JP3879460B2 - Shelf equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a plurality of article holders that circulate through a fixed circulation path, and a drive unit that circulates and drives these article holders, and each of the article holders is formed with a holding portion that stores articles. Related to shelf equipment.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of shelf equipment, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-336318, a plurality of buckets storing articles are moved up and down to carry in and out of the articles. is there. Here, as shown in FIG. 14, the bucket 81 is formed with a plurality of holding portions 83 for storing the articles 82 in the frontage direction (width direction). Each bucket 81 is set with a shelf number, and each holding portion 83 is set with a storage position number. A console is provided near the center of the upper end of the loading / unloading port 85 formed in the surrounding wall 84, and a numeric key switch or the like is provided on the console.
[0003]
According to this, for example, shelf number No. No. 3 bucket 81 storage position No. When the article 82 is loaded / unloaded into / from the holding unit 83, the operator inputs the shelf number = 3 by operating the numeric key switch, whereby each bucket 81 rotates and moves as shown in FIG. Shelf number no. The third bucket 81 stops behind the loading / unloading port 85. Then, the worker stores the storage position number No. of the bucket 81. The article 82 is loaded into and unloaded from the second holding unit 83. Furthermore, the storage position number No. The holding units 83 other than 2 can be similarly loaded and unloaded.
[0004]
As described above, after the article 82 is loaded into and unloaded from the bucket 81 with a specific shelf number (for example, No. 3), the operator visually checks the holding portion 83 of the bucket 81 with the specific shelf number from the loading / unloading port 85. By doing so, it was confirmed whether the article 82 was stored in each holding portion 83 or whether the article 82 was not stored and was empty.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional format, since the operator has visually confirmed the presence or absence of the article 82 with respect to each holding portion 83 of the specific bucket 81, particularly when the number of holding portions 83 of the bucket 81 per unit increases, The above-mentioned visual inspection requires labor and increases the possibility of erroneous confirmation.
[0006]
An object of this invention is to provide the shelf installation which can confirm the presence or absence of the article | item with respect to the holding | maintenance part of a specific article holding body (bucket) quickly and correctly.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, the shelf equipment in the first invention is:
  A plurality of article holders that circulate through the circulation path, and a drive unit that circulates and drives the article holders, and each of the article holders stores a plurality of articles corresponding to the article storage position. A shelf facility in which a holding part is formed,
  A loading / unloading position for loading / unloading articles to / from the holding unit on the circulation path isOpposite the loading / unloading exitProvided,
  A photoelectric detection device is provided for detecting the presence or absence of articles in each holding section by passing the optical axis through each holding section of the article holding body stopped at the loading / unloading position,
  Inventory management means for managing inventory information based on detection by the photoelectric detection device is provided,
  A control device for operating the driving means and connected to the inventory management means is provided,
  On the operation panel to be input to the control device, a completion key that is pressed after an article has been loaded / unloaded with respect to the holding unit of the article holding body stopped at the loading / unloading position is provided,
  The control deviceCompletion key isIf pressed,Each of the above photoelectric detection devicesTheAll at onceSetThe presence / absence of an article in each holding part of the article holding body stopped at the loading / unloading position is detected.And
  The inventory management means updates the inventory information of the article holder stopped at the loading / unloading position every time detection by the photoelectric detection device is performed.Is.
[0008]
  according to this,Entry / exit positionAfter carrying in or taking out goods from the article holder that has been stopped, the specific article holderEntry / exit positionIn the state stopped inWhen the completion key on the operation panel is pressed, the photoelectric detection devices are activated all at once. AndWhen an article is present in the holding part of the specific article holder, the optical axis of the photoelectric detection device is blocked by the article, so that it is detected that the article is stored in the holding part of the specific article holder. Is done. In addition, when there is no article in the holding part of the specific article holder, the optical axis of the photoelectric detection device is not blocked, so that it is detected that the article is not stored in the holding part of the specific article holder. .
[0009]
  As described above, since the presence / absence of an article can be detected by using the photoelectric detection device, it is not necessary for an operator to visually confirm the presence / absence of an article as in the prior art. The presence / absence of an article with respect to the section can be confirmed quickly and accurately.In addition, even when a large number of holding parts are formed in one article holding body, the presence or absence of articles in each holding part can be checked quickly in a short time by pressing the completion key after loading and unloading the article holding body. It becomes possible to detect.Based on the presence / absence of the article detected as described above, the inventory management means manages inventory information.
[0012]
  The second inventionIn the shelf equipment, the photoelectric detection device is a transmission type or a reflection type in which an optical axis is formed between one detection member and the other detection member facing each other.
The one detection member and the other detection member areEntry / exit positionAre arranged in the front-rear direction of the article holder stopped at
Each article holder is formed with an open portion through which the optical axis passes.
[0015]
  The third inventionIn the shelf equipment, the article holder has a bottom plate that supports the article,
The article detection means detects the presence or absence of an article supported on the bottom plate.
  The fourth inventionIn the shelf equipment, the article holder is composed of a bottom plate and a back plate provided at the back of the bottom plate,
The opening is formed on the back plate and the bottom plate,
The optical axis passes through the holding portion through the open portion of the back plate and the open portion of the bottom plate.
[0016]
According to this, when an article does not exist in the holding part of the article holding body and is empty, the optical axis passes through the holding part through the opening part of the back plate and the opening part of the bottom plate. When the article is stored in the holding unit, the article is supported by the bottom plate, and the optical axis is blocked by the article. Since the optical axis passes through the holding portion through the open portion of the back plate and the open portion of the bottom plate, it can be detected even for articles having slightly different sizes and shapes.
[0017]
  The fifth inventionIn the shelf equipment, the position of the holding unit is predetermined with respect to the articles to be stored.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, reference numeral 1 denotes a shelf facility, which is installed in a hospital or the like for the purpose of storing a container 21 (an example of an article) that stores surgical instruments until it is used for surgery. . The shelf equipment 1 has a surrounding body 2 made of a panel material, and this surrounding body 2 is formed in a box shape by a front wall plate 2a, a rear wall plate 2b, left and right side wall plates 2c and 2d, and a top wall plate 2e. And is erected on the floor 3.
[0019]
A plurality of buckets 5 (an example of an article holder) that move on an elliptical circulation path 4 that is long in the vertical direction and driving means 6 that circulates and drives these buckets 5 are provided in the surrounding wall 2. ing.
[0020]
The driving means 6 includes a pair of left and right driven wheels 7 (sprockets, etc.) provided at the upper part in the surrounding wall body 2 and a pair of left and right driving wheel bodies 8 (sprockets, etc.) provided at the lower part in the surrounding wall body 2. And an endless rotating body 9 (such as a chain) wound between the two wheel bodies 7 and 8 facing each other in the vertical direction, and a motor 10 that rotates the driving wheel body 8 forward and backward. Both the drive wheel bodies 8 are provided on a drive shaft 11, and the drive shaft 11 is rotatably supported by an internal frame 12 disposed in the surrounding wall body 2 via a bearing (not shown). In addition, it is linked to the output shaft 14 of the motor 10 via the winding transmission mechanism 13. The motor 10 has an electromagnetic brake and is installed on a base frame 15 in the surrounding wall 2. The rotational speed of the drive shaft 11 is detected by a rotary encoder 22 (rotational speed detector: see FIG. 4).
[0021]
Each bucket 5 is attached between a pair of left and right endless rotating bodies 9 via a pair of left and right link plates 16. That is, the link plate 16 is composed of a set of two, and the bucket 5 is supported by the pin 17 connecting the free ends so as to be swingable. A lever 18 is provided on the pin 17 side, and a roller 20 guided by a guide rail 19 is provided at the free end of the lever 18. The guide rail 19 is formed in an oval shape that is long in the vertical direction, and is disposed on the inner surface side of the inner frame 12. The bucket 5 is always maintained in a constant posture on the circulation path 4 by the roller 20 being guided by the guide rail 19 as the bucket 5 moves. In addition, shelf numbers “No. 1”, “No. 2”,...
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the buckets 5 includes a bottom plate 23 that supports a plurality of containers 21, side plates 24 that are erected on both sides of the bottom plate 23, and a back portion and a side plate of the bottom plate 23. It is comprised with the backplate 25 provided between the back parts of 24, and the front surface and the upper surface are open | released. The pin 17 is provided on the side plate 24. In each bucket 5, a plurality of holding portions 26 that store the container 21 are formed in the left-right direction A (frontage direction). In addition, storage position numbers “No. 1” to “No. 5” are set in correspondence to the respective holding portions 26.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1, a carry-in / out port 27 is formed in the front wall plate 2 a of the surrounding body 2 so as to open. On the circulation path 4, a loading / unloading position P (predetermined position) for loading / unloading the container 21 with respect to each holding unit 26 is set. The loading / unloading position P is the loading / unloading position 27. Opposite the back.
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of photoelectric switches 29 a to detect the presence or absence of a container 21 in each holding portion 26 in the bucket 5 stopped at the loading / unloading position P in the surrounding body 2. 29e (an example of a photoelectric detection device) is provided. Each of the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e includes a projector 30 that emits detection light (an example of one detection member) and a light receiver 31 that receives the detection light (an example of the other detection member). The optical axis 32 is formed between the projector 30 and the light receiver 31 that are opposed to each other.
[0025]
A plurality of the projectors 30 are continuously attached to the upper horizontal member 33 provided in the surrounding body 2 in the left-right direction A at equal intervals. Each of the light receivers 31 is continuously attached to the lower horizontal member 34 provided in the surrounding body 2 and extending in the left-right direction A at equal intervals. The upper lateral member 33 is located above the drive wheel 8 and the lower lateral member 34 is located on the inner surface of the front wall plate 2a. Moreover, each said light projector 30 and the light receiver 31 are distributed in the front-back direction of the bucket 5 stopped in the loading / unloading position P, and respond | correspond to each holding part 26 of "No. 1"-"No. 5". .
[0026]
A plurality of openings 35 and 36 (an example of an open portion) through which each optical axis 32 passes are formed in the bottom plate 23 and the back plate 25 of each bucket 5. Each optical axis 32 passes through the openings 35 and 36 and passes through the holding portions 26 of “No. 1” to “No. 5”, with the bottom plate 23 side being lower and the back plate 25 side being upper. As inclined. As shown in FIG. 3A, when the container 21 is not present in the holding unit 26 and is empty, the optical axis 32 passes through the holding unit 26 through the openings 35 and 36. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the container 21 is stored in the holding portion 26, the container 21 is supported by the bottom plate 23 and the optical axis 32 is blocked by the container 21. Based on this, the presence or absence of the container 21 is detected.
[0027]
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a germicidal lamp 28 (sterilizing means) is provided above the front wall plate 2a. Further, an operation panel 38 is provided outside the front wall plate 2 a and above the loading / unloading port 27.
[0028]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the operation panel 38 is provided with a start key 39, a completion key 40, a ten key 41, a set key 42, a display unit 43, and the like. Further, the shelf facility 1 is configured to control the motor 10 and the display unit 43 based on detection signals from the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e and input signals from the rotary encoder 22 and various keys 39 to 42. A device 45 is provided. The control device 45 is connected to an inventory management computer 46 (an example of inventory management means) that manages and updates inventory management data (an example of inventory information) based on detection by the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e. Yes. An attached printer 47, CRT 48 and keyboard 49 are connected to the inventory management computer 46.
[0029]
In addition, a container number is added to the container 21, and the contents of the container 21 are specified for each container number. For example, a gauze is stored in the container 21 with the container number “A1”, and a knife such as a knife is stored in the container 21 with the container number “A2”. For each container 21 to be stored, the shelf number of the bucket 5 and the storage position number of the holding unit 26 are determined in a one-to-one correspondence, and such a correspondence is defined as a fixed location. I'm calling. FIG. 8 is a location table 50 showing the above-mentioned fixed locations, and shows a correspondence relationship between the shelf number of the bucket 5, the storage position number of the holding unit 26, and the container number of the container 21. The location table 50 is attached outside the front wall plate 2a and above the operation panel 38 as shown in FIG.
[0030]
Next, the contents of control by the control device 45 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
First, the identification of the object of entry or exit
It is determined whether the shelf number of the (target) bucket 5 has been input by the ten key 41 and the set key 42 (step-1). Next, the input shelf number is displayed on the display unit 43 (step-2), and then it is determined whether the start key 39 has been pressed (step-3). If it is pressed, the motor 10 is driven ( Step-4). Then, it is determined whether or not the specific bucket 5 has reached the loading / unloading position P (step-5), and if it has reached, the motor 10 is stopped (step-6). At this time, since the rotational speed of the drive shaft 11 is detected by the rotary encoder 22, the position of each bucket 5 on the circulation path 4 is calculated and specified based on this.
[0031]
Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the completion key 40 has been pressed (step-7), and the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e are operated simultaneously to detect the presence of goods (step-8). Thereafter, the result of the presence detection is transmitted to the inventory management computer 46 (step-9).
[0032]
Hereinafter, the loading / unloading work for the shelf equipment 1 will be described.
(1) Goods issue
For example, when the container 21 with the container numbers “A2” and “A5” necessary for the operation is issued, the worker looks at the location table 50 shown in FIG. Select an article holder. The inventory management data of the bucket 5 with the shelf number “No. 1” at this time is stored in the storage position numbers “No. 1” to “No. 3” and “No. 5” as shown in FIG. Assume that the container 21 is stored in the holding unit 26.
[0033]
Then, the worker presses the “1” numeric key 41 and presses the set key 42. Thereby, the shelf number “No. 1” is input, and the shelf number “No. 1” is displayed on the display unit 43. Thereafter, when the operator presses the start key 39, the motor 10 is driven, and each bucket 5 moves on the circulation path 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the bucket 5 with the shelf number "No. 1" It moves to the loading / unloading position P and stops.
[0034]
In this state, the worker unloads the containers 21 stored in the holding portions 26 having the storage position numbers “No. 2” and “No. 5” from the loading / unloading port 27. Thereafter, when the operator presses the completion key 40, the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e are simultaneously operated, and the storage position numbers “No. 1” to “No. 1” of the bucket 5 having the shelf number “No. 1” are operated. The presence detection is performed on the holding unit 26 of “5”.
[0035]
In this case, since the containers 21 stored in the holding portions 26 having the storage position numbers “No. 2” and “No. 5” have been delivered, the holding portions 26 having the storage position numbers “No. 2” and “No. 5” are stored. As shown in FIG. 3A, the optical axis 32 is formed in the holding portion 26 of the storage position numbers “No. 2” and “No. 5”, thereby the storage position number “No. 2”. It is detected that there is no container 21 in the holding unit 26 of “No. 5”. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the inventory management data corresponding to the storage position numbers “No. 2” and “No. 5” of the shelf number “No. 1” is updated from presence to absence.
[0036]
Furthermore, when the container 21 is subsequently discharged from the bucket 5 other than the shelf number “No. 1”, for example, the bucket 5 having the shelf number “No. 2”, the operator uses the numeric keypad “2” in the same manner as described above. By pressing 41 and pressing the set key 42, the bucket 5 with shelf number “No. 2” moves to the loading / unloading position P and stops. Then, after the worker leaves the container 21 from the bucket 5 with the shelf number “No. 2”, the operator presses the completion key 40. As a result, the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e are actuated all at once, and are present with respect to the holding portions 26 of the storage position numbers “No. 1” to “No. 5” of the bucket 5 having the shelf number “No. 2”. The load detection is performed, and the inventory management data corresponding to the shelf number “No. 2” is updated.
[0037]
Note that when the container 21 is unloaded from the bucket 5 having the other shelf number, the same operation as described above is performed.
(2) Warehousing work
For example, when the container 21 with the container numbers “A2” and “A5” used for the operation is stored after the operation, the operator selects the bucket 5 with the shelf number “No. 1” by looking at the location table 50 in FIG. Note that the inventory management state of the bucket 5 with the shelf number “No. 1” at this time is as shown in FIG. 11 in which the container 21 is placed in the holding unit 26 with the storage position numbers “No. 1” and “No. 3”. It is stored.
[0038]
Then, the worker presses the “1” numeric key 41 and presses the set key 42. Thereby, the shelf number “No. 1” is input, and the shelf number “No. 1” is displayed on the display unit 43. Thereafter, when the operator presses the start key 39, the motor 10 is driven, each bucket 5 moves on the circulation path 4, and the bucket 5 with shelf number “No. 1” moves to the loading / unloading position P. And stop.
[0039]
In this state, the worker enters the container 21 with the container number “A2” into the holding unit 26 with the storage position number “No. 2”, and puts the container 21 with the container number “A5” into the storage position number “No. 5”. Is stored in the holding unit 26. Thereafter, when the operator presses the completion key 40, the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e are simultaneously operated, and the storage position numbers “No. 1” to “No. 1” of the bucket 5 having the shelf number “No. 1” are operated. The presence detection is performed on the holding unit 26 of “5”.
[0040]
In this case, since the container 21 is stored in the holding unit 26 having the empty storage position numbers “No. 2” and “No. 5”, the storage position number “No. 2” is displayed as shown in FIG. The optical axis 32 passing through the holding unit 26 of “No. 5” is blocked by the stored container 21, so that the container 21 is placed in the holding unit 26 of the storage position numbers “No. 2” and “No. 5”. Is detected. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the inventory management data corresponding to the storage position numbers “No. 2” and “No. 5” of the shelf number “No. 1” is updated from “No” to “Yes”.
[0041]
Further, when the container 21 is subsequently received into the bucket 5 other than the shelf number “No. 1”, for example, the bucket 5 with the shelf number “No. 2”, the numeric keypad with the operator “2” is used in the same manner as described above. By pressing 41 and pressing the set key 42, the bucket 5 with shelf number “No. 2” moves to the loading / unloading position P and stops. Then, after the worker enters the container 21 into the bucket 5 with the shelf number “No. 2”, the operator presses the completion key 40. As a result, the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e are actuated all at once, and are present with respect to the holding portions 26 of the storage position numbers “No. 1” to “No. 5” of the bucket 5 having the shelf number “No. 2”. The load detection is performed, and the inventory management data corresponding to the shelf number “No. 2” is updated.
[0042]
In addition, when the container 21 is stored in the bucket 5 having the other shelf number, the same operation as described above is performed.
In (1) and (2) above, warehousing and warehousing are performed separately. However, by pressing the numeric key 41, the bucket 5 having a specific shelf number is called to the warehousing / unloading position P, and the container is loaded into the bucket 5. It is also possible to carry out 21 issues and receipts in a mixed manner.
[0043]
As described above, at the time of loading / unloading, the presence / absence of the container 21 with respect to each holding portion 26 of the bucket 5 stopped at the loading / unloading position P can be detected using the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e. Therefore, it is not necessary for the operator to visually confirm the presence / absence of the container 21. Accordingly, the presence / absence of the container 21 with respect to each holding portion 26 of the bucket 5 is quickly and accurately confirmed. Data is updated. In particular, even when the number of holding units 26 formed in one bucket 5 is large, it is possible to quickly detect the presence or absence of the container 21 in each holding unit 26 in a short time.
[0044]
In addition, the container 21 stored in the holding portion 26 of each bucket 5 is sterilized by a sterilization lamp 28.
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the projector 30 is provided on the upper horizontal member 33 and the light receiver 31 is provided on the lower horizontal member 34, but the light receiver 31 is provided on the upper horizontal member 33. The projector 30 may be provided on the lower horizontal member 34 to reverse the radiation direction of the detection light.
[0045]
As a second embodiment, the inventory management computer 46 has a clock function, and as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the date and time of delivery (that is, the date and time when inventory detection data inventory detection was switched from presence to absence). ) And the date and time of warehousing (that is, the date and time when the stock detection of inventory management data was switched from none to presence) may be added to the inventory management data.
[0046]
In the first embodiment, one type of container 21 is handled, but as a third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of types of containers 21 having different sizes and shapes are used. You may handle them together. Even in this case, since the optical axis 32 is inclined through the openings 35 and 36 and passes through the holding portions 26, even the containers 21 having different sizes and shapes can be detected. 12A shows the container 21 with a low height, and FIG. 12B shows the container 21 with a short depth.
[0047]
Further, in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal intervals A of the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e are set at equal intervals, but containers 21 having different sizes and shapes are mixed. In this case, the intervals in the left-right direction A of the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e may be changed according to the size and shape of the container 21 instead of equal intervals.
[0048]
Moreover, as 4th Embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the support plate 61 is provided above the baseplate 23 from the backplate 25 of each bucket 5, Each holding part 26 is the upper holding part 26a and the lower holding part. 26b and divided into two stages. The light projector 30 and the light receiver 31 are also mounted in two upper and lower stages, respectively, and an upper optical axis 32 is formed between the upper light projector 30 and the light receiver 31 facing each other. A lower optical axis 32 is formed between the optical device 31 and the device 31. The upper portion of the back plate 25 and the support plate 61 are formed with upper openings 62 and 63 (an example of an open portion) through which the upper optical axis 32 passes, and the lower portion and the bottom plate of the back plate 25. 23, lower openings 35 and 36 (an example of an opening) through which the lower optical axis 32 passes are formed.
[0049]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e are transmissive type composed of the light projector 30 and the light receiver 31, but are reflective type composed of the light emitter / receiver and the reflector. May be used. In this case, the light emitter / receiver is provided on one of the upper horizontal member 33 and the lower horizontal member 34, and the reflector is provided on the other.
[0050]
In each said embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the holding | maintenance part 26 of "No. 1"-"No. 5" is formed in each bucket 5, but it is not limited to five, A plurality other than five may be used. Further, the number of photoelectric switches 29a to 29e may be increased or decreased according to the number of the holding portions 26.
[0051]
In each of the above embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the circulation path 4 is formed in an oval shape that is long in the vertical direction, but each bucket is placed on the circulation path 4 that is formed in an oval shape that is long in the front-rear direction. 5 may be a moving form. In each of the above embodiments, each bucket 5 is circulated in a vertical plane, but may be circulated in a horizontal plane.
[0052]
In each of the above embodiments, the fixed location method is used, but the present invention is not limited to the fixed location method.
In each of the above-described embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, one loading / unloading port 27 and one loading / unloading position P are provided, but a plurality of loading / unloading positions 27 may be provided.
[0053]
In each of the above embodiments, the container 21 that stores the surgical instrument is given as an example of the article that is stored in the bucket 5, but is not limited to the container 21.
In each of the above embodiments, the presence of the holding parts 26 of “No. 1” to “No. 5” is simultaneously detected by the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e, but the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e are completely The presence detection may be performed at the same time, or the presence detection may be performed with a slight shift, not at the same time.
[0054]
In each of the embodiments described above, each bucket 5 can be rotated in the forward and reverse directions along the circulation path 4 by the motor 10, but each bucket 5 is rotated in only one direction. Also good.
[0055]
In each said embodiment, although the container 21 is detected with respect to the bucket 5 stopped at the loading / unloading position P set behind the loading / unloading port 27, the detection position is limited to the loading / unloading position P. For example, the container 21 may be detected for the bucket 5 one level lower (or one level higher) than the loading / unloading position P.
[0056]
In each of the above embodiments, the presence or absence of the container 21 in the bucket 5 is detected using the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e, but a small camera (CCD camera) or the like is used instead of the photoelectric switches 29a to 29e. The presence or absence of the container 21 may be detected. In this case, the barcode of the container 21 can be read with a small camera.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, according to the first invention, since it is possible to detect the presence / absence of an article using a photoelectric detection device, it is not necessary for an operator to visually confirm the presence / absence of an article as in the prior art.Even when a plurality of holding parts are formed on one article holding body, it is stopped at the loading / unloading position.The presence / absence of an article with respect to the holding part of the article holder can be confirmed quickly and accurately. Inventory information can be managed by the inventory management means based on the presence or absence of the article detected as described above.
[0059]
  Also,The second inventionAccording to the present invention, when an article is present in the holding part of the specific article holder after the article has been entered / exited at the entry / exit position, the optical axis of the photoelectric detection device is the article. Therefore, it is detected that the article is stored in the holding part of the specific article holder. In addition, when there is no article in the holding part of the specific article holder, the optical axis of the photoelectric detection device is not blocked, so that it is detected that the article is not stored in the holding part of the specific article holder. .
[0060]
  Also,The fourth inventionAccording to the above, since the optical axis passes through the holding portion through the open portion of the back plate and the open portion of the bottom plate, even an article having a slightly different size and shape can be detected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a mounting portion of a photoelectric detection device for shelf equipment in a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing the arrangement relationship between the bucket and the photoelectric detection device at the loading / unloading position of the shelf facility.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing the arrangement relationship between the bucket of the shelf equipment and the photoelectric detection device, where (a) shows that the holding unit is empty, and (b) shows that the container is stored in the holding unit. Show the case.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control system of the shelf equipment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of an operation panel of the shelf equipment.
FIG. 6 is a side view showing the internal configuration of the shelf facility.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shelf facility.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a shelf facility location table.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of control by the shelf equipment control apparatus.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing inventory management data of shelf equipment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing inventory management data of shelf equipment.
FIG. 12 is a side view showing an arrangement relationship between a bucket of a shelf facility and a photoelectric detection device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, (a) showing the presence detection for a container having a low height, (B) shows the presence detection with respect to a container with a short depth.
FIG. 13 is a side view showing an arrangement relationship between a bucket of a shelf facility and a photoelectric detection device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a front view of a bucket of conventional shelf equipment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 shelf equipment
4 circulation routes
5 bucket (goods holder)
6 Driving means
21 Container (goods)
23 Bottom plate
25 Backboard
26 Holding part
29a to 29e photoelectric switch (article detection means, photoelectric detection device)
30 Floodlight (one detection member)
31 Light receiver (the other detection member)
32 optical axes
35, 36 Opening (opening)
46 Inventory management computer (inventory management means)
P Entry / exit position (predetermined position)

Claims (5)

A plurality of article holders that circulate through the circulation path, and a drive unit that circulates and drives the article holders, and each of the article holders stores a plurality of articles corresponding to the article storage position. A shelf facility in which a holding part is formed,
A loading / unloading position for loading / unloading articles with respect to the holding unit on the circulation path is provided opposite the loading / unloading port ,
A photoelectric detection device is provided for detecting the presence or absence of articles in each holding section by passing the optical axis through each holding section of the article holding body stopped at the loading / unloading position,
Inventory management means for managing inventory information based on detection by the photoelectric detection device is provided,
A control device for operating the driving means and connected to the inventory management means is provided,
On the operation panel to be input to the control device, a completion key that is pressed after an article has been loaded / unloaded with respect to the holding unit of the article holder stopped at the loading / unloading position is provided,
The control unit, if the end key is pressed to detect the presence or absence of an article in each holding section of each photoelectric detecting device simultaneously actuates the upper inlet-outlet positioned to stop the above article holding member,
The shelf equipment characterized in that the inventory management means updates inventory information of an article holder stopped at the loading / unloading position every time detection by the photoelectric detection device is performed . The photoelectric detection device is of a transmission type or a reflection type in which an optical axis is formed between one detection member and the other detection member facing each other.
The one detection member and the other detection member are provided in the front-rear direction of the article holding body stopped at the loading / unloading position,
The shelf equipment according to claim 1, wherein an open part through which the optical axis passes is formed in each article holder. The article holder has a bottom plate that supports the article,
The shelf equipment according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the article detection means detects the presence or absence of an article supported on the bottom plate. The article holder is composed of a bottom plate and a back plate provided at the back of the bottom plate,
The opening is formed on the back plate and the bottom plate,
The shelf facility according to claim 2, wherein the optical axis passes through the holding portion through the open portion of the back plate and the open portion of the bottom plate. The shelf equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a position of the holding portion is determined in advance with respect to an article to be stored.

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