JP3840900B2 - Automatic warehouse equipment delivery system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a delivery system for an automatic warehouse facility suitable for, for example, delivering a plurality of loads of the same type as a group.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A number of automatic warehouse units consisting of a combination of shelves and loading / unloading traveling cranes are installed side by side, and the unloading conveyor that unloads the loads unloaded by the loading / unloading traveling cranes of each automatic warehouse unit becomes one unloading main conveyor. In the connected automatic warehouse equipment, various kinds of loads delivered from the respective automatic warehouse units are randomly mixed in the transport direction on the delivery main conveyor.
[0003]
On the other hand, as a traveling crane for loading / unloading of each automatic warehouse unit, a traveling crane for loading / unloading, in which a plurality of load transfer means are juxtaposed in the crane traveling direction on the lifting carriage, and a plurality of loads can be loaded / unloaded together. It has been known. This loading / unloading traveling crane is suitable for simultaneously loading and unloading a plurality of loads of the same type. Such a loading / unloading traveling crane is used for each automatic warehouse unit in the automatic warehouse facility. When it is adopted, a plurality of the same type of cargos delivered from each automatic warehouse unit at the time of delivery work are sequentially sent out one by one from the delivery conveyor of each automatic warehouse unit onto the delivery main conveyor.
[0004]
However, when sending loads one by one from the unloading conveyor of each automatic warehouse unit onto the unloading main conveyor, the next load is unloaded from the unloading conveyor after the load has completely moved from the load receiving space of the unloading main conveyor to the unloading main conveyor. Since it will be sent out upward, the interval between the loads on the main conveyor will become very large, and a group of multiple loads delivered from each automatic warehouse unit will be combined with the loads delivered from other automatic warehouse units. If it tries to carry out without mixing, the utilization efficiency of the outgoing main conveyor will fall significantly.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An object of the present invention is to provide a delivery system for an automatic warehouse facility that can solve the conventional problems as described above, and the means thereof is shown with reference numerals of embodiments described later. A plurality of automatic warehouse units 1A to 1N comprising a combination of the shelf 5 and the loading / unloading traveling crane 6 are juxtaposed, and the cargo unloaded by the loading / unloading traveling crane 6 of each automatic warehouse unit 1A to 1N is carried out. The unloading conveyors 3A to 3N are connected to a single unloading main conveyor 2, and the loading and unloading traveling crane 6 of each automatic warehouse unit 1A to 1N has a plurality of load transfer means 9a to 9d on its elevating carriage 8. those are arranged in parallel in the direction of travel state, and are not capable of Goods Movement together a plurality of load W, a goods issue conveyor 3A~3N each automated warehouse units 1A~1N and unloading the main conveyor 2 Transfer buffer conveyors 4 </ b> A to 4 </ b> N are arranged between the transfer conveyors 4 </ b> A to 4 </ b> N, and a plurality of loads W from the output conveyors 3 </ b> A to 3 </ b> N are parallel to the transport direction of the output main conveyor 2. In the automatic warehouse facility having a storage function for waiting in line and a transfer function for transferring the plurality of waiting loads W to the outgoing main conveyor 2, the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4A When the maximum number of loads W that can be stored on the buffer conveyors 4A to 4N are stored on 4N, the maximum number of loads is loaded on the outgoing main conveyor 2 on the upper side of the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N. Continuous empty space that can be transferred in a continuous state in the transport direction and is not previously assigned to the other transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N When there is a corresponding continuous free space, when there is a corresponding continuous free space, when the corresponding continuous free space closest to the transfer buffer conveyor 4A to 4N arrives on the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N It is configured to control a plurality of loads to be transferred and loaded into the continuous empty space at the same time .
[0007]
In the delivery system configured as described above , when the maximum number of loads W is not stored in the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N within the set time, the stored loads W are stored in the delivery main conveyor 2 at that time. It can be controlled to transfer and unload.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numerals 1A to 1N denote a plurality of automatic warehouse units arranged side by side. To 3N and the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N. Each of the automatic warehouse units 1A to 1N includes a combination of a shelf 5 and a traveling crane 6 for loading and unloading.
[0009]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each loading / unloading traveling crane 6 has a plurality of (four in the illustrated example) load transfer means 9 a on one lifting carriage 8 that moves up and down along the lifting guide column 7. 9d are arranged side by side in the crane traveling direction, and the illustrated one is guided by the supporting guide rail 10 laid on the floor side and the steadying guide rail 11 laid on the ceiling side. You can drive along 5. 2B and 2C, each load transfer means 9a to 9d shown in the figure is used for load transfer composed of a belt conveyor, a roller conveyor, or the like that supports and conveys the load in the lateral width direction of the elevating carriage 8. A pair of left and right load holding and pulling out delivery tools 13 which are arranged on the left and right sides of the conveyor 12 and the load transfer conveyor 12 and can move toward and away from each other and move in the transfer direction of the load transfer conveyor 12. It is composed of a combination.
[0010]
The shelves 5 having three-dimensional load storage compartments 14 are erected on the left and right sides of the traveling passage of the loading / unloading traveling crane 6, and each load storage compartment 14 is a flat that supports the entire bottom surface of the load. A crane equipped with an appropriate load support surface (may be equipped with means (sliding assisting surface material, free roller conveyor, etc.) that facilitates sliding of the load during load transfer if necessary) and crane It has a length capable of supporting a plurality of loads under the same conditions as the number and interval of the load transfer means 9a to 9d on the elevating carriage 8 in the traveling direction.
[0011]
When transferring the load W onto the lifting / lowering carriage 8, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, a pair of left and right load holding and pulling-out delivery tools 13 are placed on the load storage section 14 side of the shelf 5 (or the warehousing conveyor 15A shown in FIG. 3). -15N side), the end of the load W is clamped from the left and right sides at the tip of the pair of left and right load holding and pulling out delivery tools 13 by moving them closer to each other in a state where they have moved forward by a certain distance, The ends of the load W are transferred onto the load transfer conveyor 12 by pulling and moving the pair of left and right load nipping and pulling out delivery tools 13 to the home position on the lift carriage 8. At this time, if the load transfer conveyor 12 is driven in the load pull-in direction at the same speed as the pull-in movement speed of the load holding / drawing / feeding tool 13, the pair of left and right load holding / drawing / feeding tools 13 that have returned to the home position are connected to each other. When the load W is released by being moved apart, the load W whose end is transferred onto the load transfer conveyor 12 is carried by the conveyor 12 to a predetermined position where it is completely transferred onto the lifting carriage 8.
[0012]
When the load W on the lifting carriage 8 is transferred onto the delivery conveyors 3A to 3N (or on the shelf 5), the load transfer conveyor 12 and the pair of left and right load holding and pulling out delivery tools 13 are moved in the reverse order. It only has to be activated. The warehousing conveyors 15A to 15N are arranged on the upper side (or the lower side) of the outgoing conveyors 3A to 3N for each of the automatic warehouse units 1A to 1N, and the incoming main conveyor 16 on the upper side (or the lower side) of the outgoing main conveyor 2. However, the delivery conveyors 3A to 3N and the delivery conveyors 15A to 15N can be arranged in a distributed manner on both the left and right sides of the entry / exit traveling crane 6 at the home position.
[0013]
In addition, the structure of said shelf 5 and the traveling crane 6 for entering / exiting shows an example, and of course is not limited to this.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 4, the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N connected to the delivery conveyors 3A to 3N of the automatic warehouse units 1A to 1N are used to deliver a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) loads W. The storage function includes a storage function for storing the storages in parallel with the conveying direction of the conveyor 2 and a transfer function for simultaneously transferring the plurality of stored loads W onto the outgoing main conveyor 2. The fixed stopper 17 that stops the first load W at a fixed position, the movable stopper 18 that can move the second and subsequent loads W individually at fixed positions, and the stoppers 17 and 18 are stopped at a fixed position. The transfer function is realized by the presence detection sensors 19a and 19b for detecting the load W. The transfer function stops the load W stopped at a fixed position by the stoppers 17 and 18, respectively. Vertically movable transfer conveyor 20a for traversing transferred to unloading the main conveyor 2 above from the Akonbeya 4A to 4N, is realized by 20b.
[0015]
In addition, the transfer part 21 on each transfer buffer conveyor 4A-4N is provided in the terminal of each delivery conveyor 3A-3N, and the said transfer part 21 is sent from the delivery conveyors 3A-3N. A fixed stopper 22 for stopping the incoming load W at a fixed position, and a vertically movable transfer for delivering the load W stopped at the fixed position by the fixed stopper 22 to the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N. A loading conveyor 23 is provided, and a load detection sensor 24 for detecting the load W stopped at a fixed position by the fixed stopper 22 and a load detection signal of the sensor 24 are operated to move the subsequent load W. A movable stopper 25 that stops before the mounting portion 21 is also provided.
[0016]
The delivery main conveyor 2 is constituted by a slat conveyor or the like, and can support the loads W at appropriate intervals in the transport direction, but the load support area 26 that supports the loads W one by one is a physical partition. May be one that is partitioned by or may not have such a physical partition, but for each of the physically partitioned or virtual load bearing areas 26, a suitable method. Thus, the presence or absence of the load W is detected. For example, the count value of a counter synchronized with the outgoing main conveyor 2 (for example, reset to zero after one revolution) and the load W are transferred from the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N of the automatic warehouse units 1A to 1N to the outgoing main conveyor 2. By using the load transfer signal at the time of loading, the loading information of each loading support area 26 is rewritten, and the loading information of each loading support area 26 after this rewriting is synchronized with the movement of the outgoing main conveyor 2. Thus, it is possible to obtain the load information of each load support area 26 by a method such as stepping (tracking) in the transport direction.
[0017]
Information on the type and storage position of the load stored on the shelf 5 by the warehousing operation is stored in the inventory management computer at the time of the warehousing operation. Thus, in principle, a plurality of the same type of loads W are continuously sent from the warehousing line 16 to the warehousing conveyors 15A to 15N at the time of the warehousing operation, so that they are simultaneously transferred by the four load transfer means 9a to 9d. A maximum of four loads W of the same type to be obtained are transferred and loaded into the load storage section 14 of the shelf 5 by the loading / unloading traveling crane 6. Since the warehousing position with respect to the shelf 5 is also searched for empty sections that are continuous in the horizontal direction so that all the loads W on the lifting carriage 8 can be transferred to the shelf 5 at the same time as much as possible. In principle, a plurality of the same type of loads W are stored in a state of being arranged in the horizontal direction.
[0018]
When a plurality of the same types of loads W are unloaded from the shelf 5 to the unloading conveyors 3A to 3N by the unloading operation of the loading and unloading traveling crane 6, the plurality of loads W are transferred to the end by the unloading conveyors 3A to 3N. It is conveyed to the mounting unit 21. In this case, when there is not enough space between each load W to allow the movable stopper 25 to be interrupted, the load W is received from the load receiving area that receives a plurality of loads W from the loading / unloading traveling crane 6 at an appropriate time. What is necessary is just to comprise so that it can carry out toward the transfer part 21 every other one by one.
[0019]
When the leading load W arrives at the transfer portion 21 and is received by the fixed stopper 22, the movable stopper 25 is switched to the operating position based on the detection signal of the presence detection sensor 24, and the subsequent load W is transferred to the delivery conveyor. Stop and wait on 3A to 3N. When the load detection sensor 24 detects that the transfer unit 21 is free, the movable stopper 25 is retracted, and the leading load W waiting is sent to the transfer unit 21. When the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N are vacant (when the presence detection sensors 19a and 19b are off), the load W of the transfer unit 21 is transferred by the transfer conveyor 23 to the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4A. 4N is transported to the position where it is received by the fixed stopper 17 by the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N and stopped. As a result, the stock detection sensor 19a is turned on, and the movable stopper 18 is switched to the operating position. Next, the load W sent to the transfer unit 21 is sent out onto the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N by the transfer conveyor 23 when the presence detection sensor 19b is in the off state, and the load W It is transported to the position where it is received by the movable stopper 18 by the buffer conveyors 4A to 4N and stopped.
[0020]
As described above, a predetermined number (two in the illustrated example) of loads W are stored on the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N. From the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N, the delivery main conveyor 2 is loaded. As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the transfer control of the load W to is performed by a transfer control device using a personal computer or the like.
[0021]
For example, when it is detected that the first load W is stored on the transfer buffer conveyor 4D by the on state of the stock detection sensor 19a (S1), the off state of the stock detection sensor 19a is detected. (S2) The measurement of elapsed time is started by the timer (S3). Before the elapsed time reaches the set time (S4), it is detected from the on state of the stock detection sensors 19a and 19b that a predetermined number (two in the illustrated example) of loads W are stored (S5). As described above, a predetermined number (two in the illustrated example) of continuous empty spaces (two in the illustrated example) are located on the upper side of the transfer buffer conveyor 4D based on the inventory information on the outgoing main conveyor 2. In addition, it is searched whether or not there is a load support area 26) that is not assigned to the other transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N (S6). When there is a corresponding empty space, a predetermined number of continuous empty spaces closest to the transfer buffer conveyor 4D are allocated as a load transfer space from the transfer buffer conveyor 4D (S7). When a predetermined number of empty spaces (two continuous load support areas 26 in the empty state) allocated to the transfer buffer conveyor 4D arrive at a predetermined position just beside the transfer buffer conveyor 4D (S8), The transfer conveyors 20a and 20b of the loading buffer conveyor 4D are simultaneously operated, and the two loads W stopped by the stoppers 17 and 18 are simultaneously transferred sideways and assigned in advance on the main conveyor 2 for delivery. Is transferred onto the load support area 26 (S9).
[0022]
If a predetermined number of loads W are not stored in the transfer buffer conveyor 4D within the set time (S4), the number of loads W waiting on the transfer buffer conveyor 4D at that time (in the illustrated example, It is searched whether there are as many empty spaces as there are one load W) (S10). When there is a corresponding empty space, a predetermined number of continuous empty spaces closest to the transfer buffer conveyor 4D are allocated as a load transfer space from the transfer buffer conveyor 4D (S7). Thereafter, Steps 8 and 9 are executed in the same manner as in the above control, and a predetermined number or less of loads W on the transfer buffer conveyor 4D are sent out onto the delivery main conveyor 2.
[0023]
In the above embodiment, the loading and unloading of each automatic warehouse unit is performed as the transfer buffer conveyors 4A to 4N for simultaneously transferring the plurality of loads W delivered from the respective automatic warehouse units 1A to 1N to the delivery main conveyor 2. Although the example which can transfer two loads W smaller than the simultaneous loading / unloading load number (4 in the illustrated example) of the traveling crane 5 to the unloading main conveyor 2 is illustrated, Transfer buffer conveyors 4 </ b> A to 4 </ b> N that can transfer the same number of loads W as the simultaneous loading / unloading loads of the loading / unloading traveling crane 5 to the loading / unloading main conveyor 2 may be used.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
The unloading system for the automatic warehouse equipment of the present invention can be implemented as described above, and according to the unloading system of the present invention, a plurality of loads unloaded by the traveling crane for loading and unloading of each automatic warehouse unit. Are temporarily transferred from the delivery conveyor to the transfer buffer conveyor, stored side by side in the direction parallel to the transfer direction of the delivery main conveyor, and a plurality of loads on the transfer buffer conveyor are collectively transferred to the delivery main conveyor. Therefore, it can be transferred onto the outgoing main conveyor in a short time at the same interval as the storage interval on the transfer buffer conveyor.
[0025]
Therefore, the load interval on the main delivery conveyor can be greatly reduced as compared with the case where the loads are transferred directly from the delivery conveyor of each automatic warehouse unit to the delivery main conveyor one by one. Even when a group of a plurality of loads delivered from an automatic warehouse unit is carried out without being mixed with a load delivered from another automatic warehouse unit, the delivery main conveyor can be used efficiently.
[0026]
Further , according to the configuration of the present invention, the predetermined number of loads stored on the transfer buffer conveyor, that is, the maximum number of loads that can be stored on the transfer buffer conveyor is safely and reliably stored on the main conveyor. Can be transferred simultaneously. Further , according to the configuration of the second aspect , the delivery of a small number of loads is more efficient than when waiting for delivery until a predetermined number of loads are stored on the transfer buffer conveyor regardless of time. Can do well.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an entire automatic warehouse facility.
FIG. 2A is a plan view of the main part of one automatic warehouse unit, and FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C are plan views for explaining the load transfer operation of the load transfer means.
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one automatic warehouse unit.
FIG. 4 is a plan view for explaining a transfer part from a delivery conveyor to a delivery main conveyor of one automatic warehouse unit.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a flow of a program for executing the delivery system.
[Explanation of symbols]
1A to 1N Automatic warehouse unit 2 Unloading main conveyors 3A to 3N Unloading conveyors 4A to 4N Transfer buffer conveyor 5 Shelf 6 Loading and unloading traveling crane 8 Lifting carriages 9a to 9d Load transfer means 12 Load transfer conveyor 13 Load holding and pulling out tool 14 Load storage compartments 15A to 15N Warehousing conveyor 16 Warehousing main conveyors 17, 22 Fixed stoppers 18, 25 Movable stoppers 19a, 19b, 24 Load detection sensors 20a, 20b, 23 Transfer conveyor 26 Load support area

Claims (2)

A number of automatic warehouse units consisting of a combination of shelves and loading / unloading traveling cranes are installed side by side, and the unloading conveyor that unloads the loads unloaded by the loading / unloading traveling cranes of each automatic warehouse unit becomes one unloading main conveyor. The connected traveling crane for loading and unloading of each automatic warehouse unit has a plurality of load transfer means arranged in parallel in the crane traveling direction on its lifting carriage, and can load and unload a plurality of loads at once. der is, transfer buffer conveyor between the unloading main conveyor and unloading conveyor of the automated warehouse units are arranged, each transfer buffer conveyor, the load from the unloading conveyor plurality of outgoing main conveyor It has a storage function for waiting in parallel with the transport direction, and a transfer function for transferring a plurality of waiting loads to the main conveyor. And In the automated warehouse facility is,
When the maximum number of loads that can be stored on the buffer conveyor is stored on the transfer buffer conveyor, the maximum number of loads in the transport direction is placed on the outgoing main conveyor on the upper side of the transfer buffer conveyor. When there is a continuous free space that can be transferred to a continuous state and there is a continuous free space that has not been previously assigned to another transfer buffer conveyor, and when there is a corresponding continuous free space, Unloading of automatic warehouse equipment that controls to load and unload multiple loads on the transfer buffer conveyor at the same time when the corresponding continuous empty space closest to the transfer buffer conveyor arrives system. 2. The automatic warehouse according to claim 1 , wherein when the maximum number of loads is not stored in the transfer buffer conveyor within a set time , control is performed so that the loads stored at that time are transferred to and discharged from the main conveyor. Equipment delivery system.

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