JP3337581B2 - Automatic storage management device for holder - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a file holder (hereinafter, referred to as a file holder) capable of storing a plurality of sheets, cards, and documents such as medical records.
The present invention relates to an automatic storage management device for a holder for automatically taking out or storing a holder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present applicant has previously disclosed Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-5296.
In the publication No. 1, when a large number of sheets or cards such as medical charts in hospitals are classified and stored, these cards are folded into a foldable holder (having a gusset at a lower end and extending over an upper end of a pair of right and left cover covers). And the holder is temporarily stored in a suspension type with a stiffening member fixed thereto, and the holder is stored in a storage unit by a transport unit that moves along the front surface of a storage unit in which a number of suspension rails are provided in parallel. Proposed a device that automatically stores or retrieves a predetermined storage location in.

According to the above publication, a contact type for detecting a holder having a thickness greater than a predetermined reference value inserted from an insertion opening on the side opposite to the front of the storage shelf unit of the holder is provided in the transport unit. It is proposed that a holder having a thickness equal to or greater than the predetermined reference value is returned to the original insertion side, and a holder having a thickness equal to or less than the predetermined reference value is sent out toward the storage shelf unit.

In this prior art, an insertion portion for inserting a holder by an operator is located on the side facing the storage shelf unit with the transport unit interposed therebetween, and the operator inserts the holder into the insertion opening of the transport unit one by one. If the transfer unit takes in one holder, it has to wait for a time to return to the insertion section after sending it out to the empty hanging point of the storage shelf unit, There was a problem that labor costs would be enormous.

Accordingly, the present applicant has previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 5-31.
No. 9372, a large number of holders to be stored in the cart are suspended in advance, and the cart is stored in the lower part of the storage shelf unit such that the front of the storage shelf unit and the front of the cart face the same direction. In the case of the transport unit movable along the front surfaces of the cart and the storage shelf unit, a pair of right and left clamping claws which open and close and rotate is provided so as to clamp the upper portion of the holder. Is provided so as to move back and forth with respect to the front entrance and the suspension point of the transport unit, and a restore guide comprising a pair of right and left insertion plates which are rotationally biased so as to narrow the interval between the front ends is provided at the entrance. Means, a plurality of storage boxes for housing holders are provided in the case so as to be selectively movable in the lateral direction with respect to the entrance, and are retracted to the nipping and conveying means in a retracted position. A pressing roller provided to the rest of the guide abuts against a rear surface of a pressing block provided in the restoring guide means, and the restoring guide means is advanced toward a hanging portion of the holder by a forward movement of the nipping and conveying means; and It has been proposed that the pair of left and right insertion plates be pushed and widened by a holder to be extended.

In the transfer unit, a contact type thickness detecting means for detecting the width (thickness) of the holder and a ID code reading means for the holder are provided while the holder is being taken in (pulled in). It has been proposed to store in the storage section according to the thickness range of the holder in the shelf unit. According to this device, the worker only needs to suspend the holder on the trolley and enter the trolley, and the subsequent entry of the holder can be automated (unmanned), greatly reducing the labor of the operator. There are advantages.

[0007]

By the way, even in the above-mentioned construction, when a holder having a thickness exceeding a certain limit is stored, it can be held in the transfer unit, or can be held at a hanging point of a storage shelf with an adjacent holder. In other words, there is a problem that the automatic storage and retrieval work is hindered. In this case, even if the holder having a thickness equal to or more than the reference value is returned to the bogie as in the prior art, after the holder is pulled out from the suspension point by a distance corresponding to the depth dimension of the holder, the holder is suspended adjacently. There is also a problem that it cannot be returned by supporting the holder.

On the other hand, the reason why the restore guide means in the above configuration needs to move forward is that a plurality of holders are already suspended at the suspending points on the storage shelves or the like, with the holder taken in the storage box of the transport unit. This is a case where it is extended (sent out) and suspended in a gap. In other words, in this case, immediately before the holder is extended, the leading ends of the pair of left and right insertion plates of the restore guide means are moved between the holders adjacent to the left and right of the place to be suspended (gap). ), And then the holder is extended by the nipping and conveying means.

Therefore, in the present invention, when a holder having a thickness exceeding a certain limit is returned to the storage section, the holder can be smoothly returned using the restore guide means.
An object of the present invention is to provide a holder automatic storage management device which solves the above-mentioned problem and makes it possible to securely store or remove a holder.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an automatic storage management system for a holder according to the present invention is provided along a front surface of a hanging portion of a holder suspended in parallel at an appropriate interval in a storage section or the like. A transfer unit for holding the upper portion of the holder at an upper part in the case of the transfer unit which is movable to move back and forth with respect to an entrance provided in the case and a hanging point of an external holder; The restoration guide means, which is composed of a pair of left and right insertion plates that are rotationally urged so as to reduce the distance between the leading ends, can be selectively moved forward in accordance with the forward movement from the retreat standby position of the nipping and conveying means. In the automatic storage management device for a holder, which is provided with a thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of the holder which retreats into the case, a detecting means for detecting a retreat distance of the nipping and conveying means in the case direction When the thickness detecting means determines that the thickness is equal to or more than the specified thickness, the control unit controls the nipping / conveying means to move forward if the retreat distance is equal to or less than the length of the holder in the hanging direction. If the retreat distance exceeds the length of the holder in the hanging direction, the holder is retracted to the retreat standby position with the nipping of the holder being temporarily released, and then the restore guide is advanced.
Then, a control means is provided for controlling the holder to be advanced by the nipping and conveying means .

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a plurality of storage shelf units for storing flat rectangular holders 2 such as file holders for storing medical records in hospitals and the like. 1 and a transfer unit 3 that moves along the front of the truck 12 and the front of the storage shelf unit 1 in the storage unit 13 provided on one side of each storage shelf unit 1 and used together with the storage unit. It is a partially broken perspective view of an extraction storage warehouse. The two storage shelf units 1, 1
In between, a stacker crane 1 that moves along the rails
The transport unit 3 moves up and down along the column 11 of the stacker crane 10. On the front side of each storage shelf unit 1, a cart 12 containing the holder 2 is provided.
(See FIG. 2), and at the front of at least one storage shelf unit 1 is provided an emergency exit section 14 for urgently removing the holders 2 one by one.

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 embodiment, the storage unit 13 is used together with the storage unit. However, as a means for taking out the holder 2 from the storage shelf unit 1 and discharging the holder 2 to the outside, the transfer unit 3 is provided at another location of the storage shelf unit 1. A delivery port for discharging the holder 2 may be provided, and a delivery unit such as a belt conveyor may be provided at the delivery port to constitute a delivery section.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, 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 provided to allow the inspection laser light from a barcode reader 29 to be described later to directly irradiate the surface of the barcode sheet (see FIG. 7).

Each storage shelf unit 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, 5, a suspension portion configured to suspend and support the overhanging reinforcing portion 6, which is the upper end of each holder 2 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). ). 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 16 for temporarily storing the holder 2 such as a bar code reading failure, a thickness detection failure, a storage failure, and the like is provided in one storage shelf unit 1.

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 holding / conveying means 18 as a holder gripping device which holds and engages with the engaging hole 7 is moved forward and backward (in the directions of arrows A and B) with respect to the inside of the carriage 12 in the loading / unloading section 13 or the hanging point in the storage shelf unit 1 ) So as to move between the entrance and the inside of the case 17.
In the inside, a plurality of storage boxes 19a, 19b (in the embodiment, 2) for suspending and supporting the overhanging reinforcements 6 of the holder 2 one by one.
And the two storage boxes 19a and 19b can be selectively moved by the storage box moving means so as to be orthogonal to the moving direction of the holding and conveying means 18 with respect to the entrance in plan view. (See FIGS. 8 and 11).

Further, at the doorway of the case 17,
When the holder 2 is fed (sent out) from the storage box 19a or 19b to the suspension point, the upper and lower middle portions of the adjacent holders 2 at the suspension point are laterally displaced to secure a storage gap for the holder 2 to be extended. Guide means 20 comprising a pair of left and right insertion plates 21 and 21
(See FIGS. 8, 9 and 16).

As can be understood from FIGS. 8 to 10, the restore guide means 20 is disposed near the entrance, the storage boxes 19a and 19b are disposed at the back side, and the front surface is open. In the present embodiment, two storage boxes 19a, 19b
Are slidably mounted on rails 22, 22 on the bottom surface of the case 17, and the case 1
7, a unidirectionally rotating lateral movement motor 2 fixed to the rear part
There is a space that can reciprocate in the directions of arrows C and D via a storage box moving means including the link 3 and the link 24. In addition,
Lateral movement sensors 25a, 25b for detecting this movement
Are arranged at the rear of the case 17.

At the upper end of each of the storage boxes 19a, 19b, a pair of left and right mounting guide rails 26, 26 on which the overhanging reinforcement 6 in each holder 2 can be slidably mounted, are provided. 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. When the holder 2 moves in the directions of arrows C and D, the mounting guide rails 26, 26 in each of the storage boxes 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. 11, light for detection from a bar code reader 29, which is a holder identifying means provided on one side of the case 17, is provided on the side of each of the storage boxes 19a and 19b. Each storage box 1 passes through the holes 30a and 30b.
It is used to read a bar code (ID code, identification code) in the holder 2 in 9a, 19b. further,
Light transmitting sensors 31a provided on both left and right sides of the case 17,
At 31b, the presence or absence of the holder 2 in the case 17 is detected.

In this embodiment, when the holder 2 is taken into the transport unit 2 from the suspension point on the cart 12 or the storage shelf unit 1, the holder 2 is first placed in the storage box 19a farther from the bar code reader 29. ,
Next, it is stored in the storage box 19b on the near side. Thereby, the barcodes in all the holders 2 can be read. When discharging (feeding) out of the transport unit 2, the process starts from the holder 2 of the storage box 19b near the bar code reader 29. In other words, the format is first-in, first-out. The number of storage boxes may be three or more and about ten.

The holding / conveying means 18 as a holder gripping device shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 is slidably mounted on front and rear longitudinal rails 32 provided at the upper part in the case 17, and is provided with the mounting guide rails 26, 26 and the front guide rails 28, 2
8 reciprocate over the upper part. A chain 34 fixed to a locking portion 33 provided on one side of the main body block 18a of the nipping and conveying means 18 is wound around chain sprockets 35, 35 and a drive chain sprocket 37 of a drive motor 36, and the rotation of the drive motor 36 in forward rotation and By reverse rotation, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, it is possible to move from the forward position to the retreat standby position. On the front side of the main body block 18a, a pair of left and right guide fixing claws 38, 38 that move along the above-described placement guide rails 26, 26 and between the front guide rails 28, 28, and narrowly expand and rotate therebelow ( A pair of left and right holding claws 39, 39 that open and close (rotate).

As shown in FIG. 12 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 a non-excited state, the force of a built-in biasing spring causes the tip claw portions 39a, 39a of the pair of left and right holding claw bodies 39, 39 as shown by solid lines in FIG.
39a is closed. At this time, the angle θ between the rotation center 42c of the rotation arm 42a and the rotation center 39b of the one holding claw body 39 about the engagement pin 41 is selected to be substantially 90 degrees. . Thereby, when the main body block 18a is retracted in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 12 while the front claw portions 39a, 39a are closed in the engagement holes 7 so as to grip the holder 2, the holder 2 and the suspension rail body 5 The tip claw portions 39a, 39 of the left and right sandwiching claw bodies 39, 39 by the sliding resistance force.
Even if an external force is applied to open the engaging pin 41, the engaging pin 41 is substantially perpendicular to the engaging pin 41.
In the width direction of the hole, the opening movement of the tip claw portions 39a, 39a can be reliably prevented.

When the rotary electromagnetic solenoid 42 is excited, the rotary arm 42a is rotated to open the tip claw portions 39a, 39a of the pair of left and right holding claw bodies 39, 39. Code 44
Is a stopper for restricting the opening position of the tip claw portions 39a, 39a of the holding claw members 39, 39. 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 certain distance L1 (see FIG. 9) and a guide roller 48 for releasing the pressing are provided, and are urged downward by an urging spring 49 (FIG. 13). reference).

Next, the restoration guide means 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.
0 will be described. Restore guide means 20
Rollers 5 are provided along the U-shaped guide rails 50 in the front-rear longitudinal direction and the left-right pair (a total of four) provided on the inner surface of the case 17.
And four moving beams 51 moving through the
Four arms 54 that rotate left and right through a pivot 53
A pair of right and left arms 54 and left and right upper and lower arms 54, each of which includes a pair of left and right insertion plates 2
The lower left and right moving beams 51, 51 are reinforced by a connecting bracket 55 so as to have rigidity. Each arm 54 is urged by a torsion spring loosely fitted to the pivot 53 in the direction in which the tip sides of the pair of left and right insertion plates 21, 21 are closed, and a stopper piece 56 fixed to the movable beams 51, 51. , 56 so that the left and right gaps between the tips of the left and right insertion plates 21 and 21 are held at intervals slightly larger than the thickness of the upper part of the holder 2. A return spring 5 having one end locked to the case 17 is provided.
At 7, the movable beam 51 is urged to move in the retreating direction (the direction of arrow B). Reference numeral 58 denotes a damper for regulating the retreat position and reducing the impact force of the movement.

The main body block 18 of the holding and conveying means 18
When the holding claw body 39 moves forward in the direction of arrow A from the retreat standby position, 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. Then, the guide roller 48 of the latch lever 46 is attached to the inner surface of the case 17 or a chevron guide block 60 fixed to the guide rail 50.
, The latch lever 46 rotates upward about the horizontal shaft 45, and the engagement between the pressing roller 47 and the pressing block 59 is released, so that the insertion plates 21 and 21 move forward by the distance L1. , And retracts by the force of the return spring 57 (see FIGS. 9 and 16). When the holding / conveying means 18 is retracted, the pressing roller 47 of the latch lever 46 can ride on the high inclined front end face of the pressing block 59 rearward. The body 39 can return to the retreat standby position described above.

Next, the thickness detecting means 61 for detecting the thickness of the holder 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8, 10, 17 and 18. As shown in FIG. 10, the thickness detecting means 61 in this embodiment is arranged in a space between the pair of left and right insertion plates 21 and 21 and the storage boxes 19a and 19b in the restore guide means 20. A vertically long sensor body 63a, 63b integrally rotatably mounted on a pair of left and right longitudinal axes 62, 62, and the holder 2 when the holder 2 is taken in from the hanging point by the transport holding means 18 in the direction of the storage box. Cover covers 2a, 2
b, the two sensor bodies 63a, 6 which rotate by contacting
3b, and a rotary encoder 64 for detecting one or both of the rotation angles. From the detection value of the rotary encoder 64, the left and right cover covers 2 of the holder 2
The thickness of the thickest part of the interval between a and 2b is converted and detected.

In the present embodiment, even if the rotation angles of the left and right sensor bodies 63a and 63b are different due to the degree 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 inserted into a pair of upper and lower support bracket plates 69, 69.
9 and 69 are attached to the connecting body 70.

The base of the connecting member 70 is attached to a support bracket 73 via a pin shaft 72 with a return spring 71 so as to be able to turn 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 directions of E and E 'shown in FIGS. Although the link plate 66 is rotated by the rotation of the right sensor body 63b,
The lower end of the vertical axis 62 in the left sensor body 63a is
, The fourth gear 7 on its longitudinal axis 62
The engagement between the rack 7 and the rack 67 at the link plate 66 does not come off.

Accordingly, 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. In this manner, 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 63 a, 63 b, and the detected values of both may be added to reduce the thickness of the holder 2. You may make it detect correctly.

The detection of the thickness of the holder 2 may be performed only when the holder 2 is transferred (taken) from the carriage 12 to the transport unit 3 in the storage unit 13. When the holder 2 is ejected from the storage boxes 19a and 19b, the left and right sensor bodies 63a and 63b also rotate in the F and F 'directions. In this ejection mode (extending mode), the detection value is output. It is sufficient not to store the detected value data.

Next, referring to FIG. 15 and FIGS. 19 to 21, a description will be given of the selection means for selecting the state in which the restoration guide means 20 is to be advanced or not to be advanced. As shown in FIGS. 15, 19 and 20, on one side of the case 17 (on the side close to the arrangement of the holding and conveying means 18), a rotary electromagnetic solenoid 86 as a selective drive actuator is provided near the pressing block 59. A selection block 85 having a trapezoidal shape in a side view whose posture is changed by the operation of is arranged. In this posture selection, the selection block 85 becomes substantially upright, and the restoration guide advance prevention posture located in the passage of the guide roller 48 and the passage of the guide roller 48 when the selection block 85 is inclined. It is a two-way selection of the restoration guide advance allowable posture.

The selection means fixes a pair of brackets 88 and 88 to a support case 87 fixed to the outer surface of the case 17 so as to surround the window hole 92 formed in the case 17.
The rotary electromagnetic solenoid 86 is fixed to the pair of brackets 88, 88 such that the rotary shaft 86 a is parallel to the passage of the guide roller 48. A base member 85a of the selection block 85 rotatably supported by the pair of blocks 88, 88 via a rotation support shaft 89.
Is connected via a pin 91 to an arm 90 that rotates integrally with a rotation shaft 86 a of the rotation type electromagnetic solenoid 86.

When the rotary electromagnetic solenoid 86 is excited by the structure of this selecting means, the arm 9 in FIG.
0 rotates clockwise, as shown by the solid line in FIG.
The selection block 85 stands upright. Then, when the nipping / conveying means 18 at the retreat standby position moves forward, the pressing roller 47 attached to the latch lever 46 which can rotate vertically around the horizontal axis 45 is attached to the main body block 18a.
Before contacting the rear surface of the guide block 48, the guide roller 48 also attached to the latch lever 46 rides on the upper surface of the upright selection block 85, and the pressing roller 47 retreats from the rear surface of the pressing block 59, and passes through the pressing block. The restoration guide means 20 is prevented from moving forward.

On the other hand, when the rotary electromagnetic solenoid 86 is de-energized, the arm 9 is driven by the built-in spring force.
20 rotates counterclockwise and the selection block 85 is tilted as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 20, and the selection block 85 is displaced from the passage of the guide roller 48, so that the latch lever 46 becomes horizontal, The pressing roller 47 becomes accessible to the rear surface of the pressing block 59, and allows the restore guide means 20 to advance as the nipping and conveying means 18 advances.

Next, the automatic storage management control device 10 of the present invention
0 will be described. FIG. 25 is a functional block diagram of the automatic storage management control device 100. Reference numeral 101 denotes a ground station central processing unit (host computer) which communicates with a transport controller 102 mounted on the stacker crane 10 by optical communication or the like. Various data, command signals, and the like are transferred to each other. Ground Station Central Processing Unit 101
Is connected to a personal computer 103 such as a hospital reception, and is connected to an input / output device such as a keyboard 104 and a display device (CRT), and a data storage device 105 such as a hard disk driver as storage means. In addition, the trolley 12
Command from the operation panel 15, and transmits the signal to the transport controller 102 via the ground station central processing unit 101 which is a higher-level device.

The transport controller 102 controls the entry / exit management described below, and stores various data such as a read-only memory (ROM) storing a control program and data on the limit thickness of the holder 2. A holder provided on a top surface such as the barcode reader 29, the rotary encoder 64 of the thickness detecting means 61, and the entrance and exit of the case 17 via an input interface (not shown). The stock confirmation sensor 106, the hanging position detecting sensor 107, the timer 108 as a distance detecting means for detecting the retreat distance of the nipping and conveying means 18 in terms of time, and detecting the forward stop position of the nipping and conveying means 18 Forward stop sensor 109, a retreat standby position sensor 11 for detecting a retreat standby position of the nipping and conveying means 18 , And the signal of the retrieval completion position sensor 111 for detecting the position retracted the holding and conveying means 18 to take in the holder 2 in the storage box 19a or the 19b (detection signal) is inputted. Note that these sensors 1
The arrangement positions of 09, 110 and 111 are shown in FIG. Although not shown, input signals are also obtained from a sensor for detecting the horizontal movement position of the stacker crane 10, a height position sensor for moving the transport unit 3 up and down, and the like.

The holder stock confirmation sensor 106, which is a light reflection type sensor, determines the intensity of the reflected light when the inclined front end face of the overhanging reinforcing member 6 of the holder 2 suspended on the suspension support rail 5 is irradiated with light. , The presence or absence of the holder 2 is detected. In addition, a light reflector 5b such as an aluminum reflective foil is adhered to the inner surface of the slit provided in the front end support portion 5a of the suspension support rail 5, and the light reflector 5b is also provided above the entrance of the case 17 toward the light reflector 5b. The holder 2 is provided by a light reflection type suspension position detection sensor 107.
Is to detect the position to be suspended.

The output interface of the transport unit controller 102 includes a drive circuit 112 for the traveling drive motor of the stacker crane 10, a lifting / lowering motor drive circuit 113 for the transport unit 3, and a 180 ° horizontal rotation of the entrance and exit of the transport unit 3. Turn motor drive circuit 114, drive circuit 11 for lateral movement motor 23 for moving storage boxes 19a, 19ba in transport unit 3 in the horizontal direction.
5, a drive circuit 116 of the drive motor 36 for moving the holding and conveying means 18 back and forth, a driving circuit 117 of the rotary electromagnetic solenoid 42 for opening and closing the holding claw body 39, and moving the restore guide means 21 forward. Is connected to the drive circuit 118 of the rotary electromagnetic solenoid 86 as a selection actuator in the selection means for selecting whether to block or allow the output of the motor, and outputs a predetermined command signal.

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 / conveying means 18 of the conveying unit 3 is stopped at the retreat standby position (backward from the storage box) (FIG. 9).
), The lateral movement motor 23 is operated to move the empty storage boxes 19a, 19b in the direction of arrow D,
The storage box 19a farther from the barcode reader 29 is set so as to be 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, the nipping / conveying means 18 is advanced in the entrance / exit direction (the direction of arrow A). At this time, the selection block 85 of the selection means is held in an upright state. Then, the pressing block 59 at the rear end of the moving beam 51 in the restore guide means 20 is
, The insertion plates 2 and 21 do not advance.

The holding / conveying means 18 advances in the direction of arrow A as it is, and when the holding claw members 39, 39 in the opened state in the main body block 18a reach the locations of the engaging holes 7 in the holder 2, the main body block 18a advances. At the same time, the electromagnetic solenoid 42 is de-energized, and the two claw members 39, 39 are stopped.
Close. Next, the main body block 18a is retracted in the direction of arrow B. Since the left and right intervals of the tips of the left and right insertion plates 21 and 21 are regulated so as to be maintained at intervals slightly larger than the thickness of the upper side of the holder 2, the distance between the upper sides of the left and right insertion plates 21 and 21 is limited. When the holder 2 is introduced, it can be pulled in smoothly. Then, the thickness of the holder 2 is detected by rotating the holder 2 in contact with the left and right sensor bodies 63a and 63b (see FIG. 22). Further, during the retreat of the holder 2, a bar code is read and detected by a bar code reader 29 to specify the holder 2 in the storage box 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 box 19a, the holding claws 39, 39 are opened, and the main body block 18a is set in a retreat standby state to take in the second holder 2. Retreat to the position once.

Next, the lateral movement motor 23 is operated,
The storage boxes 19a and 19b are moved in the direction of arrow C, the storage box 19b is set so as to face the entrance, and another holder 2 is taken into the other storage box 19b by the same operation as described above. In this case, as described above, the main block 18a is retracted to the retreat standby position in order to take the second holder 2 into the other storage box 19b. It is necessary to hold the selection block 85 upright so that the pressing block 59 at the rear end is pushed out by the pressing roller 47 of the latch lever 46 and the insertion plates 21 and 21 do not jump out of the entrance. These operations are performed in the same procedure when the holder 2 is taken into the transport unit 3 from the storage shelf unit 1.

Next, referring to the flow charts of FIGS. 26 and 27, when the holder 2 is taken into the transport unit 3 from the carriage 12 in the storage unit 13 by the transport unit controller 102 as the control means, the thickness detection is performed. Means 6
An operation to be performed when the detected value of the thickness of the holder 2 by No. 1 is equal to or more than a predetermined reference value will be described. FIG. 26 is a main flowchart. Following the start, the nipping and conveying means 18 having opened and rotated the pair of nipping claws 39 is advanced to the detection position of the advance stop sensor 109 (step S261).

Next, the count of the timer 108 is set to 0.
(Step S262). Then, the clamping claw body 39 is closed, and its distal claw portion is fitted into the engagement hole 7 of the holder 2 to start the retraction of the clamping and conveying means 18 (step S263). The counting of the timer 108 is started simultaneously with the start of the retreat (step S264). Next, a thickness over process is performed depending on whether the detected thickness value is equal to or larger than a specified value (maximum limit value) (step S265).

The detection of the thickness of the holder 2 by the thickness detecting means 61 is executed while the holder 2 is being taken (pulled) into the case 19a or 19b by the sandwiching / conveying means 18, and is stored in the holder 2. It is not specified at which position in the length direction of the holder 2 (the length direction of the suspension support rail 5) the maximum thickness is detected depending on the position of the article.

When the holder 2 whose thickness in the width direction is equal to or greater than the specified value is drawn into the transport unit 3, the holder 2 comes into contact with or collides with various parts such as the inner surface of the case 19a or 19b. Problems such as being unable to take out,
When hanging on the suspension support rail 5 of the storage shelf 2, there is a problem such as collision with the adjacent holder 2, and thus the holder 2 having such a large thickness should not be stored. When the holder 2 is suspended, if the limit of its thickness is verified, it takes time to enter the warehouse. Therefore, regardless of the operator, a holder that can be stored can be automatically determined by using the thickness detecting means provided in the transport unit 3, and the holder having a large thickness is surely returned to the carriage 12, so that the holder 2 can be stored. It is possible to manage the automatic storage work properly.

Therefore, when taking in (pulling) the holder 2 from the suspension support rail 5 of the carriage 12 into the transport unit 3, even if it is determined that the thickness of the holder 2 on the rear side in the drawing direction is larger than the specified value. , So that it can be surely returned to the carriage 12. . FIG. 27 shows a subroutine flowchart of the thickness over process considered in view of the above demand.

Subsequent to the start, in a step S271, it is determined whether or not the thickness is over. Step S271
Step S274 is a process when the thickness of the holder is less than the specified value even when the thickness of the holder is detected at regular intervals of the retreat distance of the holder 2 converted in time, and it is determined that the thickness is smaller than the specified value. (Step S271,
no), the time TT of the timer is set to an appropriate number (1 second in the embodiment)
Is incremented only (step S272), and when the nipping and conveying means 18 has not reached the pull-in completion position (step S273, no), the process of executing the thickness detection again is repeated. Then, if the nipping / conveying means 18 reaches the pull-in completion position while the thickness remains below the specified value (step S).
273, yes), the retraction of the nipping and conveying means 18 may be stopped.

When it is determined in step S271 that the thickness is excessive, the retreat distance of the holding and conveying means 18 is less than the length L2 of the holder 2 (the length along the longitudinal direction of the suspension rail 5). Is determined by the timer T
It is determined that T <TKT (step S275). Here, the time TKT is a value corresponding to the length L2. T
When T <TKT (step S275, yes), the backward movement of the nipping and conveying means 18 is temporarily stopped (step S27).
7) Then, the holding and conveying means 18 is advanced as it is,
The retracted holder 2 is returned to the back side of the suspension rail 5 again (step S278). In other words, when the rear end of the holder 2 is located deeper than the front edge of the adjacently suspended holder 2 in the suspension support rail 5, the side surface of the adjacently suspended holder 2 The holder 2 being pulled in as it is,
There is no problem even if it is returned to the back of

On the other hand, when TT ≧ TKT (step S275, no), that is, the rear end of the holder 2 being retracted is closer to the front of the suspension rail 5 than the front edge of the adjacently suspended holder 2. When the holder 2 having a large thickness (width dimension) is returned to the depth side of the five suspension support rails as it is, the collision with the front edge of the adjacent suspended holder 2 occurs. And cannot return. Therefore, in step S279, the backward movement of the nipping and conveying means 18 is temporarily stopped, and the tip sides of the pair of left and right nipping claws 39, 39 are opened to prevent the holder 2 from being drawn into the conveying unit 3 any more. Then, the nipping / conveying means 18 is retracted to the retreat standby position (step S280). In this state, select
The tutor 86 is de-energized and the selection block 85
To disengage it from the passage of the guide roller 48.
(Step S281), and then the nipping and conveying means 18 is moved forward.
(Step S282), the pressing roller 47
The back of the pressing block 59 is pressed, and the restore guide means 2 is pressed.
The pair of left and right insertion plates 20 and 20 in the restoration guide means 21 are moved forward by the distance L1 in the gap where the adjacent holders are suspended by the suspension support rails 5 and 5. Since the leading ends of the insertion plates 20, 20 are inserted in a state in which the left-right distance is narrow, and then the holder 2 is pushed out by the holding and conveying means 18, it is possible to return to the original hanging position without colliding with the adjacent holder 2. You can.

When the restore guide means 20 advances by the distance L1 together with the movable beam 51, the guide roller 48 of the latch lever 46 rides on the chevron guide block 60 as shown in FIG. Then, the engagement between the pressing roller 47 and the pressing block 59 is released, and the restoration guide means 20 is retracted in the direction of arrow B in FIG.

When the holding and conveying means 18 is moved forward,
It goes without saying that the holder 3 may be gripped by the holding claws 39. Next, an operation procedure for storing (inserting) the holder 2 between the transport unit 3 and the suspension support rails 5, 5 of the storage shelf unit 1 will be described. With the main body block 18a retracted to the retreat standby position, the storage box 19b is set so as to face the entrance, and then,
The main body block 18a is advanced in the direction of arrow A, and after stopping once, both the claw members 39, 39 are closed and engaged with the engagement holes 7, and the main body block 18a is further advanced. Thereby, both right and left sensor bodies 63a, 63b are provided at the end of the holder 2.
Push the gap (see FIG. 23).

At this time, if the selection block 85 of the selection means is held in an inclined state, the guide roller 48 does not ride on the selection block 85, so that the latch lever 46 advances in a horizontal state and the pressing roller 47 Then, the rear surface of the pressing block 59 is pushed, and the restore guide means 20 is moved forward by the distance L1 together with the movable beam 51, and the pressing block 59 is pushed by the latch lever 26 almost simultaneously.
The restore guide means 20 moves forward and the left and right insertion plates 2
1 and 21 move forward in the direction of the suspension point in the storage shelf unit 1, and a predetermined left-right space between the storage locations of the holder 2 is secured.

Therefore, when the holders 2 are already present on the suspension support rails 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 restore guide means 20 advances by the distance L1 together with the moving beam 51, the guide roller 48 of the latch lever 46 rides on the chevron guide block 60 as shown in FIG. Then, the engagement between the pressing roller 47 and the pressing block 59 is released, and the restoration guide means 20 is retracted in the direction of arrow B in FIG.

When the main body block 18 stops at the most advanced position, the holder 2 is suspended from the suspension rails 5 and 5 of the storage shelf unit 1, so that the holding claws 39 and 39 are opened. Then, the main body block 18a is retracted to the retreat standby position. Next, the lateral movement motor 23 is operated to move the storage boxes 19a and 19b in the direction of arrow C,
The storage box 19a is set so as to face the entrance, and another holder 2 is placed in the other storage box 19a by the same operation as described above.
Is sent out. This operation is performed in the same procedure when the holder 2 is discharged (exited) from the transport unit 3 to the carriage 12.

In the above embodiment, the selection block 85 of the selection means is configured to change its posture between the upright state and the inclined state. However, the selection block 85 is made upright by using an actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid that can move back and forth. In this state, the posture may be selectively changed between a forward position located within the passage of the guide roller 48 and a retreat standby position located outside the passage of the guide roller 48.

The detecting means for detecting the forward and backward moving distance of the nipping and conveying means 18 may be a means for converting from the number of rotations of the drive motor 36 or the like, or may be arranged along the moving direction of the nipping and conveying means 18. A linear encoder may be used.

[0061]

As described above, the automatic storage and management apparatus for a holder according to the present invention can be freely moved along the front surface of a hanging portion of a holder which is suspended in parallel at an appropriate interval in a storage section or the like. In the upper part of the case of the transfer unit, a nipping and conveying means for nipping the upper part of the holder is provided so as to move back and forth with respect to the doorway provided in the case and the hanging point of the external holder, and the doorway, Restoring guide means comprising a pair of left and right insertion plates which are rotationally urged so that the interval between the leading ends is reduced, while being selectively movable forward in accordance with the forward movement from the retreat standby position of the nipping and conveying means, In a holder automatic storage management device provided with a thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of a holder that retreats into a case, a detecting means for detecting a retreat distance of the nipping and conveying means in the case direction is provided, When it is determined that the retraction distance is equal to or more than the specified thickness by the only detection means, the control means controls the nipping and conveying means to move forward as it is if the retreat distance is equal to or less than the length of the holder in the hanging direction. Therefore, it is possible to return the holder to the original hanging position while the side surface of the holder having a thickness equal to or more than the specified thickness is in sliding contact with the side surface of the adjacent holder suspended.

On the other hand, when the retreat distance exceeds the length of the holder in the direction of suspension, the holder is retracted to the retreat standby position with the nipping of the holder being temporarily released, and then the restore guide means is advanced. And then nipping and conveying means
, So that the pair of left and right insertion plates of the restoration guide means are once retracted in a state in which the distance between the tips of the left and right insertion plates is narrower or longer and enters the gap between the side surfaces of the adjacent holder at the suspending point. The holder is returned, and the end of the holder that moves back and the end of the adjacent holder can be smoothly returned without collision. Therefore, an effect of not hindering the subsequent storing operation of the holder is exerted.

[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 front view of the storage shelf unit.

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

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a hanging portion of the holder.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a holder and a suspension rail.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the transport unit taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 9;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 8 showing the transport unit.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the transport unit as viewed in the direction of arrows XX in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a main body block in the nipping and conveying means.

13 is a sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a front view of a main body block.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the operation when the restore guide means moves forward.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a restore guide unit.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of components of the thickness detecting means.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of the thickness detecting means.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a selection unit.

20 is a sectional view taken along line XX-XX in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a side view illustrating a positional relationship between a pressing roller and a guide roller, a pressing block, and a selection block at a retracted position of the nipping and conveying unit.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram of an operation when the holder is taken in.

FIG. 23 is an operation explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the nipping / conveying means and the restore guide means when the holder is sent out.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a sensor position for detecting a forward / backward movement position of the nipping / conveying means.

FIG. 25 is a functional block diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 26 is a main flowchart of control.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of processing when the thickness is excessive.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage shelf unit 2 Holder 3 Transport unit 5 Suspension rail body 18 Nipping and transporting means 20 Restore guide means 21, 21 Insertion plate 36 Drive motor 51 Moving beam 59 Press block 46 Latch lever 47 Press roller 48 Guide roller 85 Selection block 86 times Dynamic electromagnetic solenoid 108 Timer 109 Forward stop sensor 110 Retreat standby position sensor 111 Capture complete position sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI G06F 17/60 126 G06F 17/60 126K (56) References JP-A-7-172517 (JP, A) JP-A-54-17281 (JP, A) JP-A-53-114169 (JP, A) JP-B-60-52961 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 1/04 503 B65G 1 / 04 535 A47B 63/02 B42F 15/00 G06F 17/60 116 G06F 17/60 126

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A nipping conveyance for nipping an upper part of a holder at an upper part in a case of a conveying unit movable along a front surface of a hanging part of a holder suspended in parallel at an appropriate interval in a storage part or the like. Means are provided so as to move back and forth with respect to a doorway provided in the case and a hanging point of an external holder,
At the entrance, a restore guide unit composed of a pair of left and right insertion plates that are rotationally biased so as to narrow the interval between the tips is selectively moved forward in accordance with the forward movement from the retreat standby position of the nipping and conveying unit. On the other hand, in the automatic storage management device for the holder, which is provided with a thickness detecting means for detecting the thickness of the holder that retreats into the case, the detecting means for detecting the retreat distance of the nipping and conveying means in the case direction is provided. When the thickness detecting means determines that the thickness is equal to or more than the specified thickness, the control unit controls the nipping / conveying means to move forward if the retreat distance is equal to or less than the length of the holder in the hanging direction. When the retreat distance exceeds the length of the holder in the suspension direction, the retraction guide is retreated to the retreat standby position while the nipping of the holder by the nipping and conveying means is temporarily released, and then the restoration guide is released. Advancing the stage, then nipped and conveyed means
An automatic storage management device for a holder, characterized in that control means is provided for controlling the holder to move forward.