JP3217676B2 - Holder transfer device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a holder storing and conveying device for automatically taking out or storing a file holder (hereinafter simply referred to as a holder) capable of storing a plurality of sheets, cards and documents such as medical charts. It is about structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present applicant has previously described Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-17250.
No. 9 and JP-A-7-172510, when a large number of sheets and cards such as medical charts in hospitals are classified and stored, these cards are folded into a foldable holder (having a gusset at the lower end and a pair of left and right sides). Transporting the holder once along a front surface of a storage shelf unit in which a number of suspension rails are provided in parallel. A device has been proposed in which a unit automatically stores or retrieves a predetermined storage location in a storage shelf unit.

In the upper part of the case of the transfer unit, a holding / conveying body having a holding claw for holding the upper end of one holder is moved forward and backward between an entrance at the front end of the case and the back side of the case. A storage box provided with two storage portions in parallel with each other, which suspends and supports the upper part of the holder, below the nipping transport body, is orthogonal to the moving direction of the nipping transport body in plan view. An arrangement configured to move in the direction was proposed.

[0004] With this configuration, the number of holders that can be mounted on the transport unit becomes two, and the frequency of reciprocating between the loading / unloading section and the storage shelf unit during loading / unloading operations is reduced, thereby improving the efficiency of loading / unloading work. Could be achieved.

[0005]

However, in the above configuration, if the holders are suspended in parallel in the two storage portions, the upper ends of the holders project from the upper ends of the storage boxes. When the one of the holders is sent out of the storage box by the holding claws, or when the holder is taken in, the upper end portion of the other holder collides with the lower surface of the holding conveyance body so that the holding claws are not hindered. Of the two storage sections of the storage box, and the storage section of the two storage sections farthest from the free end of the nipping and transporting body is laterally moved to the advancing and retreating position of the nipping claw. The holder is first taken into the storage section, and then the storage section in which the holder is suspended is moved laterally away from the free end of the nipping and transporting body, and the holder is taken into an adjacent storage section.

At the time of discharge, the work sequence must be such that the previously taken-in holder is first sent out by the holding claws, and then the previously taken-in holder is sent out later. Emergency dispatch work to send out the first. In other words, the conventional structure has a problem that in the case of an emergency delivery, it is necessary to determine the delivery order in advance so that the order in which the holders are taken into the transport unit and the order in which the holders are fed out are reversed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide a holder storage / conveying apparatus in which the order of storing or taking out holders from / to a conveying unit can be made random.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a holder storing and conveying apparatus according to the present invention is arranged such that an upper side of a holder is suspended and supported in a case provided with a holder entrance on the front surface. A storage and transport device for a holder comprising: a storage box to be stored; and a holder holding and transporting body that sandwiches an upper end portion of the holder above the storage box and moves forward and backward between the entrance and the back side of the case. The storage box is configured to be movable in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the holder holding and transporting body, and the holder holding and transporting body has a pair of holding claws for holding an upper end portion of the holder. In addition to the provision of the body, the upper part of the holder suspended and supported by the storage box is formed with a downwardly open passage recess through which the upper part is inserted in the front-rear direction.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a plurality of flat rectangular holders 2 such as file holders for storing medical records in hospitals and the like. The storage shelf unit 1 and the transport unit 3 that moves along the front surface of the cart 12 and the front surface of the storage shelf unit 1 in the loading / unloading unit 13 that is provided on one side of each storage shelf unit 1 and that is used together with the storage unit. FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a storage warehouse for automatic removal of a holder.

[0010] Between the two storage shelf units 1 and 1,
A stacker crane 10 that moves along a rail is arranged, and the transport unit 3 moves up and down along a column 11 of the stacker crane 10. Each storage shelf unit 1
Is provided on one side with a loading / unloading unit 13 for receiving a cart 12 containing the holder 2, and an emergency loading / unloading unit for urgently removing the holders 2, one by one, is provided above one side of at least one storage shelf unit 1. A part 14 is provided.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, only one set including one transport unit 3 for a pair of left and right storage shelf units 1 and 1 is shown, but a plurality of such sets are arranged in parallel. There may be. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the storage and retrieval section 13 is used in combination with the storage section and the retrieval section.
As a means for taking out of the storage shelf unit 1 and discharging it to the outside, a delivery port for discharging the holder 2 from the transport unit 3 is provided at another place of the storage shelf unit 1, and a transport means 15 such as a belt conveyor is provided at the delivery port. By providing them, it may be possible to constitute a retrieval section.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the holder 2 includes a pair of left and right cover covers 2a and 2b made of synthetic resin or paper.
Is folded in the middle to provide a bottom gusset 2c, and over the upper ends of the pair of left and right cover covers 2a and 2b, front and rear longitudinally extending overhanging reinforcing members 6 and 6 made of synthetic resin or the like are integrated with an adhesive or the like. It is stuck. Engagement holes 7 are formed in front and rear portions of the overhanging reinforcing members 6, 6 for engaging and disengaging holding claw members 39, 39 for transferring a holder in the transport unit 3 described in detail later. Further, one cover cover 2a is provided with a pocket portion 8 for storing a piece of paper 8a in which a bar code, which is a kind of ID code for specifying the holder 2, is entered.
A watermark hole 8b is formed to allow the inspection laser light from a bar code reader 29 described later to directly irradiate the surface of the bar code sheet (see FIG. 4).

Each of the storage shelf units 1 has a plurality of upper and lower shelves 4, and suspension support rails 5 are arranged on the lower surface side of each of the shelves 4 at regular intervals P 1. Between the two suspension support rails 5 and 5 to be suspended, a suspension point is formed so as to suspend and support the overhanging reinforcing portion 6 which is the upper end of each holder 2 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). ). The carriage 12 also has a plurality of upper and lower shelves 4, and suspension support rails 5 having the same configuration as above are juxtaposed on the lower surface side of each of the shelves 4 and the like. Insert 2 and suspend. In addition, a temporary storage unit (not shown) is provided in one storage shelf unit 1 for temporarily storing the holder 2 such as bar code reading failure, thickness detection failure, storage failure, and the like.

Next, the structure of the transport unit 3 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The front surface of the box-shaped case 17 is opened as one doorway, and the overhang reinforcing member 6 which is the upper end of one holder 2 is provided.
The holder-carrying carrier 18 which is sandwiched and engaged with the engaging hole 7 is inserted into the carriage 12 in the loading / unloading section 13 or a hanging position in the storage shelf unit 1 with the entrance and the case 17.
The case 17 is provided so as to move back and forth (the directions of arrows A and B). A storage box 19 in which 19b (two in the embodiment) are juxtaposed, and the two storage portions 19a and 19b are arranged so as to be orthogonal to the moving direction of the holder holding and transporting body 18 with respect to the entrance in plan view. The storage box moving means is configured to be selectively movable in the directions of arrows C and D in FIG. 5 (see FIGS. 5 and 8).

Further, at the doorway of the case 17,
When the holder 2 is extended from the storage portion 19a or 19b to the suspension point, the adjacent holder 2 at the suspension point
A pair of left and right insertion plates 2 for securing a storage space for the holder 2 to be fed out by displacing the upper and lower middle portions in the lateral direction.
There is provided a restore guide means 20 consisting of 1 and 21 (see FIGS. 5 to 7 and 15).

As can be understood from FIGS. 5 to 7, the restoration guide means 20 is arranged near the entrance and exit, and
9a and 19b are arranged at the back side, and the front surface is open. In the present embodiment, the two storage portions 19a and 19b are connected so as to move integrally, and are slidably mounted on the rails 22 and 22 on the bottom surface of the case 17, and
One-way rotating motor 23 fixed to the rear
Arrow C via the storage unit moving means consisting of
There is a space that can reciprocate in the directions D and D. The lateral movement sensors 25a and 25b for detecting this movement are arranged at the rear of the case 17.

A pair of right and left mounting guide rails 26, 26 on which the overhanging reinforcing members 6 of each holder 2 can be slidably mounted are provided at the upper ends of the storage portions 19a, 19b. A pair of left and right L-shaped brackets 2 are provided at the entrance of the case 17.
A pair of left and right front guide rails 28, 28 are fixed to 7, 27, respectively, and when the holder 2 moves in the directions of arrows C and D, the mounting guide rails 26, 26 in each of the storage portions 19a, 19b and the front guide. The phase with the rails 28 is matched so that the holder 2 can pass through.

As shown in FIG. 8, light for detection from a bar code reader 29, which is a holder identifying means provided on one side of the case 17, is perforated on the side of each of the storage portions 19a and 19b. After passing through the holes 30a and 30b,
a, 19b is used to read the barcode in the holder 2 in the inside. Further, the presence or absence of the holder 2 in the case 17 is detected by light transmitting sensors 31a and 31b provided on both right and left sides of the case 17.

In the present embodiment, when the holder 2 is taken into the transport unit 3 from the suspension point of the cart 12 or the storage shelf unit 1, the holder 2 is first placed in the storage portion 19a far from the bar code reader 29. ,
Next, it is stored in the storage part 19b on the near side. Thereby, the barcodes in all the holders 2 can be read.

9 to 12 show the holder holding carrier 18 shown in FIGS.
Are longitudinal rails 32 provided at the upper part in the case 17.
Slidably mounted on the guide rails 26, 2
6 and reciprocate over the front guide rails 28, 28. A chain 34 fixed to a locking portion 33 provided on one side of the main body block 18a of the holder holding and transporting body 18 is wound around chain sprockets 35, 35 and a drive chain sprocket 37 of a drive motor 36, and the drive motor 36 rotates forward. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, by the reverse rotation, it is possible to move from the forward position to the rear standby position. On the front side of the main body block 18a, the placement guide rails 26, 26 and the front guide rail 28,
A pair of left and right guide fixing claws 3 moving along the upper part between
8 and 38, and a pair of left and right holding claw members 39, 39 which rotate narrowly (open and close) under the same.

As shown in FIG. 9 to FIG.
9 and 39 are interlockingly rotated by gear pairs 40 and 40 that rotate integrally, and an engagement pin 41 connected to the base end side of one of the holding claws 39 is a rotation type as a rotation actuator. An arm 42a reciprocatingly rotating by a predetermined angle by an electromagnetic solenoid 42 is fitted into a long hole-shaped engaging portion 42b,
Power is always supplied to a rotary electromagnetic solenoid 42 moving from a supply wire (not shown) disposed on the lower surface of the upper plate of the case 17 in the front-rear longitudinal direction via a pair of power supply terminals 43 projecting from the upper surface of the main body block 18a. Supplied.

When the rotary electromagnetic solenoid 42 is in the non-excited state, the force of the built-in biasing spring causes the tip claws 39a, 39a of the pair of left and right clamping claws 39, 39 as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. Is closed. At this time, the rotation center 42 of the rotation arm 42a around the engagement pin 41
The included angle θ between c and the rotation center 39b of the one holding claw body 39 is selected to be substantially 90 degrees. Thereby, the front claw portions 39a, 39a are engaged with the engagement holes 7 so as to grip the holder 2.
When the main body block 18a is retracted in the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 9 while being closed inside, the tip claw portions 39 of the right and left sandwiching claw bodies 39, 39 by the sliding resistance force between the holder 2 and the suspension support rail body 5.
Even if an external force is applied to open the a and 39a, the engaging pin 41 cannot move in the width direction of the hole in the elongated hole-shaped engaging portion 42b because the included angle θ is almost right. Therefore,
The opening movement of the tip claws 39a, 39a can be reliably prevented.

When the rotary electromagnetic solenoid 42 is excited, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
As a rotates, the distal claw portions 39a, 39a of the pair of left and right holding claw bodies 39, 39 open. Reference numeral 44 denotes the holding claws 39, 39
Is a stopper for regulating the open position of the front claw portions 39a, 39a. Further, one end of the main body block 18a is pressed against a pressing block 59 at the tip of an L-shaped latch lever 46 which is supported by a horizontal shaft 45 so as to be vertically rotatable, and the restore guide means 20 is pressed. A pressing roller 47 for moving forward by a fixed distance L1 (see FIG. 6) and a guide roller 48 for releasing the pressing are provided, and are urged downward by an urging spring 49 (FIG. 10). reference).

On the lower surface of the main body block 18a of the holder holding and transporting body 18, the left and right storage sections 1 are provided.
Left and right distance H1 between holders 2 and 2 stored in 9a and 19b
The passage recess 18b is formed so as to open downward and penetrate the front and rear of the main body block 18a from the position of the holding claw body 39 to the side closer to the latch lever 46 at an interval equal to.

Accordingly, when the holder 2 is taken into the transport unit 3 from the cart 12 or the storage shelf unit 1,
As shown in FIG. 8 and as described above, the holder 2 is first taken into the storage portion 19a farther from the par code reader 29 (left side in FIG. 8), and then the storage box 19 is moved to the left side in FIG. Then, the holder is taken into the storage portion 19b (on the right side in FIG. 8). Then, when discharging (feeding) out of the transport unit 3, for example, FIG.
As shown in (a), the storage box 19 in which the two holders are stored in parallel is set in a state where the storage box 19 is moved to the right, and the holder 2 in the left storage section 19a is held by the holding claw 39 to move forward. When this is done, the upper end portion (overhanging reinforcing member 6) of the holder 2 of the storage portion 19b on the side close to the bar code reader 29 passes through the passage recess 18b on the lower surface of the main body block 18a of the holder holding and transporting member 18, It does not get in the way. This operation is a so-called first-in-first-out type of holder. Further, as shown in FIG. 14B, the storage box 19 in which the two holders are stored in parallel is set to a state where it is moved to the left, and the holder 2 in the right storage part 19b is held by the holding claw body 39. To move the holder 2 of the left storage portion 19a
Is passed through the free end of the holder holding and transporting body 18 on the side close to the holding claw body 39, so that the holder does not become an obstacle in this case as well. The operation in this case is a so-called first-in last-out operation.

As described above, if the holder 2 can adopt either the first-in first-out format or the first-in first-out format, for example, when there are a plurality of emergency retrieval sections 14,
After the two holders 2 to be unloaded from the predetermined storage unit are taken into the transport unit 3, the required holders 2 are released to the required one emergency storage unit 14, and then the other holders 2 are transferred to another emergency storage. It is possible to select an arbitrary take-out operation of discharging to the unit 14.

Next, the configuration of the restore guide means 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 7 and 15.
The restore guide means 20 includes four movable beams 51 that are moved via rollers 52 along U-shaped guide rails 50 (a total of four) in the longitudinal and longitudinal directions provided on the inner surface of the case 17. Four arms 54 that rotate left and right on each moving beam 51 via a pivot 53, and a pair of left and right insertion plates 21, which are fixed over the respective ends of the right and left arms 54 and the left and right arms 54, The lower left and right movable beams 51, 51 are reinforced by connecting brackets 55 so as to have rigidity. Each of the arms 54 is urged by a torsion spring loosely fitted at the pivot 53 in a direction in which the tip ends of the pair of left and right insertion plates 21 and 21 are closed, and
The stopper pieces 56, 56 fixed to the moving beams 51, 51 regulate the distance between the left and right ends of the left and right insertion plates 21, 21 so as to be maintained at a distance slightly larger than the thickness of the upper part of the holder 2. I have. Further, the movable beam 51 is urged by a return spring 57 having one end locked to the case 17 so as to move in the retreating direction (the direction of arrow B). Symbol 58
Is a damper for regulating the retreat position and reducing the impact force of the movement.

The main body block 18a of the nipping and conveying body 18
As a result, when the pinching claw body 39 advances from the rear end standby position in the direction of arrow A, the pressing roller 47 of the latch lever 46 comes into contact with the vertical rear end surface of the pressing block 59 provided at the rear end of one of the moving beams 51. Push forward. And Case 1
When the guide roller 48 of the latch lever 46 rides on the inner guide surface 60 or the chevron guide block 60 fixed to the guide rail 50, the latch lever 46 rotates upward about the horizontal shaft 45, and the pressing roller 47 and the pressing block. 59, the insertion plates 21 and 21 are separated by the distance L.
After moving forward by one, it is retracted by the force of the return spring 57 (see FIGS. 6 and 15). When the nipping conveyance body 18 is retracted, the pressing roller 47 of the latch lever 46 is pressed by the pressing block 5.
Since it is possible to ride on the front end surface having a high inclination toward the rear in FIG. 9, if it is located behind the pressing block 59, the holding claw body 39 can return to the above-described standby position.

Next, the thickness detecting means 61 for detecting the thickness of the holder 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 7 and 16. Thickness detecting means 61 in this embodiment
As shown in FIG. 8, a pair of left and right insertion plates 21 and 21 and the storage portions 19a and
19b, which are vertically long sensor bodies 63a, 63b integrally rotatably mounted on a pair of left and right vertical axes 62, 62,
When the holder 2 is taken in from the suspension point in the direction of the storage section, the rotation angle of one or both of the two sensor bodies 63a and 63b that rotate by contacting the left and right cover covers 2a and 2b of the holder 2 is determined. And a rotary encoder 64 for detection. The thickness of the thickest portion of the interval between the left and right cover covers 2a and 2b of the holder 2 is converted from the detection value of the rotary encoder 64 and detected.

In this embodiment, even when the rotation angles of the left and right sensor bodies 63a and 63b are different due to the different degrees of contact of the holder 2, the thickness of the holder 2 can be accurately determined from the sum of the rotation angles. This is to enable detection.
The adding means, as shown in FIG.
A vertical axis 62 to which b is attached is rotatably supported by a support bracket 65 fixed to the case 17, and a lower end of the vertical axis 62 is configured to rotate integrally with the sensor body 63b. A link plate 66 is attached. The link plate 66 is provided with a rack 67 and left and right longitudinal guide grooves 68. The longitudinal axis 62, which rotates integrally with the other sensor body 63a, is rotatably fitted to the upper and lower pair of support bracket plates 69, 69.
9 and 69 are attached to the connecting body 70.

The base of the connector 70 is mounted on a support bracket 73 via a pin shaft 72 with a return spring 71 so as to be rotatable left and right. The support bracket 73 is fixed to the case 17. The first gear 74 that rotates integrally with the longitudinal axis 62 rotates the third gear 76 via the second gear 75 that is rotatably supported by the upper support bracket plate 69. The rotary encoder 64 is attached to the third gear 76. A fourth gear 77 mounted so as to rotate integrally with the lower end of the longitudinal axis 62 is disposed so as to mesh with a rack 67 of the link plate 66. The lower end of the longitudinal axis 62 is inserted into the guide groove 68 of the link plate 66 and cannot be removed.

The supporting bracket plate 69 and the connecting member 70
The support bracket 73 is located in a through hole formed in the base of one of the insertion plates 21 so as not to interfere with each other when the insertion plate 21 rotates. With the above configuration, both left and right sensor bodies 63a, 63b are provided with the right and left thicknesses of the holder 2 taken in the direction of arrow B.
Rotates in the E and E 'directions shown in FIG. Right sensor body 6
Although the link plate 66 is rotated by the rotation of 3b, since the lower end of the vertical axis 62 of the left sensor body 63a is fitted in the guide groove 68, the fourth gear 77 on the vertical axis 62 and the link plate 66 are rotated. The engagement with the rack 67 does not come off.

Therefore, the fourth gear 77 is rotated by the rotation of the right sensor body 63b and / or the rotation of the left sensor body 63a itself. 2
Since the rotation angle is transmitted to the third gear 76 via the gear 75, the rotation angle can be read by the rotary encoder 64. Thus, since the rotary encoder 64 can detect the total amount of the rotation angle of the right sensor body 63b and the rotation angle of the left sensor body 63a, the contact of the holder 2 with the left and right sensor bodies 63a, 63b. Even if (contact) is uneven, the thickness can be accurately detected. As another embodiment, the fourth gear 77 can be used without the first to third gears 74 to 76 interposed therebetween.
May be detected by the rotary encoder 64, or the rotary encoders 64, 64 may be attached to the respective sensor bodies 63a, 63b, and the detected values of both may be added to reduce the thickness of the holder 2. You may make it detect correctly.

The thickness of the holder 2 may be detected only when the holder 2 is moved from the carriage 12 to the transport unit 3 in the storage unit 13. When the holder 2 is ejected from the storage sections 19a and 19b, the left and right sensor bodies 63a and 63b rotate in the directions F and F '. In this ejection mode (extending mode), the detection value is output. It is sufficient not to store the detected value data. When taking out the holder 2 from the storage shelf unit 1, it may be possible to check the thickness of the holder 2 and to make it easier to set the storage interval to the carriage 12.

Next, an operation procedure for taking (transferring) the holder 2 from the cart 12 in the storage unit 13 to the transport unit 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. As a preparation stage, the nipping transport body 18 in the transport unit 3 is stopped at the standby position (rearward from the storage unit) (see a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7), and the lateral movement motor 23 is operated to empty the storage unit. The storage box 19 composed of 19a and 19b is moved in the direction of arrow D, and set so that the storage section 19a farther from the bar code reader 29 is located between the sensor bodies 63a and 63b.

The transport unit 3 located in front of the carriage 12 in the storage unit 13 is moved in a direction parallel to the suspended holder 2, and is moved to the holder inventory confirmation sensor 106 provided on the case 17 of the transport unit 3. To detect the presence of the holder 2,
The transport unit 3 is stopped at a position where the left and right insertion plates 21 and 21 at the entrance and exit of the transport unit 3 sandwich the holder 2 on both left and right sides in front of the holder 2.

Next, in this state, when the nipping and conveying body 18 is advanced in the entrance / exit direction (the direction of arrow A), the pressing block 59 at the rear end of the movable beam 51 in the restore guide means 20 is pushed out by the pressing roller 47 of the latch lever 46. So
Insertion plates 2 and 21 are inserted on both left and right sides of the holder 2 at the suspension position. The holding conveyance body 18 advances in the direction of arrow A as it is, and when the holding claws 39, 39 in the opened state in the main body block 18a come to the position of the engagement hole 7 in the holder 2, the main body block 18a stops moving and When the electromagnetic solenoid 42 is de-energized, the two claws 39,
Close 39. On the other hand, the guide roller 4 of the latch lever 46
When the guide member 8 rides on the chevron guide block 60, the engagement between the pressing roller 47 and the pressing block 59 is released, and the restoring guide means 20 is retracted by the force of the return spring 57.

Next, the main body block 18a is retracted in the direction of arrow B. The left and right sensor bodies 6 are held by the held holder 2.
The thickness of the holder 2 is detected by rotating the holder 2 in contact with 3a and 63b. Further, during the retreat of the holder 2, a bar code is read and detected by the bar code reader 29 in order to identify the holder 2 in the storage portion 19a. When the overhanging reinforcing member 6 at the upper end of the holder 2 is completely mounted on the mounting guide rail 26 on the storage portion 19a, the holding claws 39, 39 are opened, and the main body block 18a is once retracted to the standby position. Next, the lateral movement motor 23 is operated, and the storage box 1 is moved.
9 is moved in the direction of arrow C, the right storage section 19b is set so as to face the entrance, and another holder 2 is taken into the right storage section 19b by the same operation as described above. This operation is performed in the same procedure when the holder 2 is taken into the transport unit 3 from the storage shelf unit 1.

Next, an operation procedure for storing (inserting) the holder 2 between the transport unit 3 and the suspension rails 5, 5 of the storage shelf unit 1 (or the trolley 12) will be described. With the main body block 18a retracted to the standby position, in the first-in first-out operation, the storage unit 19b is set so as to face the entrance, and in the first-in first-out operation, the left storage unit 19a is opposed to the entrance. set). Next, the main body block 18a is advanced in the direction of the arrow A, and after being temporarily stopped, the two holding claws 39, 39 are closed and engaged with the engagement holes 7, and the main body block 18a is further advanced. Thereby, the left and right sensor bodies 63a, 63
Push between 3b. At this time, since the engagement block 59 is pushed by the latch lever 26 almost at the same time, the restore guide means 20 moves forward so that the left and right insertion plates 21 and 21 secure the left and right intervals of a predetermined storage location in the storage shelf unit 1. become.

Therefore, when the holders 2 are already present on the suspension support rails 5 and 5 adjacent to the storage location, the holders 2 on both the left and right sides are laterally displaced and stored (stored). This makes it easy to insert the holder 2 to be inserted. When the main body block 18 stops at the most advanced position,
The holder 2 is a suspension rail unit 5 in the storage shelf unit 1.
5, the holding claws 39, 39 are opened, and the main body block 18a is retracted to the standby position.
Next, the lateral movement motor 23 is operated to move the storage box 19 in the direction of arrow C (or the direction of arrow D).
The holder 9a (or the storage portion 19b) is set so as to face the entrance, and another holder 2 is sent out into the other storage portion by the same operation as described above. This operation is executed in the same procedure when the holder 2 is discharged from the transport unit 3 to the carriage 12.

When three or more storage sections are arranged in parallel in the storage box 19, the number of the passage recesses 18b formed on the lower surface of the main body block 18a of the holder holding / conveying body 18 may be increased in accordance with the number of storage sections. . In addition, the aforementioned emergency retrieval section 14
The same operation as described above may be performed also in the case where the discharge is performed for each holder 2.

[0042]

As described above, the holder storage / transport device of the present invention is a storage box in which the upper side of the holder is suspended and stored in a case having a holder with an entrance on the front side. And a holder holding / transporting body that holds an upper end portion of the holder above the storage box and moves forward and backward between the entrance and the back side of the case. Is configured to be movable in a lateral direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the holder holding and transporting body, and the holder holding and transporting body is provided with a pair of holding claw bodies for holding an upper end portion of the holder. Since the upper part of the holder suspended and supported by the storage box has a downwardly open through-passage which is inserted in the front-rear direction, two or more holders are temporarily stored in the storage box in parallel. State, any part of it Since it is possible to release the holder earlier, for example, than an effect that removal of the holder in the case of an emergency unloading can quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an automatic removal and storage device for a holder.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a hanging portion of a holder.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a holder and a suspension rail.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the transport unit, taken along line VV of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5 showing the transport unit.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the transport unit taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a main body block in the nipping conveyance body.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front view of a main body block.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the holding claw body.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the order in which holders are released by the nipping transport body.

14A is a plan view showing an example of a first-in first-out operation of the holder, and FIG. 14B is a plan view showing an example of a first-in / first-out operation of the holder.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a restore guide unit.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of components of the thickness detecting means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage shelf unit 2 Holder 3 Transport unit 5, 5 Suspension rail body 6 Overhang reinforcement 7 Engagement hole 18 Nipping transport body 18a Body block 18b Passing recess 19 Storage boxes 19a, 19b Storage section 22 Rail 23 For lateral movement Drive motor 24 Link 26, 26 Mounting guide rail 29 Bar code reader 36 Drive motor 39, 39 Clamping claw

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A storage box for suspending and supporting an upper side of a holder and storing the holder in a side-by-side manner in a case having a holder entrance on the front side, and holding an upper end portion of the holder above the storage box. And a holder holding / transporting device that moves forward and backward between the entrance and the back side of the case. The holder holding and transporting body is provided with a pair of holding claw bodies for holding the upper end portion of the holder, while the upper portion of the holder suspended and supported by the storage box is in the front-rear direction. A storage recessed and conveyed device, characterized in that a passage recess inserted into the holder is formed to be open downward.