JP3451031B2 - Automated warehouse with horizontal transfer function between connected automated warehouses - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic warehouse having a lateral transfer function between automatic warehouses arranged in series.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automated warehouse is equipped with shelves arranged in rows and columns on both sides of a stacker crane's travel path. It is used for loading and unloading, but there are also some automatic lanes with several lanes connected in series. Conventionally, the loading and unloading work when this automated warehouse is installed in series is roughly divided into the following 2
The scheme is known.

First, in the example shown in FIG. 5, loading / unloading stations 1 and 2 are arranged on the side surfaces of continuous warehouses A and B,
A traverser 3 that travels in a direction orthogonal to the loading / unloading stations 1 and 2 is arranged on the outer side of the loading / unloading stations 1, 2 and the traverser 3 transfers the load between the loading / unloading stations 1 and 2 of each shelf. In addition, 4 is a traveling path of the traverser 3, 5 and 6 are stacker cranes, 7 and 8 are traveling paths of the stacker cranes 5 and 6, and 9, 10, 11, and 12 are rack rows of the automatic warehouses A and B.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the loading / unloading stations 1 and 2 are arranged at the lowermost stage in front of the automatic warehouses A and B which are connected to each other, and further, the shelves 10 of the automatic warehouse A and the automatic warehouse A which are connected to each other. Inter-lane conveyors 13 and 14 are installed between the lowermost shelves corresponding to the loading / unloading stations 1 and 2 of the B shelf 11.

With respect to the shelves 9 and 10, loading and unloading work is carried out by directly transferring loads between the loading / unloading stations 1 and 2 and the stacker crane 5. Then, for the shelves 11 and 12 on the second lane side, the inter-lane conveyors 13 and 14
The cargo is transferred between the stacker crane 6 and the stacker crane 6 for loading and unloading work, but the transfer between the lane conveyors 13 and 14 and the loading / unloading stations 1 and 2 is performed by the stacker crane 5
Is being relayed.

[0006] That is, for example, in the case of warehousing, the load on the warehousing station 1 is picked up by the stacker crane 5 in the first lane, transferred by the shuttle of the stacker crane 5 to the interlane conveyor 13, and the interlane conveyor 13 Is picked up by the stacker crane 6 and stored in the shelves 11 and 12 on the second lane side. The procedure for warehousing is the reverse of warehousing.

In the conventional example shown in FIG. 5, the traveling path 4 of the traverser 3 is required. Therefore, in a limited space, there is an inconvenience that the number of frontage of the shelves must be reduced accordingly. Further, in the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, the stacker crane 5 has to perform the loading / unloading work for the shelves 9, 10 and the relay work for the inter-lane conveyors 13, 14, which has a drawback that the loading / unloading capability is extremely lowered. there were.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional type, and in a system in which a loading / unloading station is arranged in front of an automatic warehouse connected to the stacker crane of the first lane. Second without relaying
The purpose of the present invention is to obtain an automated warehouse equipped with a lateral transfer function between connected automated warehouses for loading and unloading to and from the shelves on the lane side.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In the automated warehouses arranged in a row, the loading / unloading station is arranged at the bottom of the shelves in front of the first lane, and at the bottom of the shelves in the second lane, Second on the shelf corresponding to the loading / unloading station on the first lane
A loading / unloading station in the lane is arranged, and is arranged between the loading / unloading stations in the first and second lanes.
It was equipped with a transfer device that laterally transfers the load between the loading and unloading stations of the lane.

Further, a double-reach shuttle fork is provided on the shelf facing the loading / unloading station of the second lane at the bottom of the first lane shelf, and the inter-lane transfer device capable of ascending / descending is arranged. Furthermore, an inter-lane transfer carriage capable of moving up and down is arranged to move between the loading / unloading station of the first lane and the loading / unloading station of the second lane.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment in which the transfer device of the present invention is used, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the transfer device. 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment in which the transfer carriage of the present invention is used, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the same.

A is an automatic warehouse on the first lane, B is an automatic warehouse on the second lane, and both automatic warehouses A and B are connected in series. 1 is the first lane receiving station provided at the bottom of the front shelf 9 of the automatic warehouse A, 2 is the first lane exit provided at the bottom of the front shelf 9 of the automatic warehouse A, next to the receiving station 1. It is a station. 5 is a stacker crane in the first lane, and 6 is a stacker crane in the second lane. Reference numeral 7 is a traveling path of the stacker crane 5, and 8 is a traveling path of the stacker crane 6.

The loading / unloading station in the first lane is composed of a plurality of rows of chain conveyors, and loads are placed on these chain conveyors. Then, a double-reach shuttle fork, which will be described later, extends between the chain conveyors and moves up and down to receive and discharge the load.

Reference numeral 15 is the lowest stage of the shelf 11 of the automatic warehouse B, and the second lane receiving station is provided on the shelf corresponding to the receiving station 1, and 16 is the lowest stage of the shelf 11 of the automatic warehouse B, and the second lane is received. It is the second lane delivery station provided on the shelf next to the station 15. The second
The loading / unloading stations 15 and 16 of the lane each have a rack 11 as a cargo receiving member on which both ends of the bottom of the cargo can be placed.
It is configured to be attached to. Then, a double-reach shuttle fork, which will be described later, is stretched between the load receiving members and moved up and down to receive and discharge the load.

17 is the bottom of the shelf 10 of the automatic warehouse A,
The transfer device between lanes for storage is installed on the shelf facing the second lane storage station 15. Also, 18
Is an inter-lane delivery device for delivery, which is installed on the bottom of the shelf 10 of the automatic warehouse A and on the shelf facing the second lane delivery station 16.

The loading / unloading lane transfer devices 17 and 18 have the same structure. As shown in FIG. 2, a lifter 21 having a roller at one end and a cross link 19 fixed at the other end, which is movable up and down by the operation of a cylinder 20,
It comprises a double reach shuttle fork 22 fixed on the lifter 21. The double reach shuttle fork 22 can extend to the position of the first lane loading / unloading station 1, 2 beyond the traveling path 7 of the stacker crane 5.

The double-reach shuttle fork 22 is a multi-stage telescopic fork, and only the first stage is operated by a rack and a pinion driven by a motor, and the other stages are interlocked with the movement of the first stage. It expands and contracts with sprockets and chains. Although FIG. 2 shows only the extension mechanism to the right in the figure, extension to the left side in the figure is also possible with the same mechanism.

The operation of loading and unloading work in such a configuration will be described. First, when the goods are loaded into the shelves 9 and 10 of the first lane, the stacker crane 5 receives the load placed in the loading station 1, the stacker crane 5 is run as it is, and it is stored in a predetermined shelf. In case of delivery, the procedure is the reverse of that for loading.

When entering the shelves 11 and 12 in the second lane, the stacker crane 5 in the first lane is not in the position of the loading and unloading stations 1 and 2, or from the positions of the loading and unloading stations 1 and 2. Evacuate, extend the double reach shuttle fork 22 of the inter-lane transfer device 17 to the receiving station 1, pick up the load placed in the receiving station 1 and take it in, and load the loaded load into the receiving station 15 in the second lane. Reprint.

The load transferred to the storage station 15 in the second lane is received by the stacker crane 6 in the second lane, the stacker crane 6 is run, and the load is stored in a predetermined shelf in the second lane. In case of delivery, the procedure is the reverse of that for loading. In the above description, the load is picked up from the storage station 1 and the load is transferred to the storage station 15 by moving the lifter 21 of the transfer device 17 up and down.

Next, an embodiment in which a transfer carriage is used will be described. Numerals 23 and 24 indicate loading / unloading stations 1 and 2 on the first lane to loading / unloading station 1 on the second lane
Rails laid on the floor of the warehouse up to the positions 5 and 16. The rails 23 and 24 cross the traveling rails of the stacker crane 5 laid on the traveling path 7 of the stacker crane 5 in the first lane.

Reference numerals 25 and 26 are self-propelled inter-lane transfer vehicles mounted on the rails 23 and 24.
Along 24, the loading / unloading stations 1, 2 in the first lane
To the positions of the loading / unloading stations 15 and 16 on the second lane. Elevating tables 27 and 28 are provided above the transfer carts 25 and 26.

The operation of the warehousing / unloading operation in the configuration including the lane transfer trucks 25 and 26 will be described. First, when loading into the shelves 9 and 10 of the first lane, the stacker crane 5 receives the load placed in the loading station 1 as in the above-described embodiment, and the stacker crane 5 is run as it is to move to a predetermined shelf. To store. In case of delivery, the procedure is the reverse of that for loading.

Next, when loading into the shelves 11 and 12 of the second lane, the stacker crane 5 of the first lane is not in the position of the loading and unloading stations 1 and 2, or the position of the loading and unloading stations 1 and 2. Then, the transfer carriage 25 is moved to the position of the receiving station 1, the table 27 is raised at that position, and the load placed there is transferred to the transfer carriage 25.

Then, the transfer carriage 25 is moved to the position of the storage station 15 in the second lane, the table 27 is lowered, and the load is transferred to the storage station 15. The load transferred to the receiving station 15 is received by the stacker crane 6 in the second lane, the stacker crane 6 is allowed to travel as it is, and stored in a predetermined shelf. Similarly, in the case of warehousing, the procedure is the reverse of warehousing.

The transfer device 17 in the above embodiment,
Since the shuttle 18 and the transfer carriages 25 and 26 also cross the stacker crane 5, when the stacker crane 5 is in the cross area, the double reach shuttle of the transfer devices 17 and 18 is used. The fork 22 is not shuttled, and neither is the transfer carriage 25 or 26.

In contrast to the above, the transfer devices 17, 18
When the double reach shuttle fork 22 or the transfer carriages 25 and 26 are in the cross area, the stacker crane 5 is prevented from entering the cross area. Then, these controls are automatically controlled by the controller.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the continuous automatic warehouse, the loading / unloading station is arranged at the bottom of the shelves in front of the first lane, and at the bottom of the shelves of the second lane. , The loading / unloading station of the second lane is arranged on the shelf corresponding to the loading / unloading station of the first lane, and the load transfer between the loading / unloading stations of the first and second lanes is performed by the inter-lane transfer device. The stacker crane is not relayed.

For this reason, the stacker crane in the first lane is used for the original cargo handling work for the shelves in the first lane,
For shelves in the 2nd lane, it is possible to transfer loads between the loading and unloading stations in the 1st and 2nd lanes while the stacker crane in the 1st lane is working. The storage capacity has increased. Further, the number of frontages of shelves can be increased as compared with the method of arranging the traverser on the side of the automated warehouse.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an automated warehouse of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the transfer device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the automated warehouse of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a conventional example of an automated warehouse.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another conventional example of an automated warehouse.

[Explanation of symbols]

A, B automatic warehouse 1 and 2 loading / unloading station 3 Traverser 4 Traverser Road 5, 6 Stacker crane 7,8 Stacker crane travel path 9, 10, 11, 12 Automatic warehouse shelf 13, 14 lane conveyor 15, 16 Lane 2 loading / unloading station Transfer device between 17 and 18 lanes 19 cross links 20 cylinders 21 lifters 22 Double reach shuttle fork 23, 24 rails Transfer truck between 25 and 26 lanes 27, 28 lifting table

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── --- Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-32411 (JP, A) JP-A-8-58921 (JP, A) JP-A-62-205916 (JP, A) Actual development Sho-62- 47507 (JP, U) Actual Kaihei 3-73505 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 1/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A loading / unloading station is arranged at the bottom of the shelf in front of the first lane of the automatic warehouses arranged in series.
In addition, at the bottom of the shelf in the second lane, the loading / unloading station of the second lane is arranged on the shelf corresponding to the loading / unloading station of the first lane, and is arranged between the loading / unloading stations of the first and second lanes. An automatic warehouse with a lateral transfer function between connected automatic warehouses, characterized in that it is provided with an inter-lane transfer device that laterally transfers a load between the loading and unloading stations of the first and second lanes. 2. A transfer device between lanes having a double reach shuttle fork and capable of moving up and down is arranged on a shelf facing the loading / unloading station of the second lane at the bottom of the first lane shelf. An automated warehouse with a horizontal transfer function between the automated warehouses connected to each other according to claim 1. 3. An inter-lane transfer carriage capable of moving up and down, which moves between a loading / unloading station in the first lane and a loading / unloading station in the second lane, is arranged.
An automated warehouse with a horizontal transfer function between the listed automated warehouses.