JP3172743B2 - Article management shelf and article management device - 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 management shelf used for detecting the presence or absence of an article in each storage section in a shelf to grasp the storage state of the article on the shelf and managing the storage of the article. The present invention relates to an article management device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A shelf for storing articles is usually used for organizing and storing the articles. In particular, when the article is, for example, a certain product group, and it is necessary to avoid running out of stock as much as possible in any of the product groups, considerable attention is paid to shelf inventory management.

[0003] In addition, when shelves for storing and managing the products are arranged at geographically dispersed sales bases such as branch offices and sales agents, in addition to the above-described focus at each sales base, each sales base has an article. It is necessary to appropriately formulate the daily delivery plan of the delivery center that delivers the service and to execute it in an optimal state, and to formulate a delivery plan for that is also an important work.

Conventionally, the management of the storage state of the stored articles on the shelf as described above is handled by the terminal sales base, and the situation is transmitted to the central command center by telephone, facsimile, computer input terminal, or the like. Based on the notified inventory information, a delivery plan is prepared at the central command center, in which the loading amount of each article and the delivery route are specifically shown, and based on this delivery plan, the delivery center A system that executes delivery is adopted.

[0005]

However, in the above-described inventory management system, in managing inventory at the terminal sales base, a person in charge checks the forms of inventory management one by one, or actually checks the inventory. It is necessary to confirm the storage state of the goods stored in
These are extremely time-consuming and complicated operations, and there is a high possibility that errors will occur. Further, the checked inventory status is transmitted to the central command center by telephone, facsimile, or input by a computer terminal at each business office, so that a considerable time loss occurs in this exchange.

[0006] By the way, articles stored on shelves are:
Because it is not something that is stacked and stored regularly, it is difficult to detect whether or not the item is present in a predetermined section of the shelf. This is a reason why a centralized inventory management system that automatically detects the storage state of each article and outputs a delivery plan of the article based on the stock status of the shelf has not been adopted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides an article management shelf capable of reliably detecting the presence or absence of an article stored in a shelf. It is an object.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article management shelf, comprising: a shelf board provided with sections for storing articles separately for each article; The sensor means comprises a plate-like sensor for detecting a change in its own posture, and a protective film laminated on the surface of the plate-like sensor. At least one sensor means is suspended from the ceiling of the shelf with the protective film surface facing forward, and the sensor is configured to be detachable from the ceiling , and the compartment is detachable from the shelf. To
It is characterized by being divided by the provided partition member .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article management apparatus comprising:
An article that manages articles using the article management shelf according to claim 1.
A goods management apparatus, via a sensor means for transmitting the detection to signal the article yield Osameyu free compartments of the shelves, the repeater detection signal of the sensor is input, and a relay to a telephone line And a central control unit communicated with the central control unit.

[0010]

According to the article management shelf according to the first aspect of the present invention, the shelves are provided with compartments for storing each article separately, and the articles are separated from other articles. Since it is stored in a section, by limiting the storage of articles in this section to only one article of a predetermined item, confusion with other articles can be avoided, and the presence or absence of storage in the section on the shelf Is suitable for reliably detecting.

In addition, since at least one sensor means is suspended from the ceiling of the shelf with the protective film surface facing forward in each of the sections, if an article is stored in the section, The article is in contact with the protective film surface, and the lower end thereof is flipped up to the upper part of the shelf. As a result, the attitude of the sensor means changes, and the article is stored in that section of the shelf. Is detected by the sensor.

Conversely, by pulling out the article from the shelf section, the sensor means returns to the original state suspended from the ceiling of the shelf, so that the article is stored in that section of the shelf by this change in posture. Not be detected.

The sensor means is detachably suspended from the ceiling, so that the sensor means can be easily replaced.

According to the article management apparatus of the second aspect, it is possible to always reliably detect the storage state of a predetermined article in the shelf. Therefore, by arranging this management shelf at the terminal sales base, In addition, it is possible to centrally and centrally carry out inventory management of various articles at a central management center.

[0015]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an example of an article management shelf according to the present invention. As shown in this figure, the article management shelf 1 has a pair of left and right side walls 11 and a top plate 12 covering the upper part.
A plurality of shelves 2 are arranged in a horizontal direction in a shelf main body 1a including a bottom plate 13 located at the bottom and a back wall 14 having a closed back portion.

The shelf board 2 is fixed to a first shelf board 21 formed by extending the left and right side walls 11 near the opening of the shelf main body 1a and a back wall 14 of the shelf main body 1a. It is composed of a second shelf 22 extending over the left and right side walls 11 and a cover plate 23 covering the surface of the first shelf 21. The first shelf plate 21 and the second shelf plate 22 are made of steel plates, and the cover plate 23 is made of a stainless steel thin plate. The cover plate 23 is fixed to the first shelf plate 21 by being screwed to the first shelf plate 21 at an appropriate location in a state where the cover plate 23 covers the surface of the first shelf plate 21.

The first shelf 21 has a steel plate folded in a zigzag manner from the opening of the shelf body 1a toward the back, and the upper and lower portions of the zigzag are formed with horizontal planes, respectively.

The zigzag-shaped first shelf board 21 is composed of a first wall surface 21a rising first from the opening of the shelf body 1a, a first convex surface 21b formed with a plateau portion, and a second wall surface descending subsequently. 21c, a first concave surface 21d having a valley formed thereon, a third wall surface 21e having a raised surface, a second convex surface 21f having a plateau formed thereon, a fourth wall surface 21g having a descended surface, and a valley formed thereon. And a second concave surface 21h on which a portion is formed. The first convex surface 21b and the second convex surface 21f are formed on the same plane.

The surface of the first shelf plate 21 is covered with a cover plate 23.
The dimensions of the cover plate 23 and the surface of the second shelf plate 22 are set so as to be flush with each other in a state where the cover plate 23 is covered with the cover.

A plurality of detachable bar-shaped partition members 24 are attached to the cover plate 23 of the shelf 2 over the width direction of the cover plate 23, and one partition for storing articles is provided between the partition members 24. R is formed. The partition member 24 is formed by bending both ends of a straight metal rod in the same direction at substantially right angles, and a fitting hole is formed in a portion of the cover plate 23 corresponding to the bent portion. The partitioning member 24 is mounted on the cover plate 23 by fitting the bent portion into the hole.

The frontage of one section R is set to the size of the article of the minimum width that is assumed to be stored. Therefore, when storing an article larger than that, any one of the partitioning members 24 is required.
Is removed. By doing so, the portion becomes a state in which a storage compartment having a frontage twice as large as one compartment R is formed.

A sensor means 4 is suspended from the ceiling of such a shelf 2. In the present embodiment, the ceiling portion refers to the back surface of the first shelf board 21. Specifically, the sensor means 4 serves as a hanging portion of the sensor means 4 attached to the back face of the first shelf board 21. Attached to the sensor support plate 3.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating the suspended state of the sensor means 4. As shown in this figure, the sensor support plate 3 is provided with a third wall surface 21e of the first shelf plate 21,
The second convex surface 21f, the fourth wall surface 21g, and the second concave surface 21h
Are set to correspond to the curved surface formed by the lower surface of the first shelf board 21.

The sensor support plate 3 includes a first vertical wall 3a facing the opening of the shelf main body 1a, a first horizontal surface 3b which subsequently projects upward, a second vertical wall 3c which subsequently hangs down, and a downwardly continuous second vertical wall 3c. It is composed of a protruding second horizontal surface 3d and a third vertical wall 3e rising upward thereafter. The sensor support plate 3 is attached to the first shelf plate 21 by fastening screws 31 provided through both the second vertical wall 3c and the fourth wall surface 21g of the first shelf plate 21. Fixed. In addition,
In the present embodiment, the screw 31 is provided so as to penetrate the second vertical wall 3c and the fourth wall surface 21g, but may be provided so as to penetrate the second horizontal surface 3d and the second concave surface 21h.

On the other hand, the first vertical wall 3a of the sensor support plate 3
Has a columnar hook 32 protruding toward the opening of the shelf body 1a. The tip of the hook 32 is provided with a nail-shaped head as a stopper. A tip end of the hook 32 is provided with a key hole provided at a portion orthogonal to the first concave surface 21 d and the third wall surface 21 e of the first shelf 21 in a state where the sensor support plate 3 is fixed to the first shelf 21. 25.

The hook 32 has a sensor means 4
Is suspended. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the sensor means, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA. First, as shown in FIG. 3, the sensor means 4 includes a plate-shaped sensor 41 for detecting a change in its own posture and a protective film 42 laminated on the surface of the plate-shaped sensor 41. The dimension of the protection film 42 in the vertical direction is made longer than that of the plate-like sensor 41, and the lower end thereof is substantially on the upper surface of the shelf plate 2 with the sensor means 4 hanging down from the hook 32 as shown in FIG. It is set to the length of contact.

The plate-shaped sensor 41 and the protective film 42 are sandwiched by a U-shaped clamping member 43 in a state where they are laminated on each other at their upper ends, and fixed by riveting. A locking hole 44 is formed in the center of the holding member 43, and the locking hole 44 is fitted into the hook 32 provided on the first vertical wall 3a of the sensor support plate 3 so that the sensor The means 4 is suspended from the ceiling of the shelf 2. In this embodiment, the locking holes 4
4 is one, but may be two or it.

As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the plate-shaped sensor 41 is configured by enclosing a piezoelectric element 41b in two covers 41a. The piezoelectric element 41b generates an electromotive force when it receives a pressure from the outside. Therefore, when the piezoelectric element 41b is pressed by bending the plate-shaped sensor 41, a signal indicating the pressure is transmitted from the piezoelectric element 41b, and it is possible to detect that the plate-shaped sensor 41 is bent by this signal. A connection terminal 45 is connected to the sensor means 4 via a lead wire 46 for transmitting the signal.
Is provided. The connection terminal 45 of each sensor means 4 is connected to an outlet (not shown) provided in the shelf main body 1a, is assembled in a repeater 5 arranged on the upper part of the shelf main body 1a, and is transmitted via a telephone line.

In this embodiment, the sensor means 4
Used the piezoelectric element 41b,
The mechanism is not limited to b, but may be a mechanism that switches on and energizes when the attitude of the sensor means 4 changes.

One of the sensor means 4 is provided in one section R of the minimum unit divided by the dividing member 24 on the surface of the shelf 2. Therefore, any of the partition members 24
Is removed and the frontage of one section R of that part becomes large, it means that two sensor means 4 are provided in one section R.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the sensor means is mounted. As shown in this figure,
In order to hang the sensor means 4 on the hook 32 of the sensor support plate 3, first, the cover plate 23 is lifted off as shown by a two-dot chain line and detached from the first shelf plate 21, and then the fourth wall surface of the first shelf plate 21. The screw 31 that penetrates 21 g and the second vertical wall 3 c of the sensor support plate 3 and fastens them is loosened. Then, as shown in FIG.
The first vertical wall 3a is rotated downward in a counterclockwise direction with the fulcrum as a fulcrum, and the hook 32 provided on the front surface of the first vertical wall 3a comes out of the key hole 25 downward. Become.

In this state, the holding member 43 of the sensor means 4 is
The hook holes 32 formed in the hooks 32 are
Then, when the screw 31 is fastened, the sensor support plate 3 moves so as to rotate clockwise around the screw 31 and is fixed to the back surface of the first shelf plate 21 as shown in FIG. Thus, the sensor means 4 is suspended from the hook 32 whose tip is fitted into the key hole 25.

In this state, the first vertical wall 3a and the third wall 2
Since the distance L from the holding member 1e is greater than the thickness of the holding member 43, there is play in a state where the holding member 43 is fitted into the hook 32, and the sensor means 4 is suspended on the hook 32 with no difficulty. Has been established. Since the article management shelf of the present invention is configured as described above, in a state where no article is stored in a predetermined section of the shelf 2, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6, The sensor means 4 suspended from the ceiling of the shelf plate 2 is in a state of hanging straight down from the hook 32 of the sensor support plate 3, and the piezoelectric element 41 b provided in the plate sensor 41 has In particular, since no external force is applied, no signal is sent from that, indicating that one section R of the shelf 2 is not storing any articles.

FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which an article B is stored in a predetermined section R of the shelf 2. As shown in this figure, when an article B is stored in a predetermined section R of the shelf 2, one upper end of the article B comes into contact with the protective film 42 of the sensor means 4 and bounces it upward. The plate-shaped sensor 41 laminated on the back surface of the protective film 42
Can be jumped up as well.

Then, the plate-like sensor 41 shown in FIG.
The piezoelectric element 41b sandwiched between the pair of covers 41a is bent, and as a result, a weak current is generated indicating that the article B is stored in the predetermined section R. This current is led out to a predetermined telephone line via the lead wire 46, the connection terminal 45 shown in FIG. 3 and the repeater 5 shown in FIG. 1 as an article storage signal.

When the stored article B is taken out from the predetermined section R of the shelf 2, the sensor means 4 hangs down from the hook 32 as before. No weak current flows through the element 41b. This is output from the connection terminal 45 to the telephone line as a signal indicating that the article B has been taken out.

Since the telephone line is connected to a computer serving as a central control unit provided in a central command center, the storage state of articles in the shelf 2 of the article management shelf 1 was always simultaneously grasped. In this state, actions such as stock replenishment can be performed quickly and appropriately.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a simultaneous centralized inventory management system using the article management shelf according to the present invention. As shown in this figure, article management shelves 101, 102,...
These article management shelves 1 are provided with repeaters 51, 52,.
N, telephone lines 61, 62,..., 6N and a computer provided at a central command center via a repeater C1.

For example, the article management shelf 101 is provided with sections R1, R2, R3 for storing the article B,
In these sections R, sensor means 401, 402, 40
3 are provided. As described above, when the article B is stored in the section R, the sensor means 4 is pushed and tilted to detect that the article B is stored. The detection result in each section R is input to the computer C as a central control unit via the repeater 51, the telephone line 61, and the repeater C1.

For example, in the case of the illustrated article management shelf 101, the article B is not stored in the section R1, and the sensor means 401 is in a hanging state. It is determined not to do so, and a signal indicating that there is a stored item is not transmitted from the sensor unit 401. On the other hand, the articles B are stored in the sections R2 and R3, and the lower ends of the sensor means 402 and 403 are jumped upward. Accordingly, these sensor means 4 detect that there is a stored item in the section R and transmit a signal to the computer C.

The following article management shelves 102,..., 10N
Is configured similarly to the article management shelf 101. Therefore, the computer C provided in the central command center always has the article management shelves 101, 102,.
.., 10N, storage information of the article B for each section R is input. Then, based on the above input, each of the article management shelves 101, 102,.
A program for calculating the item, quantity, delivery order and the like of the article B to be refilled in 10N is input.

Therefore, with reference to the output of the calculation result by the computer C, the predetermined goods B are systematically delivered from the distribution center to the goods management shelf 1 of each sales base.
The period of stock-out can be minimized, and the complicated manual management of the article management shelf 1 and erroneous delivery due to a contact error as in the past can be eliminated.

[0043]

As described above, in the article management shelf of the present invention, a section for accommodating each article is formed on a shelf plate constituting the article management shelf, and the sensor means has its own posture. A plate-like sensor for detecting a change, and a protective film laminated on the surface of the plate-like sensor, wherein at least one sensor means per section is provided on the shelf with the protective film facing forward. Since the sensor means is configured to be detachable from the ceiling, the article is first stored in the compartment in a state where it is separated from other articles, and the articles in the compartment are By limiting the storage of a given item to only one item, confusion with other items can be avoided, and this is suitable for reliably detecting the presence or absence of storage in that section on the shelf.

If an article is stored in the compartment,
The article is in contact with the surface of the protective film, and the lower end thereof is flipped up above the back of the shelf. As a result, the attitude of the sensor means is changed and the article is stored in that section of the shelf. Can be detected.

Conversely, when the article is pulled out from the section of the shelf, the sensor means returns to the original state of being suspended from the ceiling of the shelf, so that the article is stored in that section of the shelf by this change in posture. Can be detected.

Since the sensor means is hung detachably from the ceiling, the sensor means can be easily replaced.

If a hanging portion of the sensor means is formed on the ceiling of the shelf plate, and this hanging portion can be switched by a screw between a detached state and an attached state of the sensor means, it is possible to perform a screw operation. The sensor means can be easily replaced, which is convenient.

If the vertical dimension of the protective film is set to such a length that the lower end of the protective film is bent toward the inner part of the shelf and reaches the innermost end of the shelf, articles stored on the shelf can be obtained. Of any size and shape
The tip of the protective film, which has been flipped up by pushing the article into the back of the shelf, is located deeper than the innermost part of the article. Therefore, when taking out the article, it is avoided that the innermost part of the article wraps around the lower end of the protective film, and the protective film is not pulled out along with the article,
Damage to the sensor means can be effectively protected.

If a detachable bar-shaped partition member is attached to the shelf plate and the above-mentioned partition is formed between the partition members, the width of the partition can be optionally changed by properly attaching and detaching the partition member. Can be set in accordance with the size of the article, and it is possible to easily and quickly respond to a change in the type of the article, etc., which is flexible and convenient.

If the shelf is made of a steel plate and the surface of the shelf is covered with a thin stainless steel cover plate, the stainless steel cover plate protects the steel plate shelf so that articles can be taken in and out. In doing so, the bottom surface does not come into direct contact with the surface of the painted shelf, so that the paint is not peeled off and is not easily damaged by corrosion or the like, so that the shelf can be made to last longer, which is convenient.

By using the article management shelf according to the present invention as described above, the article management apparatus of the present invention functions more effectively, and the storage state of a predetermined article on the shelf can always be reliably detected. By arranging the management shelf at the terminal sales base, inventory management of various articles can be performed centrally and centrally at the central management center. As a result, the article management device of the present invention is capable of properly planning a reasonable article delivery plan by using a computer, and it is possible to avoid running out of stock at a sales base as much as possible. This is an extremely superior invention in terms of management and product sales strategy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an example of an article management shelf according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view illustrating a suspended state of the sensor means.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a sensor unit.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view in a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a sensor unit is attached.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view in a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the sensor means is attached.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which an article is stored in a predetermined section of a shelf board.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a simultaneous centralized inventory management system using the article management shelf of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Article management shelf 2 shelf 21 first shelf 22 second shelf 23 cover plate 24 partition member 25 key hole 3 sensor support plate 31 screw 32 hook 4 sensor means 41 plate sensor 42 protective film 5 repeater B article C Computer (central control unit)

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-58-217078 (JP, A) JP-A-57-189901 (JP, A) JP-A-51-6681 (JP, U) JP-A-59-82860 (JP) , U) Japanese Utility Model Hei 1-67768 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Utility Model 5-52955 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 1/00-1/20 G01V 9/00

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A shelf plate having a section for storing articles separately for each article, and sensor means for detecting the presence or absence of article storage and transmitting a signal, wherein the sensor means has a posture of its own. A plate-shaped sensor for detecting a change, and a protective film laminated on the surface of the plate-shaped sensor, wherein at least one sensor means per section is provided in the section with the protective film surface facing forward. The sensor means is suspended from the ceiling of the board, and the sensor means is configured to be detachable from the ceiling , and the section is detachably attached to the shelf board.
An article management shelf characterized by being partitioned by a provided partition member . 2. An article using the article management shelf according to claim 1.
A management apparatus for managing items performing of the sensor means for transmitting the detection to signal the <br/> article yield Osameyu free compartments of the shelves, the repeater detection signal of the sensor is input, An article management device comprising a repeater and a central control unit communicated via a telephone line.