JP3507029B2 - Rear picking pallet automatic warehouse safety device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic warehouse in which cardboard cases and the like are loaded and stored on pallets.
The present invention relates to a safety device of a rear picking type pallet automatic warehouse in which a worker accesses from the back of a storage shelf to pick up stored items.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in an automatic warehouse in which cardboard cases are loaded on a pallet and stored, a stacker crane is used to take out only one article from the articles loaded and stored on the pallet. Once to the picking area, take out one item,
In the operation of returning the pallets to the original storage shelves again, since only one article is taken out, the operation is troublesome, and the effective working efficiency of the stacker crane over the entire warehouse is improved. Will be lowered.

For this reason, in the storage shelves on the lower floors of the automated warehouse, workers access the storage shelves from the back side thereof, that is, the back side of the stacker crane for loading and unloading work, and take out the articles. The back picking method is used. However, since the stacker crane is working in the same automated warehouse, on the other hand, there was a problem in the safety of the picking work. The side of the storage shelf facing the stacker crane will be referred to as the front of the storage shelf, and the back side of the shelf will be referred to as the back of the storage shelf.

Conventionally, as a safety measure for this rear picking method, a pull-up type shutter is provided at the front opening of the storage shelf to be picked by the worker, and when the worker accesses the shelf, the front face There was a method of picking after closing the frontage with a shutter. However, with this method, the shutter is extremely expensive,
This is a factor that increases the cost of automated warehouses.

Further, an interpersonal sensor is provided on the front surface of the storage shelf, and when the worker who has accessed makes a limb on the side of the stacker crane from the front surface of the shelf, the sensor is activated and the stacker crane is stopped. There was something to do.
However, with this method, when the sensor is activated,
Even if the stacker crane is working at a sufficiently distant position, there is the inconvenience of stopping the work.

Further, in this sensor, when the stacker crane is working on the storage shelf accessed by the worker due to the malfunction of the stacker crane or the misidentification of the worker, the stacker crane is located on the front side of the shelf. Since the sensor is activated and the stacker crane is stopped after entering, there was a case where it was not in time and a dangerous state was caused.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a safety device for a rear picking type automatic warehouse which has a simple structure, is low in cost, and can ensure reliable safety.

[0008]

[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS] A safety device for a rear picking type pallet automatic warehouse, in which guide wheels are rotatably attached to the front, rear, upper and lower sides of the left and right sides of a storage shelf, and the guide wheels are attached to each side Wind the rope endlessly, hang it over the connecting rope on each side, and attach the rear safety bar to the back of the storage shelf.
Connect a front safety bar with a reflector to the front of the storage shelf, set the front safety bar in a predetermined position so that the front safety bar is located above the front of the storage shelf during normal operation, and set the rear safety bar during picking. The stacker crane is provided with a photoelectric tube capable of reading a reflector when the stacker crane faces the storage shelf and the front safety bar is in a predetermined position. When the scanner reads the reflector, it asks the stacker crane to check that the front safety bar of the storage shelf is open, and when the photocell cannot read the reflector, it indicates that the stacker crane has the front safety bar of the storage shelf closed. Recognize the relevant storage shelf
We did not carry in and out the work .

Guides are attached to both ends of the rear safety bar and the front safety bar, and the guide bars are inserted into the rear and front of the storage shelf to guide the vertical movement of the rear safety bar and the front safety bar. Provided. Further, a hook for fixing the rear safety bar is formed on the upper portion of the rear guide bar, and a stopper for setting a predetermined position of the front safety bar is provided on the upper portion of the front guide bar.

Further, the front safety bar is made lighter than the rear safety bar, the rear safety bar is normally lowered and the front safety bar is raised so that it always contacts the stopper, and the upper portion of the rear guide bar. Also, it is characterized in that a hook for fixing the rear safety bar is formed on the lower portion and the front safety bar is located at a predetermined position on the upper front of the shelf when the rear safety bar is fixed to the lower hook.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a schematic plan view of the first floor portion of a rear picking type pallet automatic warehouse, FIG. 2 is a side view of a storage shelf equipped with a safety device according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 4 is according to the present invention. It is a figure explaining operation of a safety device.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a rack row of an automatic warehouse, and rack rows each having a rack shape and arranged on several floors are arranged in four rows facing each other. Reference numeral 1'indicates individual storage shelves formed by dividing the shelves in the shelves 1. In addition, 2 is each shelf row 1
It is a loading / unloading station installed at the end of one floor.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a stacker passage provided between the shelves 1 facing each other, and 4 denotes a stacker crane that travels back and forth in the stacker passage 3. Stacker crane 4
Has a trolley that travels in the stacker passage 3, an elevating platform that is elevated by being guided by a mast standing on the trolley, and a slide fork that slides in the left-right direction on the elevator. This is a stacker crane known per se for transferring pallets between the rack 2 and each shelf 1 '.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a picking passage provided on the back side of the shelf row 1, that is, on the opposite side of the stacker passage 3 with the shelf row 1 interposed therebetween, and 6 shows free movement in the picking passage 5, for example, when a worker pulls it. It is a picking cart to go. Reference numeral 7 is a picking-out table for picking articles installed at the end of the picking passage 5.

2 and 3 show the structure of the storage shelf 1 '. 8 is a main pillar, which is erected from the floor to the upper floors. A horizontal member 9 is a main pillar 8 in the front-back direction of the shelf 1 '.
It is fixed between the main columns 8 in the space and in the width direction. A pallet mounting table 10 is fixed between the main columns 8 in the front-rear direction of the shelf.
The pallets 11 on which the articles are loaded are placed and stored while straddling both pallet placing tables 10 in the width direction of the front of the shelf 1 '. It should be noted that reference numeral 12 denotes an article loaded on the pallet 11.

Numeral 13 is a guide wheel provided on the front and rear upper and lower end portions of the left and right side surfaces of the storage shelf 1 '. In this example, a sprocket is used, which is mounted on the sprocket shaft 14 and attached to the main pillar 8. It is rotatably attached to the inner surface via a bracket. Reference numeral 15 is a connecting cord that is endlessly wound around front and rear and upper and lower sprockets 13 on each of the left and right sides, and a chain is used in this example.

Reference numeral 16 is a rear safety bar having a length of the front of the shelf 1 ', and at its both ends, the upper end side is spanned by the connecting chains 15 on the left and right side surfaces so as to be tiltable. Pin-connected. Further, guides 17 are attached above and below both ends. Reference numeral 18 denotes a guide rail having a U-shaped cross section, which is attached to the main pillar 8 toward the inner surface of the shelf 1'and has a guide 17 inserted therein. Therefore, the rear safety bar 16 is vertically guided by the guide rail 18 via the guide 17.

A fixed hook 19 is formed on the upper portion of the guide rail 18 for guiding the rear safety bar 16.
A lower guide 17 attached to an end portion of the rear safety bar 16 is engaged with the fixing hook 19 to fix the rear safety bar 16 at a predetermined upper position.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a front safety bar having a length of the front of the shelf 1 ', and both ends thereof are spanned by the connecting chains 15 on the left and right side faces to be pin-connected. Further, guides 21 are attached above and below both ends. 22
Is a guide rail having a U-shaped cross section, which is attached to the main pillar 8 toward the inner surface of the shelf 1'and has a guide 21 inserted therein. Therefore, the front safety bar 20 is vertically guided by the guide rail 22 via the guide 21.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a reflector, which is the front safety bar 20.
The outer surfaces of both ends of the stacker, i.e., the stacker passage 3 side, are stretched. Reference numeral 24 (FIG. 4) is a photoelectric tube attached to the frame of the lifting table of the stacker crane 4, and the presence of the reflection plate 23 can be read at a predetermined position in front of the storage shelf 1 '.

A stopper is fixed to the uppermost portion of the guide rail 22 to limit the movement of the guide 21. When the guide 21 hits this stopper, the front safety bar 20
Is set to a predetermined height position during normal operation (when not picked). If the front safety bar 20 is made lighter than the rear safety bar 16, the guide 21 always comes into contact with the stopper, the front safety bar 20 is opened, and the rear safety bar 16 is normally opened.
Is closed.

The structure of the safety device according to the present invention is as described above. Next, the operation of the safety device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. First, in normal times (other than during picking work), the rear safety bar 16 is at the rear intermediate height position of the shelf 1 ', and the front safety bar 20 is at a predetermined height above the front of the shelf 1'.

Therefore, the stacker crane 4 can read the presence of the reflecting plate 23 by the photoelectric tube 24. That is, the stacker crane 4 can carry out the loading and unloading operations after confirming that the front safety bar 20 of the shelf 1'is open. FIG. 4 (A).

Next, when performing a picking operation, the worker picks up the rear safety bar 16 of the shelf 1 '.
Push up. FIG. 4 (B). Then, the lower wheel 17 of the rear safety bar 16 is engaged with the fixing hook 19 of the guide rail 18 to fix the rear safety bar 16 to the upper rear position of the shelf 1 ', and then the inside of the shelf 1'. To access. FIG. 4C.

When the rear safety bar 16 is pushed upward, the front safety bar 2 is moved by the interlocking of the connecting chain 15.
Since 0 is the height position of the front middle portion of the shelf 1 ', the photoelectric tube 24 cannot read the presence of the reflection plate 23. That is, the stacker crane 4 recognizes that the front safety bar 20 of the shelf 1 ′ is closed, and carries it into the shelf 1 ′.
Do not carry out work.

Since the rear safety bar 16 is fixed to the fixing hook 19 at a predetermined height position, the rear safety bar 16 does not shift during picking. For fixing to the fixed hook 19, the rear safety bar 16 is tilted at the position where it is moved upward, and the lower guide 17 is fixed from the opening to the fixed hook 19.
It can be easily fixed by inserting it inside and receiving the guide 17 at the bottom thereof.

Although the sprocket is used as the guide wheel and the chain is used as the connecting rope in the above example, a pulley and a timing belt may be used instead. The fixing hook is not limited to the configuration shown in the figure. For example, a ring-shaped gripping spring may be attached and the upper guide 17 may be pushed into the spring to be gripped. Good.

Further, a fixing hook is also provided on the lower end side of the rear side guide rail 18 so that the rear side safety bar 16 at the normal time is
It is also possible to fix the front safety bar 20 to a predetermined position above the front of the shelf 1'by fixing the front safety bar 20 to the intermediate height position on the rear side of the shelf 1 '.
6 and the front safety bar 20 can be equal weights.

[0029]

According to the present invention, guide wheels are provided at the upper and lower ends of the front and rear at the positions of the left and right side surfaces of the storage shelf, and the connecting ropes are endlessly wound around the guide wheels on the left and right side surfaces, respectively, and the left and right connecting There are a rear safety bar and a front safety bar that hangs around the rope and connects the both ends with pins.Normally, the front safety bar is at a predetermined position on the upper front of the storage shelf, and the rear safety bar is at an intermediate position on the rear surface of the storage shelf. I did it.

Also, a reflector is attached to the front safety bar,
When the front safety bar is in the upper predetermined position, the reflection plate can be read by a photoelectric tube attached to the lift of the stacker crane, and this reading allows the stacker crane to confirm that the front safety bar is open. did.

Further, at the time of picking, an operator lifts the rear safety bar, hooks it on a fixing hook, fixes it on the upper rear portion of the storage shelf, and then accesses the storage shelf. At this time, since the front safety bar descends to the middle position on the front of the storage shelf, the photocell cannot read the reflector, and the stacker crane recognizes that the front safety bar is closed, and the loading and unloading work on the storage shelf is performed. Done
I tried not to.

With this structure, the stacker crane does not accidentally operate on the storage rack during picking, and the rear safety bar is displaced during picking, even though the structure is simple. Without fail, the safety of picking work has been ensured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a rear picking type pallet automatic warehouse.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a storage shelf equipped with a safety device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the safety device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Storage shelf row 2 Storage / unloading stand 3 Stacker passage 4 Stacker crane 5 Picking passage 6 Picking truck 7 Picking output stand 8 Main pillar 9 Horizontal material 10 Storage stand 11 Pallet 12 Loaded article 13 Sprocket 14 Sprocket shaft 15 Connection chain 16 Rear safety bar 17 guides 18 guide rails 19 fixed hooks 20 front safety bar 21 guides 22 guide rails 23 reflectors 24 photocells

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65G 1/00 511 B65G 1/04 501

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A guide wheel is rotatably attached to the front, rear, upper and lower sides of the left and right side surfaces of a storage shelf, and the connecting cords are endlessly wound around the guide wheels attached to each side surface, and the connecting ropes are passed over the connecting ropes on each side surface. Connect the rear safety bar to the back of the storage shelf, connect the front safety bar with the reflector to the front of the storage shelf, and connect the front safety bar to the front upper part of the storage shelf during normal operation. A predetermined position is set, and means for fixing the rear safety bar to the upper rear part of the storage shelf at the time of picking is provided, and when the stacker crane faces the storage shelf, the reflector plate is provided when the front safety bar is in the predetermined position. The stacker crane is equipped with a phototube that can read the photocell, and when the phototube reads the reflector, the stacker crane confirms that the front safety bar of the storage shelf is open. The front of the storage shelves crane is recognized that the safety bar is closed, transported to the storage shelf, out work
Safety device for rear picking type pallet automatic warehouse characterized by not performing. 2. Guide bars attached to both ends of the rear safety bar and the front safety bar, and guide guides for inserting the guides into the rear and front of the storage shelf to guide the vertical movement of the rear safety bar and the front safety bar. The back picking pallet automatic warehouse safety device according to claim 1, wherein the safety device is provided. 3. A hook for fixing the rear safety bar is formed on an upper portion of the rear guide bar, and a stopper for setting a predetermined position of the front safety bar is provided on an upper portion of the front guide bar. Safety device for rear picking pallet automatic warehouse described in 2. 4. A rear safety bar according to claim 3, wherein the front safety bar is lighter than the rear safety bar, and the rear safety bar is normally lowered and the front safety bar is normally raised so that the front safety bar is always in contact with the stopper. Safety equipment for picking type pallet automatic warehouse. 5. A hook for fixing a rear safety bar is formed at an upper portion and a lower portion of the rear guide bar, and when the rear safety bar is fixed to the hook at the lower portion, the front safety bar is present at a predetermined position on the upper front of the shelf. The safety device for the rear picking type pallet automatic warehouse according to claim 2, characterized in that.