used as a drive source to electrically (automatically) float by operating a button. The rack may be moved. When this automatic traveling type floating rack is applied to, for example, the rack system with the picking display 10 shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, each floating floating rack is set in accordance with a preset program based on information from the picking display 10. It is also possible to automatically move the racks F1 to F4 and automatically form the picking paths P1 to P4 at the optimum positions, thereby further improving convenience.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the floating rack (rack body) is moved and moved only in the front-rear direction has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the present invention, the floating rack (rack body) is moved in the left-right direction. Also, it may be configured to be movable. In this case, the floating rack may be configured to be movable only in the left-right direction, or the floating rack may be configured to be movable in both the left-right direction and the front-rear direction.

  In the floating rack of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the case where the handle is installed on the right side surface of the rack body has been described as an example. However, in the present invention, the handle is mounted on the left side surface of the rack body. You may make it install. For example, in the rack apparatus shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a handle is formed on the right side (upper side of FIG. 6A) of one floating rack F1, and the handle is formed on the left side (upper side of FIG. 6A) of the other floating rack F2. By forming, the handle operation of both the floating racks F1 and F2 can be performed from one side of the rack device (the upper side in FIG. 6A), and the convenience can be further improved.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the rack body is moved by rotating the handle has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention is not provided with a handle, and the rack body column and the like are held by hand. It can also be applied to floating racks that are moved by pushing and pulling. In this case, a grip portion such as a handle may be provided on the rack body so that the moving operation can be performed smoothly.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the wheel is provided on the bottom frame of the rack body has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and in the present invention, the wheel body is not directly provided with a wheel, for example, a carriage. A rack body may be mounted on a base member with a suitable wheel, and the rack body may be configured to be movable.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although demonstrated taking the case of the floating rack in which the 3 steps | paragraph of receiving shelf (shelf frame) was formed in the up-down direction, in the floating rack of this invention, the number of steps of a receiving shelf is limited to 3 steps. Is not to be done. For example, the number of stages of the receiving shelf may be set to 1, 2, or 4 or more.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the floating rack which arranged two receiving racks (shelf frame) side by side was mentioned as an example, in the floating rack of the present invention, the number of the receiving racks arranged in the horizontal direction is limited. However, they may be arranged in one row in the left-right direction, or may be arranged in three or more rows.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the load is made to flow in three rows in the left-right direction for each load receiving shelf. However, in the present invention, the load flow path of each load receiving shelf is not limited to three. The flow path of the load in each load receiving shelf may be set to one, two, or four or more.

  In the present invention, the load may be any member that can be picked from the floating rack.

The floating rack of the present invention can be suitably used for shipping products to an assembly line of a factory, a warehouse of a distribution distribution center, or the like.
1: Rack body 15: Shelf frame (container shelf)
2: Wheel 3: Handle 5: Rail 6, 61, 62: Unloading conveyor A: Luggage F, F1, F2, F3, F4: Floating rack R1, R2: Rack device

Claims (6)

A rack body provided with a load receiving shelf that is inclined downward toward the front, and a load that is received from a rear end side of the load receiving shelf moves to the front by the weight of the load receiving shelf, and the load is stored in the load receiving shelf. In a floating rack that is picked from the front end side,
A floating rack characterized in that a lower end of the rack body is provided in rolling contact with an installation surface and a wheel for moving the rack body is rotatable.   The floating rack of Claim 1 comprised so that the said rack main body may move back and forth with rotation of the said wheel.   The floating rack according to claim 1, wherein a rail is provided on the installation surface, and the wheel is installed on the rail so as to be able to travel. A handle is rotatably provided on the outer surface of the rack body,
The rack body is provided with a power transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force of the handle to the wheels,
The floating rack according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rack body is configured to move by rotating the wheel via the power transmission mechanism by rotating the handle.   The floating rack according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the rack body is mounted on a base member having the wheels. Two floating racks according to any one of claims 1 to 5 are provided,
A rack apparatus characterized in that the two floating racks are arranged to face each other via a carry-out conveyor.

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