JP4076198B2 - Rotating shelf - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rotating shelf that rotates along a horizontal circulation path, and more particularly to a rotating shelf that can rotate an article storage device at a high speed without disturbing the stored articles.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional technique related to a rotating shelf, the one described in JP-A-1-162610 is known.
[0003]
The prior art described in the above publication will be described. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-162610, a plurality of storage boxes can be circulated on an elongated base, and between a driving vehicle and a driven vehicle respectively provided in the longitudinal direction of the base. An elliptical drive endless flexible body is drivably wrapped around the drive endless flexible body, and arcuate guides are provided on both the driving and driven vehicle sides in the longitudinal direction of the drive endless flexible body to form a quadratic curve. A recycle warehouse is listed.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above conventional techniques have the following problems.
[0005]
That is, in the circulation type warehouse described in JP-A-1-162610, the rotation path of the drive endless flexible body (toothed belt, chain, etc.) is elliptical and not (true) circular. However, there is a problem in that it is not compatible with a rotating shelf having a circular swirl path that is manufactured in a conventional manner.
[0006]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to restrict the swivel path of the endless chain with a guide having a plurality of curvatures formed on the basis of a (true) circle, thereby increasing the article storage device without disturbing the stored article. The object is to provide a rotating shelf that can be rotated at a speed.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides a plurality of vertical shelves each having a plurality of article storage devices attached to an endless chain via two vertical rollers and rotated along an elliptical horizontal circulation path. A rotating shelf having a structure in which an article storage device and a storage device are disposed in the middle of a horizontal circulation path, and the endless chain driving device is disposed in a straight path of the endless chain, the turning path The vertical roller of the endless chain is regulated by a fixed guide having a plurality of curvatures formed on the basis of a circle, and from the straight path side of the endless chain toward the center part side of the turning path, curvature is formed so that stepwise increased, further guide the regulating portion provided two upper and lower, the upper guide is in height in contact with the upper vertical axis rollers of the endless chain, the lower guide the endless chain Disposed at a height which is in contact with the lower side of the vertical axis roller down, it is obtained by achieving the above object by providing a carousel, characterized in that positions the endless chain in the space between the upper and lower guide .
[0008]
Moreover, it is preferable that the horizontal circulation path of the endless chain is oval.
[0009]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
[0010]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an article assortment facility using a rotating shelf according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the rotating shelf shown in FIG. 1 (however, the number of attached article storage devices is different). 3 is a schematic plan view of the swivel moving part of the rotating shelf shown in FIG. 2, and the article storage tool (tray) is indicated by a virtual line. 4 is an enlarged view of the swivel moving unit shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the shape of the guide of the swivel moving unit shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the swivel moving unit of the rotating shelf shown in FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 6 (however, the shape of the tray mounting plate is another embodiment different from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6), and FIG. 8 is a rotating shelf shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view of a drive device for an endless chain (however, the shape of the tray mounting plate is another embodiment different from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6), 10 is a side (cross-sectional) view of FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 10, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the endless chain of the other embodiment shown in FIGS. FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of the turning movement unit of the rotating shelf shown in FIG.
[0011]
In these drawings, 1 is a rotating shelf for rotating a plurality of article storage devices (tray) 12 attached to an endless chain 14 along a horizontal (oval) circulation path, and 2 is a straight line of the rotating shelf 1. A transfer device arranged on the side of the moving unit, 3 is a storage device arranged on the side of the linear moving unit of the rotating shelf 1, and 4 is arranged on the side of the linear moving unit of the rotating shelf 1. The unloading device 5 is a carry-in conveyor disposed along the linear moving portion of the rotating shelf 1, and 6 is a carry-out conveyor disposed along the linear moving portion of the rotating shelf 1. C is regulated by a guide 15 having a plurality of curvatures formed on the basis of a circle, and driving devices 16 for the endless chain 14 are disposed at a plurality of locations in the straight path S of the endless chain 14. The guide 15 is fixed and formed so that the curvature of the guide 15 gradually increases from the straight path S side of the endless chain 14 toward the center of the turning path C. Thus, in the article assembling method by the article assembling facility described above, the articles G carried in via the carry-in conveyor 5 are placed one by one in the storage tray 12 of the rotating shelf 1 by the warehouse 3. When the shipping request (for example, information on the shipping order for each shipping destination and its shipping type, quantity data, etc.) is determined, the article G is taken out from the storage tray 12 in advance, A plurality of types (variety) of articles G that have been taken out are transferred and aligned by the transfer device 2 so as to be stored in the order in which they are delivered to a plurality of continuous trays 12 that are attached to the endless chain 14. It is supposed to do. Accordingly, when the shipment truck or the like arrives, the articles G have already been arranged in the order in which they are delivered to the assortment tray 12, so that the desired articles G are delivered in the desired order in a very short time. be able to.
[0012]
Explaining each part in the above embodiment, the rotating shelf 1 is configured by laminating a plurality of rotating shelf units 11 at appropriate intervals (in the example shown in FIG. 1, 10 levels). A plurality of trays 12 mounted at equal intervals on the endless chain 14 are supported so as to be able to travel (rotate) on a traveling rail 13 disposed along a horizontal oval circulation path, and are endless. The chain 14 is wound around guides 15 that are fixedly installed at the swivel moving portions at both ends, is stretched along the traveling rail 13, and the endless chain 14 is rotated by a plurality of driving devices 16 that are operated in conjunction with each other. Thus, the rotating shelf can be rotated independently of the rotating shelf unit 11 at the other stage. Note that each rotating shelf unit 11 is configured to be rotated independently of the rotating shelf units 11 of the other stages, but the tray 12 is appropriately attached to one or a plurality of endless chains 14 that are operated synchronously. The rotating shelf 1 may be configured by laminating a plurality of rotating shelf units 11 fixed to a plurality of stages at intervals, and stacking a plurality of rotating shelf units 11 (a plurality of stages). Also, but it may also constitute the carousel 1 by a plurality of sets (a plurality of stages) laminating the carousel itself 11 consisting of carousels alone 11 a plurality of stages consisting of one stage.
[0013]
Thus, the tray 12 includes a bottom plate 121, a side wall 122, a back wall 123, and the like, and a chain mounting plate 124 attached to the bottom plate 121 is fixed to a tray mounting plate 143 attached to the endless chain 14. It is attached to the endless chain 14 at equal intervals. Reference numeral 125 denotes a pair of outer horizontal shaft rollers that are pivotally supported on the outer bottom surface of the bottom plate 121, and 126 is a rear horizontal shaft roller that is pivotally supported on the bottom surface of the bottom plate 121. Further, a chevron-shaped protrusion 127 is formed on the outer end portion of the bottom plate 121, and the outer end portion 128 of the side wall 122 is widened laterally.
[0014]
The traveling rail 13 includes a pair of groove-type rails 131 that form a linear moving part of the rotating shelf unit 11 (tray 12) and a pair of plate-like rails that form a turning movement unit of the rotating shelf unit 11 (tray 12). 132.
[0015]
Further, the endless chain 14 has a guide vertical shaft roller 142 above and below a standard roller chain (for example, a transmission roller chain of “JIS B 1801 60”) 141 at a predetermined interval (for example, 133.35 mm, 152.4 mm). The tray mounting plate 143 is mounted so as to connect the upper parts of the vertical axis rollers 142 that are mounted at intervals of 152.4 mm narrower than the width dimension of the tray 12 (for example, 365 mm). It has been. The endless chain 14 shown in FIG. 12 is an embodiment when the length of the tray mounting plate 143 is made larger than the width dimension of the tray 12.
[0016]
Further, the guide 15 fixedly installed on the swivel moving part of the rotating shelf alone 11 (tray 12) is provided with a restricting part (curved portion indicated by a solid line in FIG. 5) in order to restrict the turning path C of the endless chain 14. ) Is composed of a plurality of curvatures in plan view, and the curvature of the restricting portion increases stepwise from the straight path S side of the endless chain 14 toward the center portion side of the turning route C (the radius of curvature increases stepwise). (Becomes smaller). For example, when the turning path C is formed based on a circle (along the circle) and the radius of the circle is 400 mm (see FIG. 5), the turning path C from the straight path S side of the endless chain 14. On the circumference of a circle with a radius of 400 mm toward the center of the circle, the point with a central angle of 0 ° is a, the point at 22.5 ° is b, the point at 45 ° is c, the point at 67.5 ° is d , A point of 90 ° is defined as e, an arc having a radius of 1600 mm passing through point a and point b (curvature), an arc having a radius of 800 mm passing through point b and point c (curvature), point c and point d An arc having a radius of 530 mm passing (curvature), an arc having a radius of 400 mm (curvature) passing through points d and e (part of a circle based on the turning path C), and a straight path S around the point a (Curvature) half An arc with a radius of 200 mm in contact with an arc with a diameter of 1600 mm, an arc with a radius of 1600 mm around the point b and an arc with a radius of 1600 mm and an arc with an radius of 800 mm (curvature), an arc with a radius of 200 mm around the point c (curvature) with an radius of 800 mm A half of the restricting portion of the guide 15 is formed by a combination of a plurality of (seven) circular arcs each connecting a circular arc of 200 mm and a circular arc having a radius of curvature of 530 mm and a circular arc of 200 mm in radius. However, the restricting portion with respect to 90 ° to 180 ° is formed in line symmetry with the restricting portion with respect to the central angle of 0 ° to 90 °. That is, the restricting portion of the guide 15 is connected by a short arc having a radius of 200 mm in order to smoothly connect the respective arcs whose curvature radii are gradually reduced. The radius is formed such that the radius decreases gradually from 1600 mm, 800 mm, 530 mm, and 400 mm toward the central portion of the turning path C from the straight path S side of the endless chain 14 (the curvature increases stepwise). Yes. The upper and lower guides 15 having the restricting portion formed as described above are provided, and the restricting portion of the upper guide 15 is set to a height at which it comes into contact with the upper vertical shaft roller 142 of the endless chain 14. Since the restricting portion of the guide 15 is disposed at a height in contact with the lower vertical shaft roller 142 of the endless chain 14, the upper and lower vertical shaft rollers 142 of the endless chain 14 each have two upper and lower guides. The standard roller chain 141 of the endless chain 14 forms a string connecting the vertical axis roller 142 and the adjacent vertical axis roller 142 as shown in FIG. In a state where a polygon having a corner of the vertical shaft roller 142 is formed), that is, in a state where a part of the standard roller chain 141 enters a gap 151 between the upper guide 15 and the lower guide 15. Is regulated to be turned, the turning path C of the endless chain 14 will be restricted by the two upper and lower arcuate guide 15. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, it is difficult to understand that a part of the standard roller chain 141 is in the gap 151 between the upper guide 15 and the lower guide 15. This will become clear in the description of the embodiment (see FIG. 14) in which it is easy to understand that a part is in the gap 151 between the upper guide 15 and the lower guide 15.
[0017]
14 shows an embodiment in which the length of the tray mounting plate 143 of the endless chain 14 is larger than the width of the tray 12, and the standard roller chain 141 of the endless chain 14 has a vertical axis adjacent to the vertical axis roller 142. A state in which a chord (419.1 mm in length) connecting with the roller 142 is formed (a polygon having corners of the respective vertical axis rollers 142), that is, most of the standard roller chain 141 is the upper guide 15 And the lower guide 15 is restricted so as to turn in a state where it enters a gap 151.
[0018]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the driving devices 16 are arranged at a plurality of locations in the straight path S of the endless chain 14, one for each of the 29 trays 12 attached to the endless chain 14 at equal intervals. The drive devices 16 are composed of a pair of drive sprockets 161 arranged along the endless chain 14, a drive motor 162, and the like. The standard roller chain 141 of the endless chain 14 is rotated in both the normal rotation direction and the reverse rotation direction along the elliptical circulation path by the drive sprocket 161. The tray 12, the endless chain 14, the driving device 16 and the like are unitized. For example, the rotating shelf 1 (the rotating shelf alone 11 is provided), with 50 trays 12 as one unit and 200 trays 12 attached to the endless chain 14. ), The four drive units 16 may be provided at equal intervals in the straight path S of the endless chain 14.
[0019]
Moreover, the transfer device 2 of the goods assortment facility using the rotating shelf 1 is arranged by the side of the linear moving part of the rotating shelf 1, and two masts are installed horizontally on the upper part thereof. It consists of an upper frame, a lower frame installed horizontally below it, a lifting platform that moves up and down along the two masts, and a pair of fork devices mounted on the lifting platform. Thus, the article G is taken out from the storage tray 12 and stored in the assortment tray 12. Note that the fork device is configured to be able to face the rotating shelf units 11 of all stages by raising and lowering the lifting platform.
[0020]
In addition, two warehousing devices 3 are arranged on the side of the linear moving part of the rotating shelf 1, and like the transfer device 2, each of the two masts, an upper frame horizontally disposed on the upper portion thereof, and a lower portion thereof. The lower frame is installed horizontally, the elevator is moved up and down along the two masts, and the pair of fork devices mounted on the elevator. The article G on the entry station of the carry-in conveyor 5 is taken in and stored in the storage tray 12. Note that the fork device is configured to be able to face the rotating shelf units 11 of all stages by raising and lowering the lifting platform.
[0021]
In addition, the unloading device 4 is disposed on the side of the linear moving portion of the rotating shelf 1 and, like the transfer device 2, each has two masts, an upper frame horizontally installed on the upper portion thereof, and a horizontal frame on the lower portion thereof. It consists of a lower frame, a lifting platform that moves up and down along the two masts, and a pair of fork devices mounted on the lifting platform. It is configured to be retractable, and the article G is taken out from the tray 12 for assortment and placed on the delivery station of the carry-out conveyor 6. In addition, the fork device is configured so as to face the rotating shelf unit 11 in the first to third stages from the bottom by raising and lowering the lifting platform.
[0022]
The carry-in conveyor 5 is a drive roller conveyor that is disposed along the linear moving portion of the rotating shelf 1 and that has four warehousing stations at the terminal and intermediate portions thereof.
[0023]
Further, the carry-out conveyor 6 is arranged along the linear moving part of the rotating shelf 1 and has a start end part 62 made of a driving roller conveyor provided with two delivery stations, a transport part 63 made of a horizontal drive roller conveyor, and a start end part 62. The swinging part 64 is composed of a swinging belt conveyor that connects the transporting part 63 and the transporting part 63. The swinging part 64 keeps the end part on the transporting part 63 side at a constant height and Following the raising and lowering of the starting end portion 62 mounted on the lifting platform, the end portion on the starting end portion 62 side can be raised and lowered.
[0024]
Thus, in the article assembling method by the article assembling facility described above, the articles G carried in via the carry-in conveyor 5 are placed one by one in the storage tray 12 of the rotating shelf 1 by the warehouse 3. When the shipping request (for example, information on the shipping order for each shipping destination and its shipping type, quantity data, etc.) is determined, the article G is taken out from the storage tray 12 in advance, A plurality of types (types) of articles G that have been taken out are transferred and aligned so as to be stored in the order in which they are delivered to the assortment tray 12 by the transfer device 2. Accordingly, when the shipment truck or the like arrives, the articles G have already been arranged in the order in which they are delivered to the assortment tray 12, so that the desired articles G are delivered in the desired order in a very short time. be able to.
[0025]
Next, a reference example in the case where the turning path C of the endless chain 14 has a constant (curvature) radius will be described with respect to the acceleration that occurs when the endless chain 14 changes from the straight path S to the turning path C. That is, as shown in FIG. 15 , the rotation speed V0 of the endless chain 14 is 25 m / min, the radius of the turning path C is 400 mm, and the interval P between the vertical shaft rollers 142 of the endless chain 14 is 140 mm (shown in FIG. 4 and the like). In this embodiment, when the distance Ls between the vertical shaft roller 142 of the endless chain 14 and the outer end of the tray 12 is 550 mm, the rotational speed of the outer end of the tray 12 in the straight path S V1 is 25 m / min, and the rotation speed V2 of the outer end portion of the tray 12 in the turning path C is 59.4 m / min. Further, the time t required for the pair of vertical axis rollers 142 attached at the interval P of 140 mm to transfer from the straight path S to the turning path C is 0.336 s. Accordingly, the acceleration α generated at the outer end of the tray 12 when the endless chain 14 changes from the straight path S to the turning path C is 0.17 times the value of gravity.
[0026]
In contrast to the reference example in the case where the turning path C of the endless chain 14 has a constant curvature (radius), from the straight path S side of the endless chain 14 to the center part side of the turning path C as in the rotating shelf 1 of the present invention. If the curvature of the guide 15 is increased stepwise (the radius of curvature decreases stepwise), as shown in FIG. 16 , the rotation speed V0 of the endless chain 14 is 25 m / min, the radius of curvature of the turning path C is 1600 mm, the interval P between the vertical shaft rollers 142 of the endless chain 14 is 140 mm (152.4 mm in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and the like), and the vertical shaft rollers 142 of the endless chain 14 When the distance Ls to the outer end of the tray 12 is 550 mm, the rotation speed V1 of the outer end of the tray 12 in the straight path S is 25 m / min, Rotation speed V2 of the outer end of Lei 12 is 33.6m / min. Further, the time t required for the pair of vertical axis rollers 142 attached at the interval P of 140 mm to transfer from the straight path S to the turning path C is 0.336 s. Therefore, the acceleration α generated at the outer end of the tray 12 when the endless chain 14 changes from the straight path S to the turning path C is 0.04 times the value of gravity.
[0027]
Further, as shown in FIG. 17, when the rotation speed V0 of the endless chain 14 is 25 m / min and the (curvature) radius of the turn path C is changed from 1600 mm to 800 mm, the turn path C in the turn path C having a (curvature) radius of 1600 mm. The rotation speed V2 of the outer end portion of the tray 12 is 33.6 m / min, the rotation speed V3 of the outer end portion of the tray 12 in the turning path C in which the (curvature) radius is 800 mm is 42.2 m / min, The time t required for the pair of vertical axis rollers 142 attached at a spacing P of 140 mm to transfer from the turning path C having a (curvature) radius of 1600 mm to the turning path C having a (curvature) radius of 800 mm is 0.336 s. Therefore, when the endless chain 14 changes the radius of curvature of the turning path C from 1600 mm to 800 mm, Jill acceleration α is 0.04 times the value of gravity.
[0028]
Therefore, the curvature of the restricting portion of the guide 15 increases stepwise from the straight path S side of the endless chain 14 toward the center of the turning path C as in the case of the rotating shelf 1 of the present invention (the radius of curvature increases stepwise). If the swirl path C of the endless chain 14 has a constant (curvature) radius, the article G accommodated in the tray 12 is less than the reference example. By sliding on the bottom plate 121, it is possible to prevent the transfer device 2 or the like from being inclined (rotated) with respect to the exit / retreat direction (of the fork device). Further, even if the rotational speed V0 of the endless chain 14 is increased from 25 m / min to 50 m / min, the acceleration α generated at the outer end of the tray 12 is 0.17 times the value of gravity, that is, the endless shown in FIG. In the reference example when the turning path C of the chain 14 has a constant (curvature) radius, the same value as the acceleration α generated at the outer end of the tray 12 when the rotation speed V0 of the endless chain 14 is 25 m / min. Therefore, the article G stored in the tray 12 slides on the bottom plate 121 of the tray 12 without increasing the amount of inclination (rotation) of the transfer device 2 or the like (with respect to the fork device). The high speed rotation of the rotating shelf 1 can be achieved.
[0029]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with the Example of the goods assortment installation using the rotation shelf of this invention, the rotation shelf of this invention is not restrict | limited to these. For example, you may form by the groove | channel, without forming the control part of the guide 15 which consists of a some curvature in a side surface.
[0030]
Further, the vertical shaft roller 142 for guiding the endless chain 14 may be attached to only one of the upper and lower sides of the standard roller chain 141.
[0031]
Further, a linear motor may be used as the driving device 16.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
Since the rotating shelf of the present invention is configured as described above, the article storage tool can be rotated at a high speed without disturbing the stored articles.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an article assortment facility using a rotating shelf according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the rotating shelf shown in FIG. 1 (however, the number of article storage devices attached is different).
3 is a schematic plan view of a swivel moving part of the rotating shelf shown in FIG.
4 is an enlarged view of a turning movement unit shown in FIG. 3. FIG.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the shape of the guide of the turning movement unit shown in FIG. 4;
6 is a cross-sectional view of a swivel moving unit of the rotating shelf shown in FIG.
7 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 6 (however, the tray mounting plate has another shape different from the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6).
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a linearly moving portion of the rotating shelf shown in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of an endless chain driving device (however, another embodiment in which the shape of the tray mounting plate is different from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6).
10 is a side (cross-sectional) view of FIG. 9;
11 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.
12 is a cross-sectional view of an endless chain of another embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 11. FIG.
FIG. 13 is a plan view of FIG.
14 is a schematic plan view of a swivel moving unit of the rotating shelf shown in FIG. 9. FIG.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of acceleration that occurs when an endless chain changes from a straight path to a turning path, and is a reference example when the turning path has a constant (curvature) radius.
FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of acceleration that occurs when an endless chain changes from a straight path to a turning path, and is formed such that the curvature of the guide increases stepwise from the straight path side toward the center of the turning path. This is an embodiment.
FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of acceleration that occurs when an endless chain transfers from a turning path with a radius of curvature of 1600 mm to a turning path with a radius of curvature of 800 mm, and guides from the straight path side toward the center of the turning path. This is an example in which the curvature is formed so as to increase stepwise.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Rotating shelf 12 Goods storage tool (tray)
14 Endless chain 15 Guide 16 Drive device 17 Drive device C Turning path S Straight path

Claims (1)

A plurality of article storage devices are attached via two vertical rollers attached to an endless chain at a predetermined interval, and a single rotating shelf rotated along an elliptical horizontal circulation path is stacked in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction. An article warehousing device and a warehousing device are arranged in the middle of the circulation path, and the endless chain drive device is a rotary shelf configured to be disposed in the straight path of the endless chain, and the endless chain of the swivel path The vertical roller is regulated by a fixed guide having a plurality of curvatures formed on a circular basis, and the curvature of the guide is stepwise from the straight path side of the endless chain toward the center part of the turning path. In addition, the upper and lower guides are provided at the height where they are in contact with the upper vertical shaft roller of the endless chain, and the lower guide is the lower side of the endless chain. Disposed at a height which is in contact with the vertical axis roller, characterized in that positions the endless chain in the space between the upper and lower guide, carousels.

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