JP2522323Y2 - Article handling equipment - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article handling apparatus for handling a plurality of articles stacked in a plane on a pallet. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus for handling a plurality of articles stacked in a plane on a pallet. The present invention relates to a device for handling articles that are carried in and taken out of the carried-in articles to a plurality of carry-out conveyors.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a prior art relating to a device for handling articles, a cargo handling device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-13331 is known. Thus, the pallet handling apparatus described in the above-mentioned publication arranges a plurality of article stations (loading conveyors) and a plurality of pallet stations (unloading conveyors), travels between them, and moves articles (articles) on the pallets. ), The article on the pallet carried into the carry-in conveyor is taken out to the carry-out conveyor using a traveling cart having a transfer device (article take-out apparatus).

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, the pallet handling apparatus described in JP-A-64-13331 is carried conveyor to Ya and the discharge conveyor are respectively, an article on one input conveyor only on out conveyor corresponding thereto It is made to take out. Therefore, when articles are taken out to a plurality of carry-out conveyors, a plurality of carry-in conveyors corresponding to the respective carry-out conveyors are required, and the installation space of the carry-in conveyors and the inventory of the goods carried into each carry-in conveyor are wasted. Occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an article handling apparatus capable of reducing the installation space for equipment and efficiently removing articles from a carry-in conveyor to a plurality of carry-out conveyors. is there.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention includes a carry-in conveyor 12 for carrying a plurality of articles B that is staked to the surface on the pallet P, and a plurality of articles B that is carried by該搬input conveyor 12 an article take-out device 13 for moving the gripped in terms units, a vertically movable transfer <br/> feeding device 17 for transporting a plurality of articles B of the surface units extracted by the article take-out device 13, said transfer device unloaded leave surface units receiving the articles B of the transported surface units by 17, the vertical direction
The object has been achieved by providing an article handling device comprising a plurality of unloading conveyors 18A and 18B arranged in opposite directions .

[0006]

According to the present invention, articles can be efficiently taken out from a carry-in conveyor to a plurality of carry-out conveyors.

[0007]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. In each of the drawings, FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing the flow of articles in a distribution center equipped with a packing apparatus suitably used in the article handling apparatus of the present invention,
2 is a plan view showing the first floor of the distribution center shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the second floor of the distribution center shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the article handling device of the packing equipment shown in FIG. 5 is a front view showing the article handling apparatus shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a side view showing the article handling apparatus shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a gripping apparatus for the article handling apparatus shown in FIG. partially enlarged view showing the cross state of the plate, FIG 8 is those surface units by loading alignment equipment transport conveyor 2
Plan view showing a state of conveying the goods, 9 is a side view showing a conveying state shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state disconnecting the article surface units per column, 11 articles of the surface units FIG. 12 is a side view of the state shown in FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are operation explanatory views showing the state in which articles having different sizes are changed in direction by a turn device. .

An embodiment of an article handling apparatus according to the present invention is a packing apparatus to which a cardboard box in which goods produced in a factory or the like are packed together for the same article is handled as individual articles. So, this packing equipment is
One distribution center is configured integrally with the automatic warehouse that operates in conjunction with this. Therefore, a distribution center including an unloading facility and an automatic warehouse to which the apparatus of this embodiment is preferably applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0009] Commodities produced in factories and the like are grouped for the same type as articles B made of cardboard boxes, loaded on pallets, and transported to distribution centers. For the goods B transported to the distribution center, the name of the goods, the quantity, etc. are set in the computer as management data, and the automatic warehouse W
It is stocked in. On the first floor of the distribution center, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a storage station 1 for receiving a predetermined number of articles B (see FIG. 4) stacked in a plane on a pallet P as a pallet load via a forklift or the like. When,
An unloading station 2 for unloading an empty pallet P after the pallet load or articles have been depalletized as described below;
A loading / unloading conveyor line 3 connected to the loading / unloading stations 1 and 2 for loading / unloading palletized cargo, the loading / unloading conveyor line 3, a loading sub-line 4 and a loading sub-line 5 branching off from the loading / unloading line 3 The automatic warehouse W has a high-rise rack 6 for storing pallet loads, and a stacker crane that travels between the high-rise racks 6 to store and remove pallet loads and the like. 7 are provided.

On the first floor of the distribution center, there is provided a computer control room 8 equipped with a computer and various control devices for controlling the pallet loading / unloading and the article handling method of the present invention. Further, on the second floor of the distribution center, as shown in FIG. 3, a supply line 9 for supplying a pallet load taken out of the high-rise rack 6 via a stacker crane 7, and a required quantity of articles from the pallet load are depalletized. A collection line 10 for collecting the pallet load on the high-rise rack 6 side, and a supply line 9 and a rail disposed along the end of the collection line 10 travel unmanned to supply the pallet load and collect. And a traverser 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the packing apparatus to which the article handling apparatus of the present embodiment is applied is configured on the second floor of a distribution center. It is configured to receive a pallet load or to return a pallet load after depalletizing. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the article handling device of the above-mentioned loading equipment has a conveyor 12 for carrying in a pallet load in the traverser 11, and a predetermined amount of articles from the pallet load carried in by the carry-in conveyor 12 on a surface basis. Item picking device (surface unit picking device) 13 which is gripped and taken out by the user, and the surface unit picking device 1
3 includes a delivery conveyor 14 for paying out the remaining pallet load from which a predetermined number of articles have been taken out to the automatic warehouse W, and a transport conveyor 16 for transporting empty pallets P to an empty pallet stacking device.

The surface unit picking device 13 includes a transfer device (receiving conveyor) 17 for receiving and transferring the articles B picked by the surface unit, as will be described later, and an article B in a surface unit by moving the receiving conveyor 17 up and down.
Conveyor 18A and the second unloading conveyor 1 which receive the unloading sheet and unload the sheets in two different directions in the unit of a surface.
8B. Then, as described later, the first unloading conveyor 18A is connected to a first storage facility (first storage facility) 29A for storing products shipped in bulk as articles B in cardboard boxes, and 2 The unloading conveyor 18B is a product (article) to be shipped in cardboard boxes.
Second storage facility for storing B (second storage facility) 29B .

Therefore, the surface unit picking device 13 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, it is disposed on a rectangular frame 131 assembled on the floor of the second floor. The frame 13
1, a carry-in conveyor 132 that receives the articles B together with the pallets P from the carry-in conveyor 12 and moves up and down between a receiving position and a depalletizing position; Conveyor 133 for transferring to the side conveyor 15 and the receiving conveyor 1 for unloading the depalletized articles B to the first unloading conveyor 18A and the second unloading conveyor 18B.
7 are provided. And the above-mentioned carry-in conveyor 13
2. Lifting devices 134 and 135 are provided on the lower surface of each of the receiving conveyors 17, and are configured to raise and lower the carry-in conveyor 132 and the receiving conveyor 17 as shown in FIGS.

A support 131 is provided above the frame 131.
Traveling rails 136, 136 are disposed on the upper surface of the frame member 131A located via B, 131B, 131B, 131B. And these running rails 136, 1
A trolley 137 is disposed on the trolley 36 so as to be able to run, and a gripping device 138 is further disposed on the trolley 137. Upper Symbol bunch lifting device 138, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, comprises a grip plate 139, 140 and 141 and 142 opposing the two pairs, the gripping plates 139, 140 and 141 and 142 opposing the bogie A plurality of articles B are gripped and released in steps (surfaces) by expanding and contracting each other with the center line 137 as a reference point. That is, the gripping device 138 includes a pair of frame members 138A, 138A disposed on the carriage 137.
A pair of frame members 138B, 138B orthogonal to the frame members 138A, 138A, a cross-shaped connector 138C disposed at the position of the reference point, and the frame members 138A, 138
8A, 138B, 138B, and guide cylinders 143, 144 connected between the inner surfaces of the respective members and the connecting body 138C.
, 145, 146, slide bosses 147, 148, 149, 150 slidably fitted to the guide tubes 143, 144, 145, 146, and above these slide bosses 147, 148, 149, 150. Cylinders 151, 152, 153, and 154 disposed therein.
54 has one end connected to the connecting body 138C,
Also, the respective rods 151A, 152A and 153
A and 154A are connected to the slide bosses 147 and 148, respectively.
And 149, 150 and connected to the cylinder 1
The slide bosses 147, 148 and 149, 150 are driven by the drive of 51, 152, 153, 154.
Is configured to slide.

Also, the grip plates 139, 140 are provided below the slide bosses 147, 148, 149, 150.
, 141, 142 are connected to each other, and the cylinders 151, 152, 153, 154 are driven to expand and contract the gripping plates 139, 140, 141, 142, respectively, as described above.

As shown in FIG. 7, the holding plates 141 and 142 have two channel members 141A,
141A, 142A, 142A are protruded with a gap therebetween, and two channel materials 139A, 139A, 140A, 140A, 140A, and 142A are also provided on the other holding plates 139, 140, respectively. 140A is protruded, and the grip plate 141,
142 and the gripping plates 139 and 140 are configured so as not to interfere with each other and to be able to grip the plurality of articles B from four directions without difficulty according to the dimensions of a unit formed by the plurality of articles B. I have.

On the lower surface of the frame member 131A, the carry-in conveyor 1 ascending via the elevating device 134 is provided.
32, a pair of photo switches PH for detecting the article B on
1, PH2 is disposed at a position substantially above a pair of corners of the carry-in conveyor 132 that face each other in a diagonal direction, and the article B rises via the elevating device 134, and the article B rises.
Stops the light beam between the photo switches PH1 and PH2 and after a lapse of a predetermined time, stops the elevating device 134 and stops the cylinders 151, 152, 153, and 154.
To drive the gripping plates 139, 140 and 141, 1
By closing 42, the uppermost article B is configured to be gripped on a surface-by-surface basis. The cylinder 15
A pressure switch (not shown) is provided in a pipe leading to 1, 152, 153, and 154, and grips a plurality of articles B constituting a surface with a preset pressure (gripping force). When the gripping force is detected, the lifting device 13
4 is driven to lower another set of articles on the pallet P by a predetermined distance, and the articles B on a surface unit are moved to the pallet P.
The carriage 137 is separated from the above other article assembly and
The driving device 155 disposed in the
7 is moved to the receiving conveyor 17 side.

Further, one corner (the downstream corner in this embodiment) of the carriage 137 on the side of the receiving conveyor 17.
A limit switch LS1 is provided on the lower surface. On the other hand, a dog D1 is provided at a corner of the frame member 131A corresponding to the corner of the carriage 137. And
As described above, the limit switch LS1 detects the dog D1 and the driving device 1 is in a state where the traveling carriage 137 is located directly above the receiving conveyor 17.
55 is stopped, and the carriage 137 is stopped. Also,
With the traveling of the carriage 137, the receiving conveyor 17
The lifting conveyor 135 is driven to raise the receiving conveyor 17. Therefore, the receiving conveyor 17 is driven by the lifting / lowering device 135 to move the first unloading conveyor 18 connected to the first storage facility 29A.
A and the second unloading conveyor 18 connected to the second storage facility 29B
B so that the article B can be transferred to each of the first unloading conveyor 18A and the second unloading conveyor 18B in a unit of surface.

On the lower surface of the frame member 131A, two pairs of photo switches PH3, PH4 and PH4 are provided so that light beams pass obliquely above the receiving conveyor 17.
5, PH6 is provided, and a pair of photo switches PH3,
PH4 is disposed above the other pair of photo switches PH5 and PH6. The upper photo switch PH
3, the PH4 is lifted by the lifting device 13 when the light beam is blocked by the ascending conveyor 17 as described above.
5 is indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
8 is stopped at a position where it comes into contact with the lower surface of the article B gripped, and the cylinders 151, 152 and 153, 154 of the gripping device 138 are driven so that the respective gripping plates 14
1, 142 and 139, 140 are released to release the gripped surface article B and deliver it to the receiving conveyor 17. In addition, the lifting device 13
5 is the receiving conveyor 1 from the gripping device 138.
7, when the articles B are received in units of planes, the goods are lowered to the levels of the first unloading conveyor 18A and the second unloading conveyor 18B as described above. The article B is configured to be delivered to the first unloading conveyor 18A and the second unloading conveyor 18B. Further, the receiving conveyor 17 descends and the upper surface of the article B reaches below the light beams of the lower photo switches PH5 and PH6, and the photo switch P
When the light blocking state between H5 and PH6 is resolved, the carriage 1
37 by driving the driving device 155
38 is configured to run toward the carry-in conveyor 132.

Further, at the corner of the carriage 137, that is, on the downstream side in the flow direction of the article B, the limit switch L
A limit switch LS2 is provided at a corner opposite to the corner provided with S1. On the other hand, the frame member 13
A dog D2 is provided at a corner corresponding to the corner of the carriage 137 of 1A. When the limit switch LS2 detects the dog D2 while the carriage 137 running from the receiving conveyor 17 is located directly above the first conveyor 132 as described above, the driving device 155 is stopped. Thus, the carriage 137 is stopped.

In addition, the above-mentioned loading and unloading equipment is also provided with a transfer device for connecting the first unloading conveyor 18A and the first storage equipment 29A. As shown in FIG. 3, the transfer device receives a first separation conveyor 19A for separating the surface-based articles B unloaded from the first unloading conveyor 18A into rows and an article B separated by the first separation conveyor 19A. A row feed conveyor 20A that feeds one row sideways, and a direction changer 22A that cuts a single row of articles B sent by the row feed conveyor 20A into individual articles B, positions them with end stoppers 22AA, and then turns the feed direction by 90 °.
Conveyor 21A for transporting the articles B, and the turn device 23A and the turn conveyor 2 for sequentially turning the articles B, which have been turned by the turning machine 22A, one by one in the longitudinal direction.
4A and a transport line 26 for transporting the article B on the turn conveyor 24A to a supply conveyor 27A.

Further, the packing equipment E includes a first supply machine 28A for supplying the articles B on the supply conveyor 27A,
The first supply unit 28 receives the supply of the article B
And a storage facility 29A. This first storage facility 29
A has a plurality of storage fronts for storing articles B in a vertical and horizontal matrix, an article outlet on the front of the storage front, and an article supply port corresponding to the article outlet on the back. It has. Each storage frontage is provided with a free-roller conveyor so as to be inclined downward from the article supply port toward the article take-out port, and is constituted by a so-called flow shelf. An article supply surface is formed by a plurality of article supply ports. Then, the first supply device 28A travels along the article supply surface and moves up and down along the vertical article supply surface, thereby transferring the article B to the desired storage frontage of the first storage facility 29A via the article supply port. It is configured to supply.

Further, as apparent from FIG. 3, the first storage facility 29A is provided with a first storage unit 2 by a partition 30 or the like.
And 9A _1, defined in the second storage unit 29A _2, is formed as a small article supply side than that of the second storage facility 29B to be described later article feed plane. Thus, the extraction of the article (supply), first, the subject articles stored in the first storage section 29A ₁ of the first storage facility 29A, and the first
By performing the extraction of the same article and the article being stored in the storage unit 29A ₁ to store frontage order of the second storage facility 29B which supplies (supply), the surface unit picking device 13
When supplying a plurality of articles per surface extracted by the first storage device 29A to the first storage facility 29A, the first supply device 28A supplies the plurality of articles per surface unit to each storage unit 29A of the first storage facility 29A.
It may be supplied to the storage frontage of the article feed plane of A _1, then as described above to a subject an article stored in the second storage unit 29A _2, may be performed is taken out (supply). That is,
The first feeder 28A is frequently both storage section 29 A _1, 29 A
Without going back and forth between the _two to supply goods,
Since the traveling range is narrower than a second supply unit 28B described later,
Supplying a product regardless of the storage frontage order of each storage unit 29 A _1, 29 A ₂ of the first storage facilities 29A, it mileage itself can be reduced efficiently supplied. Also, the article supply surface is formed small so as to be as such.

The first storage facility 29A is, as described above,
The partition 30, etc., it may not have been defined first storage section 29A ₁ and the second storage portion 29A _2, the first storage in a range having a small article supply side than the article supply surface of the second storage facility 29B by a computer The equipment 29A may be set on the data in the first storage unit, the second storage unit, and the third storage unit, and may be divided.

The articles B stored in each storage frontage of the first storage facility 29A are products in which each product is stored in a cardboard box unit, and the products in each article B are stored in each storage frontage so as to correspond to a small order. While the worker M checks the picking quantity displayed on the display device provided in the apparatus, the picking-up quantity is manually extracted (bulk picking) by the quantity.
Each product picked up from each storage frontage is sequentially put into a container transported by the transport conveyor 31A, and transported as a container in which a plurality of products are stored in accordance with each order. Is directly supplied to the shipping area on the first floor via the storage line 32A.

Further, the above-mentioned loading and unloading equipment includes a transfer device for connecting the second unloading conveyor 18B to the second storage equipment 29B and the first floor of the distribution center. Specifically, the first carry-out conveyor 18A and the turn conveyor 24A
It has the same configuration as that of the transport device that connects the two, and is located below it. That is, a second separation conveyor 19B for separating the surface-wise articles B conveyed from the second discharge conveyor 18B for each row, a row conveyor 20B, a conveyance conveyor 21B, a direction changer 22B, an end stopper 22BB further downstream. Turn device 23B and turn conveyor 2
4B. Further, the transfer equipment is provided with a branching equipment 25 for branching the transfer destination of the goods B on the turn conveyor 24B, and the branching equipment 25 stores the goods B to be stored in the second storage equipment 29B. It is configured to sort the goods B to be shipped directly without any additional processing.

Further, a supply conveyor 27B for sequentially supplying the articles B to be stored, sorted by the branching device 25, to the loading / unloading equipment, and a supply conveyor 27B
A second supply unit 28B for supplying the article B above and a second storage facility 29B for receiving the supply of the article B by the second supply unit 28B are provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the second storage facility 29B is configured similarly to the first storage facility 29A so that the second supply device 28B supplies the article B from the article supply surface to the second storage facility 29B. It is configured. The surface unit picking device 13 is controlled by a computer so that the articles are taken out in accordance with the order of storage of the articles stored in the second storage facility 29A so that the traveling of the second feeder 28A is not wasted. Has been made.

Thus, the articles B stored in the second storage facility 29B are taken out by the picking device 30 driven based on a command from the computer and supplied to the transport conveyor 31B connected to the shipping line in desired quantities. The transfer is performed from the transfer conveyor 31B to the storage line 32B on the first floor shown in FIG. In addition, the article B conveyed from the second unloading conveyor 18B
Out of the second branching device 25
The articles B other than the articles B stored in the storage facility 29B are transported to the storage line 34 on the first floor shown in FIG. 2 via the transport conveyor 33 connected to the turn conveyor 24B.

As described above, each of the storage lines 32
A, each article B stored by 32B and 34
And the storage containers 32A, 3
Main line 3 connected at the downstream end of each of 2B and 34
After merging at 5, a plurality of sub-lines 36 branching off from the main line 35 are sorted by orderer or by delivery region via a sorting device 37 before being shipped.

Incidentally, the plurality of articles B in units of surfaces carried out from the second carry-out conveyor 18B are cut into individual articles B and aligned in the transport equipment as shown in FIGS. That is, the second separation conveyor 19B includes:
As shown in FIG. 8, a photoelectric tube 41 which senses the movement of the article B and issues a command, and a command from the photoelectric tube 41, as shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 0, a lifter 42 for raising and lowering the second separating conveyor 19B is provided, and an arm 43 and a tip roller 44 for stopping the conveyed article B as shown in FIGS. And are arranged. Therefore, the plurality of articles B in the unit of the surface are separated by the second separation conveyor 1.
9B, when the tip is detected by the photoelectric tube 41, the lifter 42 is driven to drive the second separation conveyor 19B.
Is lifted up to the state shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 11, the row of articles B moves onto the second separating conveyor 19B, the remaining articles B stop at the step 190, the articles on the second separating conveyor 19B are transported downstream, and the second separating conveyor 19B is moved. Until 19B drops
It is arranged to wait on the second unloading conveyor 18B.

As described above, the articles B in one row are
It is conveyed downstream and is conveyed one by one to the turn conveyor 24B by the direction changer 22B, and the direction is unified by the turn device 23B. That is, the article B which is transported in the longitudinal direction proceeds straight as it is, and the article which is transported in the lateral direction collides with the arm 43 or the tip roller 44 of the turn device 23B, is turned in the longitudinal direction, and is transported. .

The turn device 23B receives the stroke information (projection length) of the arm 43 for each product type by the computer, and only the article B flowing in the lateral direction as shown in FIGS. Alternatively, the position of the front end roller 44 is moved by an appropriate amount using a pulse motor or the like so as to be stopped by the front end roller 44 and changed in the longitudinal direction indicated by the dotted line.

The structure and operation of the first separating conveyor 19A for separating the articles B in units of planes in units of rows are the same as those of the second separating conveyor 19B described above, and the structure and operation of the turn device 23A are also described above. This is the same as the turn device 23B. In addition, the above-described transport can be performed by using a conventionally known depalletizer instead of the surface unit picking device 13.

Next, a description will be given of the handling of articles using the above-mentioned packing equipment E to which the article handling apparatus of this embodiment is applied. In order to take out a desired quantity of articles using the packing apparatus to which the article handling apparatus of the present embodiment is applied, first, picking data corresponding to various kinds of product orders is created. As the picking data, batch order picking data for cardboard box order and single order picking data for bulk order are created. Here, batch order picking refers to collecting the orders of each store processed in one batch (picking unit) and picking the quantity of the batch for each product type, and single order picking is It means picking the goods B for each order of each store. Then, when the picking data of one batch is totaled, urgent replenishment data, normal replenishment data and interrupt replenishment data are further created, so that the picking data can be picked continuously without running out of stock during picking. Create finely.

The above-mentioned emergency replenishment data is created by checking the replenishable articles B of the articles B which are out of stock during the batching before picking is started in bulk picking. That is, the order quantity of the bulk picking of this batch is totaled, and each storage unit 29A of the first storage facility 29A is collected.
_1, 29A checks whether sufficient Quantity of the article B stored in the _2, not enough is and the article one plane to store frontage of the storage portion 29A _1, 29A ₂ stores (palletized It is checked whether there is a storage space (for one step of the article), and if there is a storage space, it is registered as "emergency replenishment data".

The above-mentioned normal replenishment data is based on the article B which does not run out of stock due to bulk picking during the batch.
From the state (storage quantity) of the first storage facility 29A before the start of picking, it is checked whether or not one storage space is available in the relevant storage frontage of the article B, and if one storage space is available. The refillable article B is registered as "normal replenishment data".

This process is performed in the following order. Targeting article B stored in the storage portion 29A ₁ of the first storage facilities 29A, carried out in storage order of an article B stored in the second storage facility 29B. Subsequently, the subject articles B stored in the storage portion 29A ₂ of the first storage facilities 29A, carried out in storage order of an article B stored in the second storage facility 29B.

The above-mentioned interruption replenishment data is an article B which is out of stock due to loose picking during a batch and cannot be replenished before picking starts (there is no storage space for one side in the storage frontage). For article B,
It is registered as “interruption supplement data”. After registering each picking data in the computer, the computer sends a command based on each picking to start taking out articles by the packing equipment.

The picking device 13 for each surface, which constitutes the device for handling articles of the present embodiment in the packing equipment, first sends the articles to the respective storage sections 29A ₁ , 29A _{2 of} the first storage facility 29A based on the emergency replenishment data. To replenish B,
The corresponding articles B taken out of the high-rise rack 6 of the automatic warehouse W are taken out in plane units. The removed article B is delivered to the first unloading conveyor 18A via the receiving conveyor 17. The articles B unloaded by the first unloading conveyor 18A are separated by a first separating conveyor 19A and a row-feeding conveyor 2
0A, the conveyor 21A, the direction changer 22A, the turn conveyor 24A, and the conveyor 26A to the supply conveyor 27A. The article B that has reached the supply conveyor 27A is supplied to the storage unit 29A ₁ or 29A ₂ of the first storage facility 29A by the first supply unit 28A. By urgently replenishing the first storage facility 29A with the articles B in this manner, the worker M continuously and reliably picks up the articles in the articles B continuously according to the display quantity of the display without running out of stock. be able to.

When the replenishment of the article B based on the emergency replenishment data is completed, the article B is taken out (picked) based on the picking data, and the article B is replenished based on the normal replenishment data. This replenishment is performed for the article B to be stored in the first storage facility 29A and the second storage facility 29B. First, a case in which only the second storage facility 29B is normally refilled will be described. In the picking of the article B in the cardboard box unit, how the surface unit picking device 13, the second feeder 28B, and the picking device 30 operate according to the order is determined by the following arithmetic expression (1) performed by the computer. It is done based on.

F = (O + S) / C (1) F: Number of picked-out surfaces of picking device per surface (surface) (decimal point truncation) O: Number of orders per cardboard box (case) S; The number of cases in which the corresponding storage frontage of the second storage facility can be supplied (case) C; the number of cardboard boxes constituting one surface (case / surface) There are four combinations of the devices operated in the above calculation (1).

A combination in which the surface unit picking device 13 and the picking device 30 operate. A combination in which the surface unit picking device 13 and the second feeder 28B operate. A combination in which only the surface unit picking device 13 operates. Only the picking device 30 operates. In the case of a combination of combinations, for example, if the order number O of a certain product type is 10 cases, the supply number S of the second storage facility 29B is 2 cases, and the number of planes C is 8 cases / plane, the operation formula (1 ), The number F of taken-out surfaces of the surface unit picking device 13 is (10 + 2) /8=1.5, which is one surface.
Therefore, one plane (8
Case) and two short cases are taken out by the picking device 30.

In the case of the combination, for example, the order number O is 10 cases, and the supply number S of the second storage facility 29B is S.
Is 6 cases and the number of planes C is 8 cases / plane, the number of planes F to be taken out of the plane unit picking device 13 is (10 + 6) /8=2.0 by the arithmetic expression (1), and It is. Therefore, two surfaces (16 cases) are taken out by the surface unit picking device 13, the order number of 10 cases is shipped as it is, the excess 6 cases are transported to the second supply unit 28B, and the second storage unit 28B stores it in the second storage unit 28B. Supply to equipment 29B.

In the case of the combination of, for example, the order number O is 16 cases, and the supply number S of the second storage facility 29B is S.
Is 6 cases, and the number of planes C is 8 cases / plane, the number of planes F to be taken out of the plane unit picking device 13 is (16 + 6) /8=2.75 according to the arithmetic expression (1), and two planes are obtained. It is. Therefore, two surfaces (16 cases) are taken out by the surface unit picking device 13 and all the quantities are shipped.
In this case, since the quantity to be taken out F = the number of orders O, devices other than the surface unit picking device 13 do not operate.

In the case of the combination of, for example, when the number of orders O is 2 cases, the number of supplies S of the second storage facility 29B is 2 cases, and the number of planes C is 8 cases / plane, the operation formula (1 ), The number F of taken-out surfaces of the surface unit picking device 13 is (2 + 2) /8=0.5, which is zero.
Accordingly, the picking device 30 does not take out the case by the surface unit picking device 13 but takes out two cases of the order number.

As described above, when taking out the article B in the cardboard box unit, how each apparatus is operated based on the supplyable quantity and the order quantity of the storage frontage of the article B in the second storage facility 29B. A computer is used to determine whether to operate the apparatus or not. Then, the second storage facility 29B includes the surface unit picking device 13.
In order to match the quantity of articles B taken out by the number of orders to the number of orders, it serves as a buffer for adjusting the excess or deficiency.

In addition, the above calculation is performed for the article B in the unit of the cardboard box.
Is performed for all the articles B that have been ordered, and the calculation order is the order of the storage frontage of the second storage facility 29B, for example, from the downstream side in the transport direction of the conveyor that transports the articles B taken out by the picking device 30, and It is conducted on the articles B that are stored in the first storage section 29A ₁ of the first storage facility 29A shown in FIG.

Before the above calculation, if the type to be calculated has “normal replenishment data”, the computer calculates the above formula (1) as the quantity of the article B to be supplied to the first storage facility 29A. The operation is performed by adding S '. That is, it is calculated by the following arithmetic expression (2). F = (O + S + S ′) / C (2) F: Number of picked-out surfaces of picking device per surface (surface) (decimal point truncated) O: Number of orders per cardboard box (case) S: Second storage facility 29B S '; Number of supplies of the corresponding storage frontage of the first storage facility 29A (normal replenishment data) [case (per unit)] C': Number of cardboard boxes constituting one side (case) (Case / surface) The operation of the surface unit picking device 13 is such that when the item B to which "normal replenishment data" is attached is taken out, the taken out item B is supplied to the supply line 27A of the first storage facility 29A.
Is carried out to the first carry-out conveyor 18A connected to the first carry-out conveyor 18A.
The articles B taken out for cardboard box ordering are delivered by the branching device 25 to the second delivery conveyor 18B connected to the line for directly shipping and the supply line 27B of the second storage facility 29B.

The second storage unit 2 of the first storage facility 29A
Usually when supplementation of the articles B to 9A _2, after completing the replenishment of the first storage section 29A _1, similarly by a command computer based on a result of replenishment of the article B as required is obtained by the calculation Done in And, as mentioned above, while picking and normal replenishment are taking place,
When the storage space for one surface of the article B stored in any _{one of} the storage units 29A ₁ and 29A ₂ of the first storage facility 29A becomes available, the computer issues a command based on the “interruption supplementary data”. an interrupt replenished storage unit 29A ₁ or 29A ₂ free storage space of one plane has occurred in. That is, the computer is the first storage facility 2
We always keep track of the inventory of each storage frontage of 9A, and when we pick an order from a store, we will add "interruption replenishment"
It is calculated in advance whether it will be possible. "Interruption replenishment" is possible when the empty space (suppliable number) of the relevant storage frontage becomes more than one surface and the picking of the relevant store is completed (the container having the relevant container number passes through the predetermined position) Is detected by the computer. After detection, the computer displays the corresponding container N
o. Is retrieved from the “interruption replenishment data” on the basis of. Then, the goods B corresponding to the stacker crane and the surface unit picking device 13 of the automatic warehouse W are used.
To take out. However, "interrupt replenishment" to the storage portion 29A ₁ of the first storage facility. 29A so as not to perform basically, or keep the small articles B of shipments, or by increasing the storable amount of storage frontage It is desirable to keep.

[0050] In Thus, the subject articles B stored in the first storage section 29A ₁ or the second storage unit 29A ₂ of the first storage facilities 29A, is performed to store frontage order of the second storage facility 29B. Then, each device operates in that order. That is, the surface unit picking device 13, picking apparatus 30 includes a first storage section 29A ₁ or the second storage unit 2 of the first storage facility 29A
Second storage facility to the subject an article B stored in 9A ₂ 2
While the desired articles B are taken out and shipped in the order of the storage frontage 9B, the first supply device 28A and the second supply machine 28B supply the desired storage frontage in the order of the articles B taken out by the surface unit picking device 13.

As described above, according to the article handling apparatus of the present embodiment, a plurality of articles B of a pallet load carried in by one carry-in conveyor 12 are picked up by the surface unit picking apparatus 13 and the receiving conveyor 17. Based on the picking data, the plurality of articles B can be unloaded to two first unloading conveyors 18A and two unloading conveyors 18B via the unloading conveyors 18A and 18B. . Therefore, the carry-in of the article B can be covered by the single carry-in conveyor 12 with respect to the two carry-out conveyors 18A and 18B without excess or shortage, so that the two carry-out conveyors 18A and 18B are provided.
However, only one carry-in conveyor 12 is sufficient, the installation space of the carry-in conveyor 12 can be reduced, and the article B can be efficiently taken out to two carry-out conveyors 18A and 18B.

The surface unit picking device 13 constituting the article handling device has been described only with respect to the four-side gripping type. However, the surface unit picking device used in the present invention has a rubber lining at the end of the conveyor. It is only necessary to provide a roller that has been subjected to such processing as described above, and to rotate the roller so that the article B can be taken out to the side of the cardboard box in a unit of surface.

The carry-out conveyor constituting the article take-out apparatus is not limited to two places, but may be provided at three or more places. Further, in the above embodiment, the first storage facility 29A has two storage sections 29A ₁ , 2
Although only those having 9A ₂ adjacent to each other have been described, the storage units 29A ₁ and 29A ₂ may be separated,
Also, the storage section is not limited to two places.
It is sufficient that the article supply surface of the first storage facility is smaller than that of the second storage facility.

[0054]

[Effect of the Invention] The article handling device of the present invention is a device,
In particular, the installation space of the carry-in conveyor can be reduced, and the articles can be efficiently taken out from the carry-in conveyor to a plurality of carry-out conveyors.

[0055]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a flow of articles in a distribution center having a packing equipment in which the article handling apparatus of the present invention is suitably used.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a first floor portion of the distribution center shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a second floor portion of the distribution center shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing a surface unit picking device of the packing apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the surface unit picking device shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the surface unit picking device shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view showing an intersecting state of grip plates of the grip device of the surface-based picking device shown in FIG. 4;

8 is a side view showing a state in which articles are transported in units of planes by the transport computer of the packing apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the transport state shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state where articles in units of plane are separated in units of rows.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state in which articles in units of plane are separated in units of rows.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the state shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory view showing a state in which articles having different sizes change directions by a turning device.

FIG. 14 shows a state different from the state shown in FIG. 13;
FIG.

FIG. 15 is a view corresponding to FIG. 13 showing a state different from the states shown in FIGS. 13 and 14;

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Carry-in conveyor 13 Article take-out device (surface picking device) 17 Transfer device (receiving conveyor) 18A (1st) Carry-out conveyor 18B (2nd) Carry-out conveyor 28A First feeder 28B Second feeder 29A First storage facility (first storage facility) 29B Second storage facility (second storage facility) 29A ₁ , 29A ₂ Storage section B Article P Pallet

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. PalletPMultiple stacked in a sheet
GoodsBConveyor for loading12And the carry-in conveyor12Goods brought in byB
Removal device that grips and moves objects by surface13
And the article take-out device13By surface extracted by
Multiple itemsBTransportUp and downTransfer device17And the transfer device17By surface transported byBReceiving
Get rid ofSurface unitTake out, Arranged vertically
Multiple conveyors18A, 18BAnd that
Equipment for handling goods.