JP5751668B2 - Book storage management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention takes out a container containing a target book from a plurality of containers accommodated in the library and transports it to the station, and transports the container from the station to the library after lending or returning the books. The present invention relates to a book storage management system.

  In a conventional book storage management system, a wireless tag storing identification information that can identify each book is attached to a plurality of books, and the plurality of books are arranged along the reading direction of the tag reader. The identification information is sequentially read by the tag reader by moving the container and the tag reader relative to each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP2011-006235A (7th page, FIG. 4)

  However, in Patent Document 1, in the case of a reader with a short readable distance of the wireless tag, there is a case where information on the wireless tag cannot be read depending on the positional relationship between the container and the tag reader. . For example, when the container is arranged at a position away from the tag reader, the tag reader may not be able to appropriately read the wireless tag. In addition, in the case where a plurality of types of containers having different container outer sizes are provided, if the tag reader is arranged in accordance with the size of the container having the largest container outer shape, the container outer shape is the largest. In the case of a small container, the distance between the tag reader and the container may be further increased, and the tag reader may not be able to read the wireless tag.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and provides a book storage management system that allows a reader to read identification information added to each book accommodated in a container more reliably. The purpose is to do.

In order to solve the above problems, the book storage management system of the present invention provides:
A plurality of containers storing a plurality of books are stored in a library, and identification information for identifying each book is added to the plurality of books so that the reader can read the book. A library storage management in which a container for storing the book is taken out from the plurality of containers stored in the library and transported to the station, and the container is transported from the station to the library after the library is lent or returned. A system,
First transport means for transporting the container from the library to the station; and second transport means for transporting the container from the station to the library;
The station
Transfer means for transferring the container between the first transfer means and the second transfer means;
The reader for reading the identification information of the books housed in the container on the transfer path of the transfer means;
Position detecting means for detecting the position in the transport direction of the container on the transfer means upstream from the reader;
Size detection means for detecting the size of the container on the transfer means upstream from the reader;
Reader moving means for moving the reader so as to approach a predetermined surface of the container based on detection results of the position detecting means and the size detecting means.
According to this feature, the container transported to the station is mounted on the placement surface, and the reader can read the identification information of each book accommodated in the container on the placement surface. When reading by the reader, the container mounted on the mounting surface is detected by the position detecting means and the size detecting means, and based on the detection result, the reader moving means comes closer to the container. The reader can be moved closer to each book housed in the container, and the identification information added to each book can be read more reliably by the reader. As a result, regardless of the size of the container on the placement surface and the placement position of the container on the placement surface, the reader moving means adjusts to the container. In order to move the reader so as to be closer, even if the reader has a short readable distance, the reader is brought closer to each book to a readable position, and the identification information added to each book is displayed. It can be read more reliably by a reader. For this reason, since it is not necessary to consider the arrangement position of each book accommodated in the container or an additional position such as a tag indicating identification information of each book, the movement control becomes easier. As the reader, for example, a barcode reader, a wireless tag reader or the like can be used, and the identification information can also be indicated by a barcode or a wireless tag according to the reader.

The book storage management system of the present invention comprises:
The transfer means is a pedestal that travels between the first conveying means and the second conveying means, and the position detecting means is provided on the pedestal, and the container on the pedestal It is characterized by detecting the position.
According to this feature, even if the position of the container moves on the pedestal during the transfer of the container, the position of the container on the pedestal can be reliably detected at any time by the position detecting means.

The book storage management system of the present invention comprises:
The station includes a plurality of the readers,
The plurality of readers are arranged to face the front side and the back side of the container on the placement surface, respectively.
The leader disposed on one side of the container is disposed so as not to move toward the container, and the leader disposed on the other side of the container is movable toward the container by the reader moving means. The container is characterized in that the container is arranged at a predetermined position on the transfer means so as to approach the one reader side.
According to this feature, when a plurality of readers are provided, they are arranged so as to face the front side and the back side of the container on the placement surface, respectively, so the identification information of each book accommodated in the container Can be read by each reader from each side of the container. At that time, the reader moving means may perform the movement of at least one of the plurality of readers. For example, when two readers are provided and multiple books are arranged in two rows on the front and back of the container, the readers are arranged so as to face the front and rear surfaces of the container, and face the front side of the container. The reader to be fixed can be fixedly arranged, and other readers facing the rear side of the container can be moved according to the container on the placement surface by the reader moving means. In this case, since only the other reader facing the rear side of the container needs to be moved by the leader moving means, the reader facing the front side of the container can be configured not to move (fixed arrangement). . The reader moving means may move each of the plurality of readers. Furthermore, a reader moving means that can move each of the plurality of readers may be provided for each reader.

The book storage management system of the present invention comprises:
The station includes a protection unit that protects the reader from contact with the container on the transfer unit when the reader is moved by the reader moving unit.
According to this feature, when the reader is moved by the reader moving unit, the protecting unit protects the reader so that the reader does not contact the container on the placement surface. However, it is possible to prevent the reader from coming into contact with the container when the reader is moved closer to the container on the placement surface. The protection means can be provided at a position close to the reader in the station. For example, a roller is protruded from a support member on which a leader is disposed, and a space is provided between the support member and the container by rotating the roller in contact with the container. By preventing it from projecting outward and moving, the reader can be protected from contact with the container. Further, this roller may be provided on the side surface on the container side.

It is a side view which shows the whole image of the book storage management system in an Example. It is a perspective view which shows a station. It is a cross-sectional top view which shows a station. It is a front view which shows an electric trolley | bogie and a rail. It is a side view which shows an electric trolley | bogie and a rail. It is a vertical side view which shows an electric trolley | bogie. It is a top view which shows an electric trolley | bogie. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a library storage management system. It is a figure which shows the container extraction menu screen displayed on a touch panel. It is a figure which shows the reading process screen displayed on a touch panel. (A) is a figure which shows that a book exists in the front left side of a container, (b) is a figure which shows that a book exists in the front center of a container, (c) is a figure where a book is a front of a container It is a figure which shows being on the right side. It is a figure which shows the container return menu screen displayed on a touch panel. It is a figure which shows a library information table. It is a figure which shows a container information table. It is a figure which shows a user information table.

  The form for implementing the book storage management system concerning this invention is demonstrated below based on an Example.

  A book storage management system according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Hereinafter, the left side of FIG. 1 is the front side (front side) of the station, the lower side of FIG. 3 and FIG. 7 is the front side of the station (front side), and the right side of FIG. 5 and FIG. The side (front side) will be described.

  Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 1 is a book storage management system to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, this library storage management system 1 is provided on the ground floor in a library and opened to the user, and is provided on the basement floor of the library and opened to the user. It is a system that is installed between the closed library 3 that is not provided and transports the books 4 accommodated in the closed library 3 to the open library 2 at the request of the user.

  A plurality of bookshelves 5 for accommodating books 4 are arranged in the closed library 3. As shown in FIG. 8, these book shelves 5 accommodate a plurality of containers 6 in which a plurality of books 4 are accommodated. Note that the book storage management system 1 in this embodiment employs a fixed location method in which the book 4 is accommodated for each container 6 in each field such as literature, sports, and criticism.

  In this embodiment, a plurality of types of containers 6 for A4, B5, and A5 are prepared for each size of the book 4 to be accommodated. At least the width dimension (outer shape) of each container 6 differs depending on the type, and the A4 container 6 is the largest and the A5 container 6 is the smallest container 6. The book shelf 5 of the closed library 3 has a container placement shelf (not shown) of a size corresponding to each type of container 6. In this way, the books 4 of each size are stored in each type of container 6 for each size, and each type of container 6 is stored in the corresponding book shelf 5, so that the efficiency of storing the books 4 in each book shelf 5 is increased. Can be improved.

  An RFID tag 7 storing a unique book ID (book identification information) and book-related information for each book 4 is attached to the book 4 accommodated in the container 6. The book ID can be read by book tag readers 8a and 8b (book identification information receiving means) and a loan return tag reader 9 (book identification information receiving means), which will be described later. The book-related information includes the title, author, publisher, number of pages, etc. of each book 4.

  Further, the RFID tag 7 in this embodiment is a known passive RFID tag in which a built-in IC chip is read by a non-contact method (wireless method) by a book tag reader 8a, 8b and a lending return tag reader 9 described later. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the book storage management system 1 includes a plurality of stacker cranes 10 for taking out containers 6 containing books 4 from a bookshelf 5 in a closed library 3, a closed library 3 that is an underground floor, And a transport elevator 11 that can move up and down between the open library 2 that is the ground floor. The container 6 taken out from the bookcase 5 by the stacker crane 10 is transferred to the transport elevator 11 via the conveyor 12.

  Further, the library storage management system 1 is capable of transporting the container 6 from the closed library 3 and temporarily storing the container 6 and the station 13 where the user can lend or return the target library 4. The rotary rack 14 is provided. The container 6 transported to the ground floor by the transport elevator 11 is transported to the station 13 and the rotary rack 14 via the conveyor 15a. The users in this embodiment are library librarians, students and professors of the school where the library is installed.

  Further, based on the command set at the station 13 provided in the open library 2, the stacker crane 10 automatically travels forward and backward and up and down to the storage position of the container 6 in each book shelf 5 to take in and out the container 6. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a hollow portion 16 having a hollow inside is formed in the upper portion of the station 13. In this hollow part 16, the delivery conveyor 15a (conveyance part, 1st conveyance means) and the entrance conveyor 15b (2nd conveyance means) are extended from the conveyance elevator 11 side, and the book 4 is accommodated. The container 6 can be transported into the hollow portion 16. Furthermore, an electric cart 40 (base unit, transfer means) that carries and transports the container 6 from the end of the exit conveyor 15a to the end of the entrance conveyor 15b is disposed.

  The electric carriage 40 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG.4 and FIG.5, the electric trolley | bogie 40 can drive | work on the two rails 41 arrange | positioned in the predetermined height position from the floor surface. The electric carriage 40 includes a traveling unit 42 (traveling means) that travels on a rail 41 and a turntable 43 (rotating means) provided on the upper portion of the traveling unit 42. The traveling unit 42 can freely move on the rail 41 in the left-right direction. The turntable 43 has a top surface on which the container 6 is placed, and the turntable 43 can freely rotate in the horizontal direction with the container 6 placed on the placement surface. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the traveling unit 42 includes an upper housing 44 in which the turntable 43 is disposed, and a lower housing 45 below the upper housing 44. A rotation motor 46 for rotating the turntable 43 is provided inside the lower housing 45. A wheel 47 for traveling on the upper surface of the rail 41 is provided, and a traveling motor 48 for driving the wheel 47 to travel is provided.

  Further, the traveling unit 42 is provided with a pair of front and rear guide rollers 49 for preventing the wheels 47 from being removed from the rails 41. The pair of guide rollers 49 sandwich the rail 41 from the front-rear direction so that the traveling unit 42 does not wobble back and forth. The traveling unit 42 is provided with a position detection sensor 50 that detects whether the traveling unit 42 is in the left-right direction on the rail 41.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the turntable 43 has a quadrangular shape in a plan view and is formed in a size that allows the largest container 6 to be placed thereon. Two turn belts 51 (position moving means) extending in the front-rear direction are stretched over the turntable 43. As shown in FIG. 6, a belt drive motor 52 for driving the placement belt 51 is provided inside the turntable 43. The placement belt 51 is used for moving the placement position of the container 6 on the placement surface of the turntable 43 and for transferring the container 6 between the turntable 43 and the conveyors 15a and 15b. .

  As shown in FIG. 7, on the left and right edges of the mounting surface of the turntable 43, guide strips 53 that protrude upward are provided so as to guide the container 6. Further, stoppers 54 (movement blocking means) for blocking the movement of the container 6 are provided on the front and rear edges of the mounting surface of the turntable 43. The stopper 54 is a protruding strip member extending in the left-right direction, and the stopper 54 is moved up and down by a lift actuator 55 provided inside the turntable 43 (see FIG. 6). In a state where the stopper 54 is projected, the container 6 is locked to the stopper 54. When the stopper 54 is lowered, the upper end of the stopper 54 is substantially flush with the mounting surface of the turntable 43.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the upper housing 44 of the traveling unit 42 has a substantially U shape when viewed from the front, and a turntable 43 is disposed at the center thereof. A positioning sensor 56 (position detection means) for positioning the container 6 and a placement sensor 57 (position detection means) for detecting that the container 6 is placed on the turntable 43 are provided at the upper end of the upper housing 44. And a size detection sensor 58 (type detection means) for detecting the size of each type of container 6 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the unloading conveyor 15 a and the loading conveyor 15 b extending from the transport elevator 11 side and the rail 41 on which the electric carriage 40 runs are arranged in a substantially U shape in plan view. When the container 6 is transferred from the delivery conveyor 15a to the placement surface of the turntable 43, the placement belt 51 is driven and the front stopper 54 is projected.

  When the placement sensor 57 detects the placement of the container 6, the placement belt 51 is stopped, and the container 6 is stopped by being stopped by a stopper 54 on the front side. Further, the positioning sensor 56 can confirm whether or not the container 6 has stopped at the front end of the turntable 43 accurately. Further, the size of the container 6 placed on the turntable 43 can be confirmed by the size detection sensor 58.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the container 6 is placed on the turntable 43 of the electric carriage 40 from the delivery conveyor 15 a, and then the rental work or return work of the book 4 described later is performed at the station 13. . When the lending work or the return work is completed, the electric carriage 40 is moved to the warehousing conveyor 15b. In the middle of the movement path, corresponding to the gate part 60 provided with the height detection sensor 59 for detecting the height of the book 4 accommodated in the container 6 and both the front side and the rear side of the rail 41. There are provided book tag readers 8a and 8b for reading information such as a book ID from the RFID tag 7 of the book 4 provided and accommodated in the container 6.

  Each of the book tag readers 8 a and 8 b has a substantially flat plate shape, and the irradiation surface of the electromagnetic wave is disposed to face the front and back of the container 6. Further, the book-side tag reader 8b on the back side is attached to a forward / backward movement actuator 61 (reader moving means), and the book-tag reader 8b is moved in the front-rear direction so that the book-tag reader 8b is placed on the back of the container 6. It is designed to be close to the side. The book-side tag reader 8a on the front side is fixedly arranged. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the RFID tag 7 is attached to the back cover of the book 4, and the book tag readers 8 a and 8 b are close to the back cover of the book 4.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a contact roller 62 (protection means) that contacts the container 6 is attached to each book tag reader 8a, 8b. The contact rollers 62 are rotatable with respect to a shaft extending in the vertical direction, and two contact rollers 62 are provided at the left and right positions of the book tag readers 8a and 8b. Further, the container 6 is guided and moved in the left-right direction by rotating the contact roller 62 in contact with the front side and the back side of the container 6. Since the contact roller 62 is provided, the container 6 can be prevented from colliding with the book tag readers 8a and 8b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inside of the container 6 is an accommodation space 17 that opens upward for accommodating a plurality of books 4. The accommodation space 17 is divided into a front side and a back side by a magnetic plate made of a magnetic member, a plurality of books 4 are arranged in two front and rear rows, and the back cover 4a is placed on the front side or the back side of the container 6. They are housed in a state of being oriented and arranged in the left-right direction, which is the thickness direction of the book 4.

  In addition, the user of the station 13 can rotate the turntable 19 of the electric cart 40 and rotate the container 6 horizontally by operating a touch panel 20 (display means) described later. For this reason, the container 6 can face both the front side and the back side of the container 6 toward the user side, and can store the books 4 on both the front side and the back side of the container 6. The space in the container 6 can be used effectively.

  A slide door 21 that can open and close the hollow portion 16 in the left-right direction is attached to the upper front side of the station 13, and the user opens the entry / exit port 36 by opening the slide door 21. The book 4 can be taken out from the transported container 6.

  In addition, barcode portions 22 that can identify the containers 6 are attached to the left and right side surfaces of the containers 6. In this bar code section 22, a unique container ID for identifying each container 6 and information indicating which surface of the container 6 faces in the front-rear direction are written. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a bar code reader 23 for reading information such as a container ID from a bar code unit 22 attached to the container 6 is provided in the hollow portion 16 of the station 13. Yes.

  Further, a barcode reader (not shown) similar to the barcode reader 23 provided in the station 13 is also attached to a plurality of locations in the vicinity of the conveyor 15 outside the station 13 in the open library 2 and the conveyor 12 in the closed library 3. . The bar code unit 22 of the container 6 is read by a bar code reader (not shown) provided on the conveyors 12, 15 a, 15 b, so that the management device 24, which will be described later, grasps the current position information on the transport path of each container 6. Can be done.

  The above-described rotary rack 14 can accommodate a plurality of containers 6 therein. When there are a plurality of containers 6 called from the closed library 3 to the station 13 by a container call process described later, the containers 6 are stored. The rotary rack 14 can be made to wait.

  After the plurality of containers 6 transported to the ground floor via the transport elevator 11 are temporarily stored in the rotary rack 14, the containers 6 are transported out of the rotary rack 14 in a predetermined order. Then, the container 6 carried out from the rotary rack 14 is transported from the right conveyor 15a to the central station 13 in plan view, and the container 6 that has been processed at the station 13 is placed on the left conveyor 15b and again. It is transported by the transport elevator 11 to the closed library 3 on the basement floor.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a top plate 25 is provided on the front side of the station 13 for placing the books 4 taken out from the container 6 by the user. On the top plate 25, a touch panel 20 is provided for instructing a user who uses the station 13 to lend and return the book 4. The touch panel 20 can be operated by a user directly touching a finger or the like.

  Further, a lending return tag reader 9 for reading information such as a book ID from the RFID tag 7 of the book 4 is embedded in the top board 25. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the station 13 is provided with a card reader 27 capable of reading the user ID of the user from the IC card 26 owned by the library user. The IC card 26 has a built-in RFID tag and stores a unique user ID.

  On the other hand, a library management room (not shown) or the like is provided with a management device 24 for managing the lending and returning of the book 4 from the closed library 3 as shown in FIG. The management device 24 includes a storage unit 28 (storage unit) in which the book information table, the container information table, and the user information table shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 are stored, and a control unit that performs various controls in the management device 24. 29.

  The control unit 29 is connected to the bar code reader 23 of the station 13, the book tag readers 8 a and 8 b, the rental return tag reader 9, the turntable 19, the touch panel 20, and the card reader 27. . The control unit 29 is connected to the conveyors 15a and 15b, the rotary rack 14, and the barcode reader 23. The book storage management system 1 in the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of stations 13, and the management device 24 is connected to each station 13.

  Further, the conveyor 12 of the closed library 3, the stacker crane 10, the transport elevator 11, and the barcode reader 23 are connected to the control unit 29. The control unit 29 is connected to a plurality of reservation terminals 31 inside or outside the library via a communication line 30 such as a LAN line. For example, a library user can make a reservation for renting a desired book 4 from the reservation terminal 31 to the management device 24.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the book information table stored in the storage unit 28 stores the title, volume, year, thickness, and book 4 of the book 4 with respect to the book ID of the book 4. The container ID of the container 6 being placed, the arrangement position (location information) indicating the location of the book 4 in the container 6, whether or not to specify for each book 4 whether or not to perform the inspection work described later, The collation result indicating the result of the work, the collation failure information in which the reason is registered in the case of a check failure in the inspection work, and the current container ID in which the container ID of the container 6 in which the book 4 is currently stored are registered Are stored in association with each other.

  Among these, the arrangement position of the book 4 in the container 6 is registered as A and B in the front and rear of the container 6, and the left and right positions when the respective sides are the front side are divided into three in this embodiment. The positions of the central part and the right side are registered from 1 to 3. That is, the arrangement position B-2 indicates that the book 4 is accommodated in the central part on the B side.

  The information stored in the book information table may be automatically registered in the book information table when the RFID tag 7 of the book 4 is read by the book tag readers 8a and 8b. May be registered by manual input.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the container information table stored in the storage unit 28 indicates whether the corresponding container 6 corresponds to A4, B5, or A5 for the container ID of the container 6. A container size to be indicated, an assignment method to be described later, a location indicating which book shelf 5 is in the closed library 3, and an entry / exit date indicating the latest date when the entry / exit is performed by lending or returning , Whether or not the inspection work described later is to be performed is specified for each container 6, the front and rear positions indicated by A and B in front of and behind each container 6, the administrator of the library storage management system 1 and the library It consists of a memo that librarians can enter freely, a verification result indicating the result of the inspection work, and verification failure information in which the reason is registered if the verification result is defective Antenna-related information are stored in association.

  As shown in FIG. 15, in the user information table stored in the storage unit 28, the unique user ID registered in the library for the user to use the library and the book 4 that the user lends out. A book lending date is stored in association with the book ID. When the control unit 29 receives the lending reservation from the reservation terminal 31, the control unit 29 stores the user ID of the user who made the reservation, the book ID for which the reservation has been made, and the scheduled lending date in the user information table. It has become. Furthermore, the presence / absence of a predetermined access authority for the user ID is also registered.

  Next, the lending process of the book 4 in which the lending reservation is performed by the reservation terminal 31 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the student at the school where the library is installed makes a rental reservation, and the librarian of the library lends the book 4 at the station 13 using the student's IC card 26.

  When the student makes a lending reservation for the book 4 using the reservation terminal 31, the date is entered on the scheduled lending date in the user information table shown in FIG. Further, the book 4 can be lent out by operating the touch panel 20 in accordance with an instruction displayed on the touch panel 20 installed in the station 13.

  First, when the librarian receives the IC card 26 from the student and holds the IC card 26 over the card reader 27, the unique user ID stored in the RFID tag built in the IC card 26 is read. The control unit 29 of the management device 24 refers to the user information table shown in FIG. 15 based on the user ID read by the card reader 27, and the date is entered, that is, the lending reservation is made. The book ID of the book 4 is specified. Further, the control unit 29 reads information such as a title by referring to the book information table shown in FIG. 13 based on the book ID, and specifies the container ID in which the book 4 is accommodated.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 29 switches the display on the touch panel 20 to the container take-out menu screen, and the title, volume number, year and month of the book 4 for which a lending reservation has been made based on the information in the book information table. The following list is displayed for each book 4.

  In this embodiment, two books 4 are loaned, and when there are a plurality of books 4 for which a loan reservation has been made, the information of the plurality of books 4 is displayed, and when it cannot be displayed on one screen These are displayed on a plurality of pages, and can be displayed by a previous page button or a next page button (not shown) so as to be inquired. In the upper right of the screen, the number of containers 6 in which books 4 to be lent are accommodated is displayed, and in this embodiment, it is displayed that one container 6 is a calling target.

  Then, the control unit 29 confirms the contents of the displayed list, displays an instruction to press the container call button 32, confirms the list where the librarian is displayed, and displays the container call button 32 displayed on the touch panel 20. When the button is pressed, the control unit 29 performs a process of transporting the container 6 containing the list-displayed books 4 from the closed library 3 to the station 13. Specifically, the control unit 29 takes out the container 6 with the stacker crane 10 and transports the taken out container 6 to the station 13 with the conveyors 12, 15 a and the transport elevator 11.

  A detail button and a cancel button are displayed on the container extraction menu screen. When the detail button is pressed, further detailed information such as the author and publisher of the book 4 is displayed. When the cancel button is pressed, the information of the book 4 is hidden from the list on the touch panel 20 and the container is not called. In other words, the book 4 can be changed not to be lent out this time.

  When the container ID of the container 6 is read by a barcode reader (not shown) installed at a plurality of predetermined locations in the transport path, the control unit 29 uses the container ID read by the barcode reader (not shown). In addition, the current position information of each container 6 can be grasped from the position of the barcode reader (not shown) from which the reading has been performed.

  As described above, the barcode reader 23 is also installed in the station 13, and the control unit 29 confirms that the container 6 has been transported to the station 13 based on the container ID read by the barcode reader 23 of the station 13. To grasp. When the container 6 arrives at the station 13, the control unit 29 switches to a reading processing screen for issuing a book reading and reading instruction shown in FIG. 10.

  When there are a plurality of called containers 6, the station 13 is sequentially stored after the lending process of the books 4 temporarily stored in the rotary rack 14 and accommodated in the container 6 previously transferred to the station 13. It is designed to be conveyed.

  The barcode part 22 of the container 6 includes front-and-back information indicating whether it is the A side or the B side, and the control unit 29 provides information on the barcode part 22 of the container 6 conveyed to the station 13. From this, the front-rear direction of the container 6 is determined, and it is determined whether the front side in the station 13 is the A side or the B side.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 29 extracts the arrangement position stored in the book information table in association with the book ID along with the title, volume, and year / month of the book 4, and the book in the container 6. The position of the book which shows the arrangement position of 4 is displayed as a list on the touch panel 20 for each book (display in book units). The arrangement information extraction means in the present invention is configured by the control unit 29. Furthermore, the control unit 29 also displays a display indicating whether or not the book 4 has been read. In addition, the information of the book 4 accommodated in the container 6 conveyed to the station 13 is displayed on the top row.

  In this way, the control unit 29 displays the list position of the book 4 in association with the book-related information such as the title, volume number, and year / month of the book 4 so that the librarian can display the list on the touch panel. By referring to the above, when renting out two or more books 4 from one container, it is possible to easily grasp at which position in the container 6 each book 4 is placed.

  The position of the book will be described in more detail. For example, the side A of the container 6 transported to the station 13 is the front side in the station 13, and the arrangement position of the target book 4 is B-2 in the book information table. In this case, since the book 4 is arranged on the back side of the container 6, the control unit 29 roughly sets the position of the book 4 in the container 6 to the position of the book on the touch panel 20 based on the information. The position image 33 shown is displayed.

  Specifically, the position image 33 is a simplified perspective view of the container 6 showing a state in which the books 4 are accommodated in two rows in the front and rear directions, and the target book 4 is arranged on the back side. Displays the position image 33 in which the row of the book 4 on the back side is filled with green. When the target book 4 is arranged on the front side of the container 6, the control unit 29 displays a position image 33 in which the row of books 4 on the front side is painted yellow. By displaying the position image 33 of the schematic perspective view of the container 6, the user can recognize the front and rear positions of the book 4 at a glance.

  A position image 33 for displaying a more detailed arrangement position will be described with reference to FIG. For example, when the A side of the container 6 is the front side in the station 13 and the arrangement position associated with the book ID of the target book 4 in the book information table is A-1, the control unit 29 Assuming that the target book 4 is arranged on the A side and the left side of the container 6, the lower left portion of the position image 33 is displayed in yellow (see FIG. 11A).

  Similarly, when the arrangement position in the book information table is A-2, the control unit 29 assumes that the target book 4 is arranged on the A side and the center of the container 6 and displays the lower center of the position image 33. It is displayed in yellow (see FIG. 11B). When the arrangement position in the book information table is A-3, the control unit 29 fills the lower right part of the position image 33 in yellow assuming that the target book 4 is arranged on the A side and the right side of the container 6. It is displayed (see FIG. 11C).

  As a result, the librarian can easily grasp the arrangement position of the book 4 in the container 6 by looking at the fill color and position of the position image 33 displayed on the touch panel 20. When taking out the book 4, it becomes easy to find the target book 4 and the working efficiency is improved. Further, by displaying using different colors on the front side and the back side, the librarian can easily recognize on which side the book 4 to be lent is arranged.

  Note that the library storage management system 1 specifies the range of the entry / exit date and the range of the location of the container 6 at any time zone such as a closed day or night of the library, and the registered contents of the library information table and the actual contents The inspection work of the book 4 for checking whether or not there is a difference in the arrangement of the book 4 can be automatically performed. In the case where there is a book 4 that has become unsuccessful as a result of this inspection work, the book information table and the container information table are registered with information on the lack of matching, deficiency, excess, difference between before and after, etc.

  At a later date, when the librarian confirms the book 4 in which the collation is inferior, the control unit 29 displays a list of the books 4 in which the collation is inferior based on the operation of the touch panel 20 performed by the librarian, and the container call button 32 Then, the target container 6 is transported to the station 13. Then, the control unit 29 displays a list on the touch panel 20 when the container 6 is transported to the station 13, and similarly displays the position image 33 shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C in this list. 4 is displayed. Thereby, the librarian can easily recognize the arrangement position of the book 4 in which the collation is defective.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the book 4 is arranged on the back side (rear position) in the container 6, the control unit 29 displays the position image 33 of the touch panel 20 in order to urge the container 6 to rotate. In the vicinity, a container rotation button 34 and a message “Please rotate” are displayed. Therefore, it can be easily determined whether or not the librarian needs to rotate the container 6. The container rotation button 34 and the message are respectively displayed for the list display of each book 4.

  When the librarian presses the container rotation button 34 displayed on the touch panel 20, the control unit 29 rotates the turntable 19 and the container 6 is rotated 180 degrees. Note that the rotation operation means in the present invention includes the container rotation button 34, the control unit 29, and the turntable 19.

  When the rotation of the turntable 19 is completed, the control unit 29 displays the row of books 4 on the front side in the position image 33 of the touch panel 20 in yellow and displays it so that the container rotation button 34 is not displayed. Thereby, the librarian can recognize that the target book 4 is arranged on the front side.

  Then, the control unit 29 displays an instruction to take out the book 4 from the container 6 and cause the lending return tag reader 9 to read the RFID tag 7 of the book 4. The librarian opens the slide door 21 of the station 13 and takes out the target book 4 from the container 6 based on the position image 33 of the book 4 in the container 6 displayed on the touch panel 20, and sends the book 4 to the tag reader 9 for lending return. When the RFID tag 7 is read, the control unit 29 switches the display of the state of the book 4 read in the list displayed on the touch panel 20 from the standby state to the read state, and the information of the read book 4 is displayed. In the displayed column, the color is reversed and it can be visually recognized that the reading is completed.

  When the reading is completed and there is no other book 4 to be rented in the container 6 at the station 13, the control unit 29 removes the container 6 from the station 13 by the conveyors 12, 15 b, the transport elevator 11, and the stacker crane 10. The process of returning to the bookshelf 5 in the closed library 3 is performed, and the lending process is completed.

  When another book 4 waiting to be read is stored in another container 6, the container 6 is temporarily stored in the rotary rack 14, and the control unit 29 moves from the rotary rack 14 into the station 13. A process of transporting the container 6 is performed. As described above, the librarian again performs the lending process according to the display on the touch panel 20 again. When all the lending processing for the book 4 for which the lending reservation has been made is completed, the librarian delivers the book 4 and the IC card 26 taken out from the container 6 to the student, and the book 4 is lent out.

  Next, the return process of the book 4 will be described with reference to FIG. When the lent book 4 is returned from the student, the librarian operates the touch panel 20 at the station 13 to return the book 4 to the closed library 3. Since the book storage management system 1 in the present embodiment adopts the fixed location method, the container 6 in which the book 4 is stored is uniquely determined.

  When the librarian holds the book 4 to be returned over the rental return tag reader 9, the control unit 29 reads the information such as the title by referring to the book information table based on the book ID read from the RFID tag 7 of the book 4, The container ID in which the book 4 is to be accommodated is specified. A plurality of books 4 can be continuously read by the lending return tag reader 9.

  Although not particularly illustrated, as in the lending process, the touch panel 20 displays a list of information such as the title, volume number, and year / month of the book 4 and a container call button 32. When the librarian presses the container call button 32, the control unit 29 performs a process of transporting the container 6 in which the list-displayed book 4 is to be accommodated from the closed library 3 to the station 13. Specifically, the control unit 29 takes out the container 6 by the stacker crane 10 and causes the taken out container 6 to be carried to the station 13 by the conveyor 12, the transport elevator 11, and the conveyor 15a.

  When the container 6 arrives at the station 13, the controller 29 switches to the container return menu screen shown in FIG. 12, and the title of the book 4 registered in the book information table in association with the book ID of the target book 4 is displayed. Volume, year, month, and book position are listed for each book 4. A position image 33 schematically showing the position of the book 4 in the container 6 is displayed at the position of the book as in the lending process.

  In this way, the control unit 29 displays the list position of the book 4 in association with the book-related information such as the title, volume number, and year / month of the book 4 so that the librarian can display the list on the touch panel. By referring to, when returning two or more books 4 to one container, it can be easily grasped in which arrangement position in the container 6 each book 4 should be arranged.

  The barcode unit 22 of the container 6 is read by the barcode reader 23 of the station 13, and the control unit 29 determines the orientation of the container 6 based on the information read by the barcode reader 23 and accommodates the book 4 to be returned. It is determined whether the position to be performed is the front side or the back side in the station 13.

  Then, when the container 6 is transported to the station 13 and the accommodation location of the book 4 to be returned is on the back side, the control unit 29 changes the row of the book 4 on the back side in the position image 33. The container rotation button 34 is displayed while being displayed in green to indicate the accommodation location.

  When the librarian presses the container rotation button 34 displayed on the touch panel 20, the control unit 29 rotates the turntable 19 and rotates the direction of the container 6 by 180 degrees. When the rotation of the turntable 19 is completed, the control unit 29 displays the row of books 4 on the front side in the position image 33 of the touch panel 20 in yellow and displays it so that the container rotation button 34 is not displayed.

  Thereby, the librarian can recognize that the position where the book 4 in the container 6 should be returned is arranged on the front side. As in the case of the lending process, the position of the book is determined by the control unit 29 based on the arrangement position registered in the book information table, as shown in FIGS. 11 (a) to 11 (c). The position in the horizontal direction in 6 is displayed by the position image 33. Then, an instruction to return the book 4 to be returned to the container 6 and press the check button 35 of the book 4 is displayed.

  When the librarian returns the book 4 to the container 6 and presses the book check button 35, the control unit 29 transports the container 6 to the downstream side of the station 13, and the book tag readers 8 a and 8 b provided in the station 13 The RFID tag 7 of the book 4 accommodated in the container 6 is read, and a check process for comparing the book 4 in the container 6 with the information registered in the book information table is performed. When the check process is completed, the control unit 29 performs a process of returning the container 6 from the station 13 to the bookshelf 5 of the closed library 3 by the conveyors 12 and 15b, the transport elevator 11, and the stacker crane 10, and the return process is completed.

  Next, the operation of the electric carriage 40 performed in the lending process and the return process of the book 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, in the lending process and the return process, when the container 6 is conveyed to the station 13 by the conveyor 15a, the mounting belt 51 of the turntable 43 of the electric carriage 40 is driven. Then, the container 6 placed on the placement surface of the turntable 43 by driving the conveyor 15 a is moved to the front side of the turntable 43 by driving the placement belt 51. At this time, the stopper 54 on the back side of the turntable 43 is lowered, and the stopper 54 on the front side is projected.

  The management device 24 knows the size of the container 6 transported to the station 13. When the container 6 is transferred from the conveyor 15 a onto the mounting surface of the turntable 43, the management device 24 places the container 6 according to the size of the container 6. The driving amount (movement distance) of the belt 51 is determined. The moving distance of the container 6 on the mounting surface of the turntable 43 can be varied according to the size (type) of the container 6 mounted on the mounting surface of the turntable 43. Thereby, the position of the container 6 on the mounting surface of the turntable 43 can be appropriately brought close to the depositing / unloading port 36 of the station 13 according to the size of the container.

  Further, the management device 24 knows whether or not the container 6 is actually placed at an appropriate position by the placement sensor 57 and the positioning sensor 56, and the container 6 is detected by the placement sensor 57. The driving of the mounting belt 51 is stopped. This stop position is set so that the front end of the container 6 abuts against the front-side stopper 54. At this time, when the front end of the container 6 is not detected by the positioning sensor 56, the placing belt 51 is driven to bring the container 6 closer to the front stopper 54, and the front end of the container 6 is moved by the positioning sensor 56. The placement belt 51 can be driven until it is detected. Further, the front end of the container 6 may be stopped by being locked by the front-side stopper 54. Even if the front end of the container 6 is not detected by the positioning sensor 56, if the placement belt 51 is driven and the container 6 comes into contact with the front-side stopper 54, the placement belt The driving of 51 may be stopped.

  When the turntable 19 of the electric cart 40 is rotated by the operation of the touch panel 20 (display means) and the container 6 is horizontally rotated, the side surface on the back side of the container 6 is rotated so as to face the front side. At that time, the stopper 54 on the opposite side is also protruded so that the container mounting position is on the rear side before the rotation, and moves so as to contact the front-side stopper 54 after the rotation. Then, the management device 24 drives the placement belt 51 to move the container 6. When the container 6 is detected by the positioning sensor 56, the drive of the placement belt 51 is stopped, and the loading position of the container 6 is detected. Is moved so as to contact the stopper 54 on the opposite side. Thereby, even when the turntable 19 of the electric cart 40 is rotated, the mounted position of the container 6 after the rotation can be set to a position closer to the entrance / exit 36 of the station 13.

  Further, when the protruding stopper 54 on the front side of the container 6 is lowered and the upper end of the stopper 54 is substantially flush with the mounting surface of the turntable 43, the management device 24 sets the mounting device 24. The belt 51 is driven by a predetermined amount of movement to move the container 6 further to the front side, and the container is moved until the front side surface of the container on the placement surface protrudes slightly beyond the end of the placement surface. The container may be moved so that the container is closer to the entrance / exit of the station. Thereby, it becomes easier to take out the books and to store the books more easily. In addition, after the book is taken out or stored, before moving the container 6 in the left-right direction, the management device 24 drives the placement belt 51 by reverse rotation by a predetermined amount of movement to move the container 6 to the back side. Thus, the container is moved until the front side surface of the container on the placement surface comes to the inside of the stopper 54 which is the end portion of the placement surface, the container is returned to the original position, and the front-side stopper 54 is moved. After projecting, the container 6 may be moved in the left-right direction.

  The positioning sensor 56 (or mounting sensor 57) detects the mounting position of the container 6 on the mounting surface of the turntable 43 when the container 6 is mounted on the mounting surface of the turntable 43. The belt 51 can move the container 6 according to the placement position detected by the positioning sensor 56.

  Further, as in the present embodiment, when the container 6 includes a plurality of sizes (types) of containers 6 having different outer sizes, the size detection sensor 58 is mounted on the mounting surface of the turntable 43. The size of the container 6 thus detected is detected, and the placement belt 51 can move the container 6 according to the size of the container 6. Thereby, the position of the container 6 on the placement surface of the turntable 43 can be appropriately brought close to the depositing / unloading port 36 of the station 13 according to the size of the container 6.

  Then, the sliding door 21 is opened, and the user performs the lending work or returning work of the book 4 from the depositing / dispensing port 36. In this way, the placement position of the container 6 on the placement surface of the turntable 43 can be moved so that the container 6 is closer to the depositing / dispensing port 36 of the station 13. Is always conveyed, the front end of the container 6 is always disposed at the front end of the turntable 43, and the user can easily put the books 4 in and out of the container 6.

  As a result, regardless of the position where the container 6 is placed on the placement surface of the turntable 43, the placement surface is rotated by the turntable 43, and the side surface of the desired container 6 is placed in the loading / unloading port 36 of the station 13. Since the position of the container 6 on the mounting surface of the turntable 43 can be made closer to the depositing / unloading port 36 of the station 13 when facing the direction, it is easier to take out the book 4 from the side of the desired container 6 In addition, the desired container 6 can be easily stored on the side surface, and the usability can be improved.

  Further, by rotating the placement surface on which the container 6 is placed by the turntable 43 in the horizontal direction, the container 6 on the placement surface is placed so that the side surface of the desired container 6 faces the depositing / unloading port 36 of the station 13. Since the book can be easily taken out from the side surface of the desired container 6 and can be easily stored in the side surface of the desired container 6.

  In the case where a plurality of books 4 are arranged in the front and rear two rows in the container 6 as in this embodiment, the desired book 4 is stored in any one of the front and rear surfaces of the container 6. It can be rotated by the turntable 43 so that the surface facing the entrance / exit 36 of the station 13.

  When the user puts the book 4 in the container 6 into and out of the book 4 lending work or returning work, the container 6 may be shifted to the back side by the putting in and out work. Therefore, when the user finishes lending or returning the book 4, the slide door 21 is closed and whether or not the container 6 can be detected by the positioning sensor 56 is checked, and the container 6 cannot be detected by the positioning sensor 56. In this case, the placing belt 51 can be driven to bring the container 6 closer to the front stopper 54 side.

  And in order to move the container 6 to the warehousing conveyor 15b side, the electric trolley | bogie 40 moves on the rail 41 to the left side. At this time, by detecting the height of the book 4 accommodated in the container 6 using the height detection sensor 59 in the gate unit 60, it is determined whether or not the book 4 is neatly stored in the container 6. Can do. When the book 4 is detected by the height detection sensor 59, it is determined that the book 4 is not neatly accommodated, and the container 6 is returned to the loading / unloading port 36 of the station 13 and an error is notified on the touch panel 20. It is like that.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the book-side tag reader 8 b on the back side is arranged at a position corresponding to the size of the container 6 placed on the electric carriage 40 by driving the longitudinal actuator 61. The separation width of each book tag reader 8a, 8b can be expanded to substantially the same size as the width of the largest A4 container 6, so that the container 6 passes between each book tag reader 8a, 8b. ing. When the container 6 passes between the book tag readers 8a and 8b, the traveling speed of the electric carriage 40 is slightly reduced, and the RFID tag 7 of the book 4 is moved by the book tag readers 8a and 8b. It can be read reliably.

  Further, when reading with the book tag reader 8b, the forward / backward movement actuator 61 moves the container 6 to the container 6 according to the container 6 on the placement surface when the container 6 is mounted on the placement surface of the turntable 43. The book tag reader 8b is moved so as to be closer. For example, in the case of the A6 container 6, since the container 6 is in a position where it abuts against the front-side stopper 54, the back side is located away from the book tag reader 8b. By driving and moving the book tag reader 8b closer to the container 6, the book tag reader 8b can be brought closer to each book 4 accommodated in the container 6, and added to each book 4. The identification information of the RFID tag 7 can be read more reliably by the book tag reader 8b. Thereby, whatever the container 6 on the placement surface of the turntable 43, and whatever position the container 6 is placed on the placement surface, the forward / reverse actuator 61 In order to move the book tag reader 8b closer to the container 6, even if the book tag reader 8b has a short readable distance, the book tag reader 8b is brought closer to each book 4 to a readable position. Thus, the identification information added to each book 4 can be read more reliably by the book tag reader 8b. For this reason, since it is not necessary to consider the arrangement position of each book 4 accommodated in the container 6 or the additional position of the RFID tag 7 indicating the identification information of each book 4, the movement control becomes easier.

  Further, the positioning sensor 56 (or mounting sensor 57) detects the mounting position of the container 6 on the mounting surface of the turntable 43 when the container 6 is mounted on the mounting surface of the turntable 43. The moving actuator 61 can move the book tag reader 8 b in accordance with the placement position detected by the positioning sensor 56. Accordingly, the forward / backward movement actuator 61 can move the book tag reader 8b by determining, for example, a movement amount or a movement direction based on the placement position detected by the positioning sensor 56. Regardless of the position of the container 6 on the surface, the book tag reader 8b is appropriately moved so that the book tag reader 8b is brought closer to each book 4 and added to the RFID tag 7 of each book 4. The identification information being read can be more reliably read by the book tag reader 8b.

  The size detection sensor 58 detects the size (type) of the container 6 mounted on the mounting surface of the turntable 43, and the forward / reverse actuator 61 moves the book tag reader 8b according to the size of the container 6. be able to. As a result, the forward / backward movement actuator 61 can move the book tag reader 8b by determining, for example, the moving amount and moving direction depending on the size of the container 6 on the mounting surface of the turntable 43. Even if various types of containers 6 are mounted, the book tag reader 8b is appropriately moved to bring the book tag reader 8b closer to each book 4, and the identification information added to each book 4 is used as the book tag reader. 8b can be read more reliably.

  In this embodiment, the mounting belt 51 is moved in the front-rear direction. However, a mounting belt that is moved in the left-right direction is provided, or a mounting belt that is moved in the oblique direction is provided. It may be provided so that it can be moved in any direction. Further, the position moving means may be configured as a forklift that moves the container instead of the placing belt.

  When the container 6 is provided with a plurality of sizes (types) of containers 6 having different outer dimensions as in the present embodiment, the longitudinal actuator 61 is a book corresponding to the size of the container 6. Since the moving distance of the tag reader 8b is changed, the book tag reader 8b can be moved by a moving distance according to the size of the container 6. Thereby, the moving distance of the book tag reader 8b can be made appropriate regardless of the size of the container 6, and the book tag reader 8b is made closer to each book 4 and added to each book 4. The identification information being read can be more reliably read by the book tag reader 8b.

  The book-side tag readers 8a and 8b on the front side and the back side are arranged so as to face different surfaces of the container 6 on the mounting surface of the turntable 43, and the longitudinal actuator 61 is for each book. By moving one of the tag readers 8b among the tag readers 8a and 8b, the forward / backward movement actuator 61 only needs to move one of the book tag readers 8b among the book tag readers 8a and 8b. Thus, the number of the longitudinal actuators 61 can be reduced.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and modifications and additions within the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. It is.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the identification information added to the RFID tag 7 of each book 4 is read by the book tag reader 8b. However, the tag to which the identification information is added is not limited to the RFID tag 7, but a bar. It may be a code tag. As a reader for reading these tags, a barcode reader, a wireless tag reader, or the like can be used as appropriate.

  In the embodiment, the forward / reverse actuator 61 moves one of the book tag readers 8b of the book side readers 8a and 8b on the front side and the back side. The book tag readers 8a and 8b may be provided with a forward / backward movement actuator 61 to move the book tag readers 8a and 8b.

  In the embodiment, the contact roller 62 as a protection means can be provided at a position in the station 13 close to the book tag readers 8a and 8b. For example, a roller is protruded from a support member on which a leader is disposed, and a space is provided between the support member and the container by rotating the roller in contact with the container. By preventing it from projecting outward and moving, the reader can be protected from contact with the container. Further, this roller may be provided on the side surface on the container side.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Book storage management system 2 Opened library 3 Closed library 4 Book 6 Container 7 RFID tag 8a, 8b Tag reader for books (book identification information reception means)
13 Station 15a Unloading conveyor (conveying section, first conveying means)
15b Conveyor for warehousing (second conveying means)
36 Cashier 40 Electric cart (base, transfer means)
42 Traveling unit (traveling means)
43 Turntable (Rotating means)
51 Placement belt (position moving means)
54 Stopper (Movement prevention means)
56 Positioning sensor (position detecting means)
57 Placement sensor (position detection means)
58 Size detection sensor (type detection means)
61 Forward / backward actuator (leader moving means)
62 Contact roller (protection means)

Claims (4)

A plurality of containers storing a plurality of books are stored in a library, and identification information for identifying each book is added to the plurality of books so that the reader can read the book. A library storage management in which a container for storing the book is taken out from the plurality of containers stored in the library and transported to the station, and the container is transported from the station to the library after the library is lent or returned. A system,
First transport means for transporting the container from the library to the station; and second transport means for transporting the container from the station to the library;
The station
Transfer means for transferring the container between the first transfer means and the second transfer means;
The reader for reading the identification information of the books housed in the container on the transfer path of the transfer means;
Position detecting means for detecting the position in the transport direction of the container on the transfer means upstream from the reader;
Size detection means for detecting the size of the container on the transfer means upstream from the reader;
A book storage management system comprising: reader movement means for moving the reader so as to approach a predetermined surface of the container based on detection results of the position detection means and the size detection means.   The transfer means is a pedestal that travels between the first conveying means and the second conveying means, and the position detecting means is provided on the pedestal, and the container on the pedestal The book storage management system according to claim 1, wherein the position is detected. The station includes a plurality of the readers,
The plurality of readers are arranged to face the front side and the back side of the container on the placement surface, respectively.
The leader disposed on one side of the container is disposed so as not to move toward the container, and the leader disposed on the other side of the container is movable toward the container by the reader moving means. 3. The book storage management system according to claim 1, wherein the container is arranged at a predetermined position on the transfer means so as to approach the one reader side. 4.   2. The station includes a protection unit that protects the reader from contact with the container on the transfer unit when the reader is moved by the reader moving unit. The book storage management system according to any one of 3 to 3.

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