JP3469032B2 - Fluid shelves - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fluidized shelf device for first-in first-out products.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fluidized shelving device that stores a large number of products while utilizing a gravity to provide a product first-in first-out function without using a special drive mechanism, simply inserts one side of a shelf frame into the product. Side, the opposite side as the picking side, a large number of storage free conveyors such as free roller conveyors and freewheel conveyors, which are arranged in a row obliquely downward from the product input side to the picking side, When replenishing a product to this fluidized shelf device, an operator turns to the product loading side, which is the rear side of the shelf frame as seen from the picking operation side, and loads the product onto the storage free conveyor.

[0003]

However, such a conventional fluidized shelf device requires a passage space for product replenishment work on the side opposite to the picking work side across the shelf frame as described above. In a place where there is an obstacle behind, such as the wall of a warehouse, it is necessary to secure a space for product replenishment work between the obstacle and the shelf frame, and layout when arranging in a limited installation space. There were many restrictions above, and there was also a problem that space efficiency was not good.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and the product replenishing work can be performed from the same side as the picking work, and a space for the product replenishing work is not required behind the shelf frame. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluidized shelf device that is not easily restricted by layout and is excellent in space efficiency.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fluidized shelving device, wherein a loading slide member is installed so as to be inclined downward from a front loading port of a shelf frame toward the rear, and the loading slide. A replenishment direction switching member that is installed further behind the member and switches the flow of the product sent from the loading slide member to either the left or right direction, and the product flow with respect to the replenishment direction switching member in the left and right direction. A replenishment direction switching operation means for instructing switching to either direction, and a storage slide member provided on both left and right sides of the replenishment direction switching member and installed so as to incline downward toward an outlet in front of the shelf frame. It is equipped with.

In the fluidized shelf device according to the first aspect of the present invention, when it is necessary to replenish the product on either the left or right storage slide member, the worker replenishes the same side as the picking side of the shelf frame. To carry in the product for use, supply a command to switch the replenishment direction switching member to the storage slide member side by the replenishment direction switching operation means, and insert the required number of products from the insertion port onto the insertion slide member. To do. As a result, the thrown product descends backward from the throwing slide member, falls on the rear part of the storage slide member on the side designated by the replenishment direction switching member, and further, this storage slide member is moved to the front picking work side. It descends toward the end of the product group in stock and stops there.

In this way, the product replenishment work can be performed from the same front side as the product picking work side of the shelf frame. Therefore, no space for replenishment work is required on the rear side of the shelf frame,
It is possible to install the shelf frame by attaching it to the wall, and there are few restrictions on the layout.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fluidized shelf apparatus of the first aspect, the loading slide member and the storage slide member are free roller conveyors or free wheel conveyors, and the replenishment direction switching member is in a horizontal state. The replenishment direction switching operation means is installed near the front end of the loading slide member, and is connected to the replenishment direction switching member for rotating the replenishment direction switching member in the left and right directions. It consists of a handle.

In the fluidized shelf device according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the product needs to be replenished to the left or right storage slide member, the handle rotates the replenishment direction switching member to the storage slide member side. Let me tilt it,
Insert the required number of products from the input port onto the slide member for input. As a result, the loaded product descends backward from the loading slide member and falls onto the rear portion of the storage slide member located therebelow by the refilling direction switching member inclined to the refilling side. Going down to the front picking work side, reaching the end of the product group in stock on that side and stopping, and while maintaining the first-in first-out function, perform product replenishment work on the same side as the picking work. In addition, the structure does not require external power, and the gravity itself can be used to make the product itself reach the tail end of the stock product for its first-in first-out operation by its own weight, thus providing an energy-saving device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the fluidized shelf device according to the first or second aspect, a plurality of sets including the slide member for loading, the redirection direction switching member and the slide member for storage are provided. This enables a large amount of product storage in a limited space.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show one embodiment of the present invention. In a fluidized shelving apparatus of this embodiment, columns 2 are arranged in a row with respect to a shelf frame 1, and an appropriate column is provided between the columns 2 and 2. Shelf boards 3, 3, ... Are handed over to the number of steps. Also columns 2, 2
A free roller conveyor 4 for storage is installed between them so as to incline obliquely upward and rearward from the rear end position of each shelf board 3. Then, the left and right shelf boards 3, 3 and the free storage roller conveyors 4, 4 are set as one set, and the upper position in the middle between them is used as the input port 5, and the free replenishment is made so as to incline obliquely downward and rearward from the input port 5. A roller conveyor 6 is installed, and further, a replenishment direction switching member 8 in which a large number of free balls 7 are embedded is installed so as to be continuous with the rear end of the replenishment free roller conveyor 6.

Each replenishment direction switching member 8 has a handle 9 that can be operated at the insertion port 5, and by operating this handle 9, the replenishment direction switching member 8 is tilted by rotating it from the horizontal state in either the left or right direction. You can do it.

Next, the operation of the fluidized shelf device having the above configuration will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the handle 9 is normally used.
Is set to the home position and the replenishment direction switching member 8 connected to the home position is set in the horizontal state.

Now, for example, when the remaining number of the products 10 on the storage free roller conveyor 4 on the right side when viewed from the front side of the shelf frame 1 where the picking work is performed becomes small, and it becomes necessary to replenish the products 10, FIG. When the handle 9 is tilted to the right as shown in FIG. 3, the replenishment direction switching member 8 connected to the handle 9 is rotated to be tilted to the right. Then, in this state, the product 10 is loaded from the loading port 5 onto the supplementary free roller conveyor 6.

As a result, the product 10 put into the refill free roller conveyor 6 descends obliquely downward and rearward by its own weight and moves onto the replenishment direction switching member 8. Since the replenishment direction switching member 8 is inclined to the right side, the free ball 7 slides to the right side by its own weight and falls on the rear portion of the storage free roller conveyor 4 at the lower right, and the storage free roller conveyor is 4 descends diagonally forward and downward, reaches the end of the product 10 in stock there, and stops.

On the contrary, the storage free roller conveyor 4 on the left side
If the stocked products above are low, the operation of tilting the handle 9 to the left to rotate the replenishment direction switching member 8 so as to incline to the left from the horizontal state, and to put the product 10 on the replenishment free roller conveyor 6 do.

The product 10 replenished to the free roller conveyor 4 for storage, every time the product is picked from the take-out port 11, the remaining product 10 slides forward by its own weight, and the product 10 replenished earliest. Moves to the shelf 3 and stocks them, and waits for the next picking. When the number of stocked items decreases, the products 10 are sequentially replenished on the storage free roller conveyor 4 from the input port 5 by the above-described method.

As a result, in the fluidized shelving device of this embodiment, even though it is a shelf having a first-in first-out function, both picking work and product replenishing work can be performed from the same front side of the shelf frame 1, and at the rear of the shelf frame 1. There is no need for space for replenishment work, and the rear surface of the shelf frame 1 can be installed as close as it touches the wall, so it can be installed in places where it could not be installed in the past, and there are few layout restrictions. Become.

In the case of the fluidized shelf device of the present invention, the space efficiency can be improved for the following reasons. As shown in FIG. 5, in the case of the conventional fluidized shelf device, the replenishment work is performed on the rear side of the shelf frame 20 and the picking work is performed on the front side of the shelf frame 20 as indicated by the replenishment work flow line 21 and the picking work flow line 22. Therefore, if the width of the shelf frame 20 is L and the space widths required for the replenishment work and the picking work are both α, these spaces are shared with the adjacent devices, and therefore, 0.
Assuming that each 5α is occupied, the area occupied by one set of fluidized shelving devices is αL.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, in the case of the fluidized shelf device of the present invention, a common replenishment / picking work flow line 23
Since both the replenishment work and the picking work can be performed on the front side of the shelf frame as described above, one front end is required for loading the front end of the shelf 2 and the horizontal width of the shelf frame 1 is 1.5L. The space width required for replenishment and picking can be shared with the adjacent device to be 0.5α, and the exclusive area required for one set of shelving device is 0.75αL (= 0.5α × 1.5).
L) is sufficient and space efficiency can be improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, although the handle 9 is adopted as a means for rotating the replenishment direction switching member 7 left and right, it is not such a manual type, but a drive mechanism using an electric motor or a hydraulic device and an operation switch for starting and stopping the mechanism. Can be replaced by Further, instead of the free roller conveyor, a free wheel conveyor, a flat plate having a good sliding property, a free belt conveyor or the like can be used. Further, instead of embedding the free ball in the refilling direction switching member 7, it is possible to use a flat plate having good slippage or to incorporate a belt conveyor and an up / down unit so that it can be cut out.

[0022]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1,
The product replenishment work can be performed from the same front side as the product picking work side while maintaining the first-in first-out function, so that there is no need for a space for replenishment work on the rear side of the shelf frame, and the shelf frame should be attached to the wall side. It is possible to reduce the number of layout restrictions and improve the space efficiency.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, external power is not required for replenishing the product, and the gravity of the product can be used to reach the end of the stock product for the first-in first-out product by itself. Energy saving can be achieved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a large amount of products can be stored in a limited space while maintaining the first-in first-out function.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a normal state of a pair of replenishment free roller conveyors, a replenishment direction switching member, and a storage free roller conveyor in the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an operation state at the time of product replenishment of the pair of replenishment free roller conveyors, the replenishment direction switching member, and the storage free roller conveyor in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the space efficiency of the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing space efficiency of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 shelf frame 2 props 3 shelves 4 Free roller conveyor for storage 5 slot 6 Free roller conveyor for replenishment 7 free balls 8 Refill direction switching member 9 handle 10 products

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A loading slide member that is installed so as to incline downward from a front loading port of a shelf frame toward the rear, and is installed further rearward of the loading slide member and is fed from the loading slide member. A replenishment direction switching member for switching the flow of the product that has come to the left or right, and a replenishment direction switching operation means for instructing the replenishment direction switching member to switch the flow of the product to either the left or right direction, A fluidized shelving device comprising: storage slide members provided on both left and right sides of the replenishment direction switching member and installed so as to be inclined downward toward an outlet in front of a shelf frame. 2. The slide member for loading and the slide member for storage are free roller conveyors or free wheel conveyors, and the replenishment direction switching member is a slide member that can be rolled from the horizontal state to the left and right. The direction switching operation means is a handle installed near the front end of the loading slide member and connected to the refilling direction switching member for rotating the refilling direction switching member in the left and right directions. Item 1. The fluidized shelf device according to Item 1. 3. The fluidized shelving device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets each including the input slide member, the replenishment direction switching member, and the storage slide member are provided.