JP4046441B2 - Product storage method and storage system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a storage method and a storage system in which products (final products or intermediate products) are stored in a storage place in a form that is sorted by type.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a method of storing the transported products in a certain storage location in a form sorted by type, a plurality of stock devices (stock conveyors, etc.) allocated for each product type are arranged in parallel and upstream Products are sorted on the side and stored on the corresponding stock conveyor.
When the number of stored products reaches a specified number, they are loaded onto a pallet and carried out.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when there are many types of products, the number of stock conveyors to be arranged increases, which requires a considerably large arrangement space and increases the equipment cost.
[0004]
If all types of products are produced on average, almost all stock conveyors can be used without waste, but if the production volume is uneven rather than average, it is placed in a state where it is rarely used. Therefore, there is a stock conveyor, and the space cannot be used effectively.
[0005]
In addition, when adding a new type, a stock conveyor has to be newly added, so that the installation space is further expanded and the cost for the addition is increased.
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the object of the present invention is to inexpensively provide a product storage method and storage system capable of effectively storing space and sorting and storing it in the minimum necessary space. It is in the point to be used.
[0006]
[Means for solving the problems and effects]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a tire storage system for storing tires in a storage location in a form that is classified according to type , and grips the tire in a horizontal position in the storage location so that it can be vertically, horizontally, Gripping means for moving and placing in the front and rear three-dimensional directions, tire identification means for identifying the type of tire carried into the storage location, and control means for controlling the storage system, the control means, , Tire arrangement state storage means for storing the arrangement state of the tire at the storage location in a three-dimensional coordinate map of up, down, left and right, and front and rear, and an arbitrary place in the storage location is selected for each type of tire, Mounting position determining means for determining a mounting position, inputting the type of tire identified by the tire identifying means, based on the tire arrangement state stored in the tire arrangement state storage means. The position determining means determines a three-dimensional mounting position in the storage location of the tire, and controls the gripping means to convey the tire to the three-dimensional mounting position determined by the mounting position determining means. The tire storage system is controlled to be placed .
[0007]
Tires are not fixed in the storage location, but are placed in any position for each type, so the space available in the storage location can be used as a mounting position regardless of the type, and space is efficiently used. The tires can be sorted and stored in a storage area with the minimum necessary area.
Even when a new tire type is added, the storage system can cope with it as it is.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the invention, in a storage system of a tire according to claim 1, wherein the gripping means has at least two gripping claws to scale in the radial direction, the tire lateral posture by the same gripping claws The tire can be gripped by being inserted into the hollow portion from above and enlarged.
[0011]
Since gripping the tire annulus shapes gripping claws from the inner side, the gripping means itself can be made smaller and lighter, the tire without requiring a separate work space if necessary minimum space for mounting the tire Can be placed.
[0014]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the tire storage system according to the first or second aspect, the storage location is an intermediate storage location for temporary storage before moving to the final storage location.
[0015]
Tires can be sorted and stored in the minimum necessary area as an intermediate storage place, and space efficiency is high and work can be performed efficiently.
[0016]
The invention of claim 4, wherein, in the storage system of a tire according to claim 3, conveys the tire which has been stored in the intermediate storage location to carry-out position by the gripping means, carried out by a plurality collectively tire from the unloading position The means is carried out to a final storage place.
[0017]
The gripping means performs the movement of the tire to the carry-out position, and a separate dedicated moving means is not required, so that the cost can be reduced and the carry-out work to the final storage location can be performed efficiently.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
The present embodiment relates to a tire intermediate storage system 1 that temporarily sorts and stores a plurality of types of manufactured tires. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the entire tire intermediate storage system 1.
[0023]
Opposing parallel horizontal rails 3 and 3 are horizontally laid by a plurality of columns 2 at the same height.
Rails 4 and 4 are respectively laid on the horizontal rails 3 and 3, and traveling members 5 and 5 are supported on the rails 4 and 4 via wheels, and a guide rail 6 is interposed between the traveling members 5 and 5. The guide rail 6 is constructed between the cross rails 3 and 3 and can move in parallel along the rails 4 and 4.
[0024]
A slider 7 is slidably supported on the guide rail 6, and a vertical sliding shaft 8 penetrates the slider 7 in the vertical direction and is supported so as to be movable up and down.
A chuck 9 is provided at the lower end of the vertical sliding shaft 8 so that a plurality of gripping claws 10 arranged concentrically moves in the radial direction all at once and expands / contracts the concentric circle.
[0025]
The chuck 9 is inserted from above into the hollow portion of the tire T in a horizontal posture with the rotation center axis being vertical, and the gripping claws 10 are expanded, whereby the gripping claws 10 are locked to the bead portions of the tire T. T can be gripped, and the tire T can be released by reducing the diameter of the gripping claws 10.
[0026]
Now, if the direction in which the cross rail 3 is directed is determined as the X-axis direction, the direction in which the guide rail 6 is directed is defined as the Y-axis direction, and the direction in which the vertical sliding shaft 8 is directed is defined as the Z-axis direction, the chuck 9 is It can move in each direction.
[0027]
A motor provided on one traveling member 5 is an X-axis motor 11 that rotates the wheels of the traveling member 5 to translate the guide rail 6 in the X-axis direction. The motor mounted on the other traveling member 5 Is a Y-axis motor 12 that rotates a timing belt provided in the guide rail 6 to slide the slider 7 in the Y-axis direction. The motor mounted on the slider 7 rotates the pinion. This is a Z-axis motor 13 for sliding a vertical sliding shaft 8 integral with the rack in the Z-axis direction.
[0028]
Accordingly, the chuck 9 moves in the X-axis direction by driving the X-axis motor 11, moves in the Y-axis direction by driving the Y-axis motor 11, and moves in the Z-axis direction, that is, in the vertical direction by driving the Z-axis motor 11. Moving.
Although not shown in FIG. 1, a chuck motor 14 (see FIG. 3) for expanding and reducing the diameter of the chuck 9 is also provided.
[0029]
A space in which the chuck 9 between the pair of parallel cross rails 3 and 3 can move is an intermediate storage place S of the tire intermediate storage system 1.
A pull-in conveyor 21 for carrying the tire T into the intermediate storage location S is arranged with its downstream portion inserted into a corner of the intermediate storage location S.
[0030]
Further, a predetermined place on the opposite side to the retracting conveyor 21 in the intermediate storage place S is a place for unloading, and a shelf pallet 25 is arranged.
When a predetermined number of tires T are stacked on the shelf pallet 25, the forklift truck 26 lifts the shelf pallet 25 together and transports it to the final storage location.
[0031]
The tire intermediate storage system 1 is controlled by a computer 30, and a schematic block diagram of the control system is shown in FIG.
The computer 30 includes an XYZ coordinate map storage unit 31. The XYZ coordinate map storage unit 31 sets right-angle space coordinates (XYZ coordinates) based on the X, Y, and Z axes in the space of the intermediate storage location S. And the XYZ coordinate map which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the tire T is memorize | stored.
[0032]
In the XYZ coordinate map, together with the arrangement position of the tire T, the type of the tire T is also stored as a set.
A display label for identifying the tire is attached to the outer side surface of the bead portion of the manufactured tire T, and the display label attached to the tire T is read by the bar code reader 22 disposed in the middle of the pull-in conveyor 21. Identify the type of T.
[0033]
In addition to the case where the tire T is identified on the pull-in conveyor 21 as described above, the tire T may be identified in a tire size reading process such as a uniformity inspection on the upstream side of the pull-in conveyor 21.
[0034]
The origin of the XYZ coordinate axes may be set at any position in the intermediate storage location S. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the center of the tire T at the carry-in position downstream of the pull-in conveyor 21 is set at the origin 0. .
All the tires T arranged in the intermediate storage place S are stored in the XYZ coordinate map storage means 31 with their XYZ coordinates and tire types as a set.
[0035]
Based on the storage information of the XYZ coordinate map storage means 31, the computer 30 confirms the placement position of the loaded tire T and the loading position of the tire T to be unloaded. Means 33 are provided.
[0036]
When there is a signal instructing loading of the tire T from the loading instructing means 40, the mounting position determining means 32 inputs an identification signal from the barcode reader 22 relating to the tire T to be loaded, into the XYZ coordinate map storing means 31. The placement position of the tire T is determined based on the stored arrangement state of the tire T, and the placement position information is output to the carry-in drive control means 34.
[0037]
The carry-in drive control means 34 drives and controls the X-axis motor 11, the Y-axis motor 12, the Z-axis motor 13, and the chuck motor 14 based on the placement position information, and the tire carried in by the pull-in conveyor 21. T is moved to the determined mounting position and mounted.
[0038]
On the other hand, when there is a signal instructing to carry out the tire T from the carry-out instruction means 40, the carry-out tire position confirmation means 33 carries out the tire to be carried out based on the arrangement information of the tire T in the XYZ coordinate map stored in the XYZ coordinate map storage means 31. The position of T is confirmed, and the position information is output to the carry-out drive control means 35.
[0039]
The carry-out drive control means 35 drives and controls the X-axis motor 11, the Y-axis motor 12, the Z-axis motor 13 and the chuck motor 14 based on the position information, and the tire T placed at the position. Is moved and placed on the shelf pallet 25 at the unloading place.
[0040]
The method for determining the coordinate position of the intermediate storage location S by the placement position determination means 32 described above is that the same type of tire T has already been stored in the intermediate storage location S based on the type of the tire T loaded. Is located near the same position or on the same tire T, and the same type of tire T is not present in any of the intermediate storage locations S or specified. When the number is already placed as one block, an arbitrary position in another vacant space is selected.
Accordingly, the tires T are placed in a block form for each type.
[0041]
When there is an instruction from the carry-in instruction means 40 and it is in the carry-in mode, each type of tire T is sequentially loaded by the pull-in conveyor 21, and the type is read by the bar code reader 22 to the tire T that has reached the carry-in position. After 9 moves to the XY coordinates (0, 0), when it descends to the Z coordinates 0, that is, the XYZ coordinates (0, 0, 0), it enters the hollow portion of the tire T in the horizontal position at the loading position, where the gripping claws The diameter of the tire 10 is increased, the tire T is gripped, lifted, moved to the position determined by the mounting position determining means 32 and mounted.
[0042]
Since the placement position of the storage location of the tire T is not determined depending on the type, the vacant space of the intermediate storage location S is used as the placement location regardless of the type because it is placed at any position for each type. The product can be sorted and stored in the intermediate storage place S having the minimum necessary area by efficiently using the space efficiently.
[0043]
Also, when a new type of tire T is newly added, it is not necessary to add equipment and expand installation space, and the conventional intermediate storage place S can be used flexibly and can be dealt with flexibly without incurring additional costs.
[0044]
Further, with the above tire storage method, even when the same type of tire T is stacked on the tire T that has already been placed, the XY coordinates of the chucks 9 that hold the tire T are stacked in the same manner, so that the central axis Can be stacked straight up and no worries about collapse.
[0045]
All the tires T that are loaded and sorted and placed in this manner are stored in the XYZ coordinate map storage means 31 as XYZ coordinate maps together with their XYZ coordinate positions.
Here, the Z coordinate corresponds to the height of the tire T, and indicates a larger value as the upper tire T stacked.
[0046]
When a carry-out instruction is issued by the carry-out instruction means 41 and the carry-out mode is entered, a carry-out operation is performed for each type, and a plurality of tires T each having a certain type of tire T constituting a block are stacked on the chuck 9 at the same time. Is moved to the shelf pallet 25 at the carry-out position.
[0047]
When holding a plurality of tires T at the same time, the chuck 9 descends the hollow portions of the stacked tires T, and grips and lifts some lower tires T, so The tires T can also be lifted while being stacked at the same time, and can be moved to and placed on the shelf pallet 25 as they are.
[0048]
When the normal number of tires T of the same kind are placed on the shelf pallet 25 in this way, the forklift truck 26 lifts the entire shelf pallet 25 and carries it to the final storage location.
[0049]
Whether the chuck 9 performs the carry-in work or the carry-out work depends on the instructions of the carry-in instruction means 40 and the carry-out instruction means 41, but the carry-in instruction means 40 and the carry-out instruction means 41 belong to the computer and the computer itself determines whether to carry in or out. It is also conceivable that the operator issues an instruction and the operator operates the carry-in instruction means 40 and the carry-out instruction means 41 by looking at the storage status of the intermediate storage place S and remotely operates the work.
[0050]
The tire intermediate storage system 1 described above is used as an intermediate storage place S. From here, the forklift truck 26 is transferred to the final storage place. However, it is not always necessary to use the intermediate storage place S as the final storage place. Naturally, it can be used as a pallet, and the pallet can be loaded directly onto the truck.
[0051]
In the above embodiment, the mechanism for moving the tire T by moving the space of the storage place is one unit. However, the two units are installed side by side, and the pull-in conveyor for carrying the tire T is used in common. May be.
[0052]
Furthermore, it is conceivable that the storage location is shared and two mechanisms for moving the tire T are provided on the top and bottom.
By carrying out movement control of these two units without interfering with each other, it is possible to simultaneously carry in and carry out, and work efficiency can be improved.
[0053]
Although the tire storage system has been described in the above embodiments, the present invention can be applied to products other than tires, and the minimum required area that effectively uses space for various types of products. Efficient sorting and storage in the storage location.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of a tire intermediate storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same.
FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a control system of the tire intermediate storage system.
[Explanation of symbols]
T ... tyre, S ... intermediate storage location,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Tire intermediate storage system, 2 ... Support | pillar, 3 ... Cross rail, 4 ... Rail, 5 ... Traveling member, 6 ... Guide rail, 7 ... Slider, 8 ... Vertical sliding shaft, 9 ... Chuck, 10 ... Holding nail, 11 ... X-axis motor, 12 ... Y-axis motor, 13 ... Z-axis motor, 14 ... Chuck motor,
21 ... Pull-in conveyor, 22 ... Bar code reader, 25 ... Shelf pallet, 26 ... Forklift truck,
30 ... Computer, 31 ... XYZ coordinate map storage means, 32 ... Placement position determination means, 33 ... Carried tire position confirmation means, 34 ... Carry in drive control means, 35 ... Carry out drive control means,
40 ... carry-in instruction means, 41 ... carry-out instruction means.

Claims (4)

In a tire storage system that stores tires in a storage location in a form that is sorted by type,
A gripping means for gripping the tire in a horizontal position in a storage place and moving and placing the tire in a three-dimensional direction of up, down, left, and right;
Tire identification means for identifying the type of tire carried into the storage location;
Control means for controlling the storage system,
The control means includes
Tire arrangement state storage means for storing the arrangement state of tires in the storage location in a three-dimensional coordinate map of up and down, left and right, and front and rear;
A placement position determination means for selecting an arbitrary place in the storage place for each type of tire and determining a three-dimensional placement position of the tire;
Enter the type of tire identified by the tire identification means,
Based on the tire arrangement state stored in the tire arrangement state storage means, the above-described placement position determination means determines a three-dimensional placement position in the storage location of the tire,
A tire storage system that controls the gripping means so as to convey and place the tire at a three-dimensional placement position determined by the placement position determination means . Said gripping means has at least two gripping claws to scale in the radial direction, that gripping the tire by expanding and inserted from above into the hollow portion of the tire posture horizontally the same gripping claws The tire storage system according to claim 2, wherein: The tire storage system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage location is an intermediate storage location for temporary storage before moving to the final storage location. The conveying a tire which has been stored in the intermediate storage location to the unloading location by the gripping means, according to claim 3, wherein the plurality collectively unloading means tires from the unloading position characterized in that the unloading to the final storage location tires Storage system .

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