JP5935151B2 - Goods transport equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is provided with a moving body for conveying an article that is movable along a traveling path, and an article holding unit that is disposed on the side of the traveling path in the lateral width direction of the traveling path and holds an article. And
The movable body includes an article support portion that places and supports an article to be conveyed so that the article can freely move in and out along the lateral width direction between a projecting position and a retreat position that project laterally of the travel path. The present invention relates to an article conveyance facility configured to be able to transfer an article to be conveyed between the article holding unit.

  As such an article conveying facility, conventionally, the article width direction between the protruding position and the retracting position of the article supporting portion that is movable along the traveling path and that supports the article to be transported placed on the side of the traveling path. A stacker crane that can be freely retracted along the path, and a storage shelf that is arranged on the side of the travel path in the lateral direction of the travel path and that includes a plurality of storage units that can store articles in the vertical and horizontal directions. An article that is provided and configured to convey a holding body that holds a cultivation bed for hydroponically cultivating a plant is known as the article to be conveyed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In patent document 1, as FIG.2 and FIG.3 of this patent document 1 shows in the state located in the upper part of the container-shaped nutrient solution tank which the upper end opened, and the nutrient solution stored in the nutrient solution tank A plurality of planting supports that are held and hold plants to be cultivated one by one are supported inside a box-shaped holding body.

  The support for planting is configured so that one through hole is formed in a flat support plate, and a plant whose root is supported by a porous body such as a urethane foam nursery sponge is formed in the through hole. ing.

And in patent document 1, an article | item support part is comprised with the slide fork which can move out along a path | route horizontal width direction between the protrusion position which protrudes in the accommodating part side, and a retraction position, and the said slide fork is a holding body. It is comprised so that the plant of cultivation object may be conveyed with the holding body with the form which mounts and supports the bottom face part.
That is, in patent document 1, in order to convey the plant of cultivation object, it is comprised so that the holding body of the state which accommodated the nutrient solution tank and the planting support body may be conveyed.

However, with such a configuration, it is necessary to transport even a heavy nutrient solution tank because the nutrient solution is stored even though only the plant to be cultivated is originally required to be conveyed. Therefore, the energy required for conveyance increases.
Therefore, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, a support for planting configured to support a plurality of plants by forming a plurality of through holes in a flat support plate as in Patent Document 2 is provided at the upper end of the nutrient solution tank. It is conceivable to apply a configuration to be placed and to support and transfer only the planting support with a slide fork of a stacker crane. With such a configuration, since the nutrient solution is stored, the plant to be cultivated can be conveyed without conveying a heavy nutrient solution tank, so that energy required for conveyance can be suppressed.

JP 11-275993 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-248083

However, if the plant support is supported by the article support so as to be transported in a state where the plant support is taken out of the nutrient solution tank, the nutrient solution may drip from the root of the plant held by the plant support. Become. Therefore, for example, when transporting a planting support in a stacker crane equipped with a slide fork that can be moved out and retracted as in Patent Document 1, a mechanism unit such as a traveling cart or a slide fork of the stacker crane is soiled, There is a risk that problems such as rusting of the mechanism portion due to the moisture of the nutrient solution may occur.
Moreover, there is a possibility that the above-described problem may also occur when an article to be processed to which a liquid such as cutting oil adheres between processes in metal processing, for example.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to transport an article to be transported with the possibility of dripping liquid in a state in which there is no risk of occurrence of a defect in the article transporting moving body. The object is to provide an article transport facility.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a first characteristic configuration of an article transport facility according to the present invention includes an article transport movable body that is movable along a travel path, and a side of the travel path in the lateral width direction of the travel path. An article holding portion that holds the article disposed on the side, and the movable body has a protruding position that protrudes to the side of the travel path with an article supporting portion that places and supports the article to be conveyed. An article conveying facility that is configured to be freely retractable along the path width direction between the retraction position and configured to transfer an article to be conveyed between the article holding unit,
A liquid receiving portion that receives liquid dropped from an article to be transported supported by the article support portion below the article is provided in the moving body so as to be withdrawn and withdrawn integrally with the article support portion, The liquid receiver is provided with a storage container that stores the liquid discharged from the discharge port for discharging the received liquid.

In other words, a liquid receiving portion that is integrally with the article support portion that can be withdrawn and retracted along the lateral direction of the path between the protruding position protruding to the side of the travel path and the retreat position drops from the article to be transported. Since the liquid is provided so as to be received below the article, even if the article support section is moved in and out of the path width direction so as to exchange the article to be conveyed with the article holding section, the liquid receiving section It can suppress that the liquid from the article | item of conveyance object drops to locations other than.
When liquid falls to a place other than the liquid receiving part, the driving part for running the mobile body or the driving part for moving the article support part back and forth is soiled or rusted by the dropped liquid, and the mobile body However, according to this characteristic configuration, the liquid dropped from the article to be transported is received by the liquid receiving portion and does not drop on the driving portion or the like. It is possible to appropriately prevent the moving body from being soiled or rusted by the liquid dripping from the article. Moreover, since the liquid received by the liquid receiving part is discharged from the discharge port and stored in the storage container, it is possible to prevent the liquid from overflowing from the liquid receiving part.

  Therefore, according to the first characteristic configuration, it is possible to provide an article transport facility that can transport an article to be transported that may be dripped with liquid in a state in which there is no possibility that a moving object for transporting an article has a problem. .

  In addition to the first feature configuration, the second feature configuration of the article transport facility according to the present invention is configured such that the storage container can be switched between a storage posture for storing the liquid and a discharge posture for discharging the stored liquid. The storage container is set to the storage posture when the article support portion is located at the protruding position, and the storage container is set to the discharge posture when the article support portion is located at the retracted position. It is in the point provided with the posture switching mechanism which switches the posture of the container.

  That is, when the storage container that stores the liquid discharged from the discharge port provided in the liquid receiving portion is in the storage posture when the article support portion is located at the protruding position, the article support portion is located at the retracted position. Since the storage container is sometimes provided in a discharge posture, the liquid received by the liquid receiving portion can be discharged from the discharge port and appropriately stored in the storage container. The stored liquid can be appropriately discharged to a dischargeable portion when the article support portion is located at the retreat position.

  Therefore, since the liquid in the storage container is discharged when the article support unit moves to the retreat position, the liquid in the storage container is prevented from being swung and overflowing as the moving body travels. It is possible to prevent the moving body from being soiled or rusted by the liquid overflowing from the storage container.

  As described above, according to the second feature configuration, in addition to the operational effects of the first feature configuration, there is a possibility that the article to be transported with the possibility of dripping of the liquid may cause a problem in the article transport movable body. It is possible to provide an article conveyance facility that can be conveyed in the absence of the object.

  According to a third characteristic configuration of the article transport facility according to the present invention, in addition to the second characteristic configuration, the attitude switching mechanism changes the attitude of the storage container to the storage attitude as the article support part moves in and out. It is in the point comprised by the cooperation mechanism switched to the said discharge attitude | position.

  That is, since the posture of the storage container can be switched between the storage posture and the discharge posture in cooperation with the movement of the article support portion, when switching the storage container between the storage posture and the discharge posture as described above, for example, Energy is not consumed as in the case of using an electric actuator, and the storage container is set to the discharge position when the article support portion is located at the retracted position, and stored when the article support portion is located at the protruding position. There is no need to perform complicated timing control in order to set the container posture to the storage posture.

  As described above, according to the third feature configuration, in addition to the operation and effect of the second feature configuration, it is possible to save energy and provide an article transport facility capable of simplifying the control configuration. Can do.

  According to a fourth feature configuration of the article transport facility according to the present invention, in addition to the second or third feature configuration, a storage unit that stores the liquid discharged from the storage container is provided in the movable body, and the article transport facility is provided. The moving body for transporting the article is configured so that the moving body for transporting the article transports the article between the article storage / exit location provided along the travel route and the article holding unit. In the point corresponding to the location for unloading, there is a discharge location for discharging the liquid stored in the storage section to the outside.

That is, the liquid discharged when the article support portion is positioned at the retreat position and the storage container is switched to the discharge posture is stored in the storage portion on the moving body side, and is used for loading and unloading provided along the travel route. It is discharged outside at a discharge point set at a position corresponding to the point.
When the article is transported to enter and exit, the moving body always stops at the place for entering and exiting the article. Therefore, while the moving body is stopped for entering and leaving the article, The stored liquid can be discharged to the outside. For this reason, it is not necessary to stop at the discharge location only for discharging the liquid stored in the storage section to the outside, and the conveyance efficiency can be improved.

  In addition, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2773580, as a discharge location, a discharge route is provided along the longitudinal direction of the travel route on the side of the travel route set across a plurality of article holding units. It is also conceivable to provide a bag or the like so that the liquid stored in the storage part can be discharged to the outside at any location along the travel route. It must be installed over the entire area, and the installation of the discharge point becomes complicated. Moreover, since it is necessary to incline the sludge (make a difference in height) in order to move the liquid toward the drainage portion for dredging so that the liquid does not stay in the dredging etc., the installation of the discharge point may be further complicated. There is.

  On the other hand, according to the fourth feature configuration, since the discharge location is provided at the end of the travel route, the installation of the discharge location is facilitated and the liquid stored in the storage portion is discharged. For this reason, it is possible to provide an article transport facility that can effectively use the time required.

  According to a fifth characteristic configuration of the article conveying facility according to the present invention, in addition to the fourth characteristic configuration, a discharge device that discharges the liquid stored in the storage unit to the outside is provided, and the moving body in the travel route A travel position detection device for detecting a position is provided, and when the travel position detection device detects that the moving body is located at an end of the travel route, the liquid stored in the storage portion is discharged to the discharge location. It is in the point which is comprised so that the said discharge device may be operated so that it may discharge.

  That is, when it is detected by the travel position detection device that the moving body is located at the end of the travel path, the discharge device is operated to discharge the liquid stored in the storage portion to the discharge location. The liquid stored in the storage part can be reliably and quickly discharged to the discharge point.

  By the way, for example, when the moving body is configured by a stacker crane, a standby point or an article loading / unloading point may be provided at the end of the travel route. In addition, when the stacker crane is configured to include a lifting platform for transporting articles also in the vertical direction, when the moving body is positioned at the standby position or the loading / unloading position, the lifting platform is often positioned at the lower limit position. .

  When the storage unit is provided in the lifting platform, when the lifting platform is located at the lower limit position, the height difference between the storage unit and the discharge location is reduced. If it is attempted to discharge by the outflow through the opening or the discharge using the principle of siphon), it may take time for the discharge or it may not be possible to completely discharge. However, according to the above fifth feature configuration In this case, such a situation can be prevented, and the effect becomes remarkable.

  In the sixth feature configuration of the article transport facility according to the present invention, in addition to any of the fourth and fifth feature configurations, whether the liquid stored in the storage unit exceeds a set storage amount in the storage unit. When the storage amount detection unit detects that the liquid stored in the storage unit exceeds the set storage amount, the storage amount detection unit is stored in the storage unit. It is determined that the liquid is not discharged, and a notification unit that notifies the fact is activated.

  That is, when the liquid stored in the storage unit exceeds the set storage amount, it can be determined that the liquid stored in the storage unit has not been discharged and the fact can be notified.

  Therefore, when the liquid stored in the storage part is not discharged, the operator knows that the liquid stored in the storage part is more than the set storage amount and moves. The operation of the body can be stopped and the operation of the moving body can be continued in advance even if the liquid stored in the storage part is not discharged, so that the liquid overflows from the storage part in advance. Can do.

  As described above, according to the sixth feature configuration, it is possible to quickly know that the liquid stored in the storage unit is not discharged and to avoid a situation such as a liquid overflowing from the storage unit in advance. It is possible to provide an article transport facility including a movable body.

  In addition to any one of the first to sixth feature configurations described above, the seventh feature configuration of the article transport facility according to the present invention is that the liquid receiving portion extends from one end portion to the other end portion in the direction along the travel route. A flat plate portion having an inclined posture that is a low position in the vertical direction and a peripheral wall portion that rises upward from the periphery of the flat plate portion. It is provided in the vicinity of the other end, and is provided with a plurality of concave grooves arranged radially around the discharge port in the flat plate portion around the discharge port.

That is, when the liquid drops on the liquid receiving portion, the liquid flows on the flat plate portion formed in an inclined posture from one end portion toward the other end portion, and is discharged from a discharge port provided close to the other end portion. It will be received by the storage container.
In addition, a plurality of concave grooves arranged radially around the discharge port are provided around the discharge port in the flat plate portion, so that an inclination toward the discharge port is separately provided around the discharge port in the flat plate portion. Even if it is not, it is possible to guide the liquid that aggregates at a position away from the discharge port on the other end side of the flat plate part, or to induce the liquid to aggregate by capillary action to be discharged from the discharge port. it can. Therefore, the space in the vertical direction for providing the liquid receiving portion can be reduced as compared with the case where the inclination toward the discharge port is provided.

  Thus, according to the seventh characteristic configuration, the liquid dropped onto the liquid receiving part is appropriately discharged from the discharge port while the space in the vertical direction for providing the liquid receiving part is reduced, and the liquid is received in the liquid receiving part. It is possible not to stay.

  According to an eighth feature of the article transport facility of the present invention, in addition to the seventh feature, the article support portion includes a support column provided upright from the outside of the liquid receiving portion in plan view. A liquid guide part is provided on the support part for guiding the liquid moving downward along the support part to drop inward from the peripheral wall part of the liquid receiving part in plan view. There is in point.

In other words, since the column portion constituting the article support portion is provided upright from the outside of the liquid receiving portion in plan view, the liquid dripped from the article supported by the article support portion travels through the column portion of the article support portion. If it moves downward, it may be guided outside the liquid receiving portion.
Therefore, by providing a liquid guide portion for guiding the liquid moving downward along the column portion to drop inward from the peripheral wall portion of the liquid receiving portion in plan view, the column portion is transmitted through the column portion. Thus, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the liquid that moves downward is guided to a place other than the liquid receiving portion to contaminate the moving body.

  A ninth characteristic configuration of the article conveying facility according to the present invention is a plant cultivated in a state where the article to be conveyed is dipped in a nutrient solution in addition to any one of the first to eighth characteristic configurations. It is in the point which is a fixed planting board which supports.

That is, when holding a fixed planting plate in which a plant to be cultivated by immersing the root part in a nutrient solution for hydroponically cultivating the plant in the article holding unit, the fixed planting plate is placed and supported on the article supporting unit. If it is configured to be transported, there is a risk that the nutrient solution adhering to the root portion may drip downward.
Then, even if it conveys a fixed-planting board by using the article conveyance equipment shown in any one of the 1st-the 8th above-mentioned characteristic composition, a nutrient solution drops on a movable body and a movable body gets dirty. The phenomenon of rusting can be avoided.

The top view which shows the cultivation equipment of embodiment The perspective view which shows the structure of a cultivation shelf and a stacker crane Perspective view of fork part provided in stacker crane The perspective view which shows the storage container provided in a fork part The figure which shows the storage posture of a storage container The figure which shows the discharge posture of a storage container Side view showing reservoir and discharge location Action diagram when transferring fixed planting board Action diagram when transferring fixed planting board

The embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking as an example the application of the article conveying facility of the present invention to a vegetable cultivation facility.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cultivation facility of the present embodiment includes a stacker crane 1 as a moving body for conveying articles that is movable along a traveling rail 2 </ b> R installed in the traveling path 2, and a path width of the traveling path 2. A cultivation shelf 5 provided with a plurality of article holding portions arranged on both sides of the traveling path 2 in the direction and configured to hold articles is arranged in the direction along the traveling path 2 and in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cultivation shelf 5 includes a support 5 </ b> M that is erected along the vertical direction and arranged in the direction along the travel path 2, and two struts 5 </ b> M that are adjacent in the direction along the travel path 2. And a plurality of traversing members 5h provided horizontally and spaced apart in the vertical direction.
Each of the plurality of traversing members 5h is provided with a plurality of upper-opening container-shaped nutrient solution storage portions 5Y arranged in the direction along the travel path 2 in a direction along the path width direction. In the present embodiment, the article holding unit 5S is configured by a group of nutrient solution storage units 5Y located between a pair of struts 5M adjacent along the traveling route. A plurality of intervals in the vertical direction of the nutrient solution storage unit 5Y can be provided in accordance with the growth of the plants held on the fixed planting board B. That is, while the plant held on the planting board B is small, the planting board B is held by the article holding unit 5S having a small vertical interval between the nutrient solution storage units 5Y, and the plant held on the planting board B grows. If it becomes large, it can also comprise so that the fixed planting board B may be moved to the goods holding | maintenance part 5S with a large space | interval of the up-down direction of the nutrient solution storage part 5Y.

  The nutrient solution storage unit 5Y stores a nutrient solution in which nutrients for growing plants are dissolved. Although illustration is omitted, each nutrient solution storage section 5Y is provided with a hole for exchanging nutrient solution so that the old nutrient solution is discharged and a fresh nutrient solution is supplied.

  In this embodiment, the fixed planting board B which planted the plant cultivated by immersing a root part in a nutrient solution in the state hold | maintained at the nutrient solution storage part 5Y is conveyed by the stacker crane 1. FIG. That is, the fixed planting board B becomes an article to be conveyed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixed planting plate B is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and a plurality of fixed planting holes are formed on a glossy synthetic resin plate (for example, a vinyl chloride plate or an acrylic plate) on the surface. The plant to be cultivated supported by a nursery sponge as a medium is inserted and held in the hole for fixed planting. The glossy material used on the surface as described above reflects the cultivation illumination light irradiated from above the fixed planting plate B, and is below the plant leaves held on the fixed planting plate B. This is because the cultivation illumination light can be irradiated.
The fixed planting hole is formed so as to be positioned above the nutrient solution reservoir 5Y when the planting plate B is placed on the nutrient solution reservoir 5Y. Therefore, by placing the fixed planting plate B on the nutrient solution reservoir 5Y, the plant supported by the nursery sponge inserted in the hole for planting is dipped in the nutrient solution in the nutrient solution reservoir 5Y. It becomes a state.

As shown in FIG. 1, a crane controller H that controls the operation of the stacker crane 1 is provided outside the travel rail 2 </ b> R installation area at the end of the travel path 2.
Detection information of the travel position detection device and the lift position detection device is input to the crane controller H, and the crane controller H controls the operation of the travel motor and the lift motor based on the input information.

In addition, a pair of carriage travel rails 3 </ b> R on which the self-propelled carriage 3 runs is provided at a location adjacent to the lateral side of the cultivation shelf 5. A plurality of supports 3 </ b> S for placing and supporting the fixed planting plate B are provided on the upper part of the self-propelled carriage 3. Each of the plurality of support bodies 3S includes a rod-like body that is formed in a long shape along the path width direction, and a column portion that supports the rod-like body at the end opposite to the stacker crane 1 in the path width direction. It is composed of
Thereby, even when the article support part 15 provided in the fork part F of the stacker crane 1 to be described later is protruded to the self-propelled carriage 3 side, the fixed planting board B is not automatically interfered with the support 3S. Transfer can be performed between the support 3 </ b> S of the carriage 3 and the article support 15.
That is, the place where the fixed planting board B is exchanged between the self-propelled carriage 3 and the article support portion 15 of the stacker crane 1 corresponds to the entry / exit place, and the stacker crane 1 is provided along the travel route 2. It is comprised so that the fixed planting board B may be conveyed between the entry / exit location of the fixed planting board B, and the articles | goods holding part 5S.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the stacker crane 1 includes a traveling carriage 10 having a pair of front and rear traveling wheels, and a pair of lifting guide masts 11 erected at both ends in the traveling direction of the traveling carriage 10. . Although not shown, the traveling carriage 10 includes a traveling motor that drives a drive wheel that is set as at least one of the traveling wheels, and a lifting motor that winds and feeds a lifting wire, which will be described later. .

  A lifting platform 12 that can be moved up and down in a form guided by a pair of lifting guide masts 11 is provided. One end side of a lifting wire wound around a sheave provided near the upper end of the lifting guide mast 11 is connected to the lifting platform 12. The other end of the lifting wire is fixed to a drum that is driven to rotate by the lifting motor. Therefore, the lifting platform 12 is driven up and down by forward and reverse driving of the lifting motor.

  Further, the stacker crane 1 includes a laser range finder L1 as a travel position detection device that detects the position of the stacker crane 1 in the travel route 2, and a laser measurement as a lift position detection device that detects the lift position of the lift platform 12. A range finder L2 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the vicinity of the center of the moving body traveling direction on the lifting platform 12, it is possible to move in and out along the lateral direction of the path between the protruding position protruding sideways of the traveling path 2 and the retracted position. A mechanism 13 is provided, and the fork portion F is supported by the withdrawing / retracting mechanism 13 so as to be freely withdrawn / retracted.
The fork part F is provided on the support base 13d, the liquid receiving part 14 that is fixed on the support base 13d and receives the nutrient solution dropped from the fixed planting plate B, and stands up from the outside of the liquid receiving part 14 in plan view. The article support part 15 provided with the support | pillar part 15S to be provided.
Accordingly, the liquid receiving portion 14 and the article support portion 15 are moved up and down integrally with the lifting platform 12, and the liquid receiving portion 14 and the article support portion 15 are withdrawn and withdrawn integrally by the withdrawal operation of the withdrawal mechanism 13. Thus, the stacker crane 1 is provided.
The exit / retreat mechanism 13 may have a known configuration.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, it moves along the support | pillar part 15S from the plant of the planting plant currently planted by the fixed planting board B supported to the upper end to each support | pillar part 15S of the article | item support part 15, and moves below. A liquid guide portion 15W for guiding the nutrient solution to drop inward from the peripheral wall portion 14S of the liquid receiving portion 14 in plan view is provided.
The liquid guide portion 15W is provided at the intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the support column 15S in a state of protruding in a bowl shape around the support column 15S, and in a form in which a part in plan view overlaps the liquid receiving unit 14. Yes. The liquid guide portion 15W is provided by fixing the plate-like body in which the concave groove portion is formed to the support column portion 15S in an inclined shape in which the position overlapping the liquid receiving portion 14 in a plan view is a low position.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the liquid receiving portion 14 includes a flat plate portion 14 t having an inclined posture that is at a lower position in the vertical direction from one end portion toward the other end portion in the direction along the traveling path 2. The container is formed in a container shape having an upper surface opening provided with a peripheral wall portion 14S that rises upward from the periphery of the flat plate portion 14t.
In addition, a discharge port that passes through the flat plate portion 14t in the vertical direction and is connected to the cylindrical portion 14h is provided in the vicinity of the other end portion of the flat plate portion 14t, and a discharge port is provided around the discharge port of the flat plate portion 14t. A plurality of concave groove portions 14m arranged radially with respect to the center are provided.

  Therefore, the nutrient solution received by the liquid receiving portion 14 flows toward the other end of the flat plate portion 14t due to the inclination of the flat plate portion 14t, and is discharged from the discharge port. Further, since the plurality of concave groove portions 14m are formed radially around the discharge port, even when the nutrient solution aggregates due to surface tension in the vicinity of the discharge port in the flat plate portion 14t, the aggregated nutrient solution is caused by the concave groove portion 14m. It can be guided to the outlet by capillary action. Therefore, even if the inclination angle of the flat plate portion 14t is small, the discharge of the nutrient solution received by the liquid receiving portion 14 from the discharge port can be promoted.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a storage container 20 that stores the nutrient solution discharged from the discharge port is provided below the liquid receiver 14. The storage container 20 is configured to be switchable between a storage posture for storing the nutrient solution (see FIG. 5) and a discharge posture for discharging the stored nutrient solution (see FIG. 6).
The storage container 20 is supported by a pair of support plates 22 in the path width direction by a rotation shaft 22h provided on the side of the retracting mechanism 13 in the travel path direction of the storage container 20 and on the lower end side in the vertical direction. Since the support plate 22 is fixed to the support pedestal 13d, the storage container 20 is withdrawn and withdrawn integrally with the liquid receiving part 14 and the article support part 15.

The storage container 20 is biased by a spring 20 </ b> S so as to be pulled toward the side where the retracting mechanism 13 exists (the side close to the center in the direction along the traveling path 2 in the lifting platform 12, hereinafter referred to as the lifting platform center side). Has been. In addition, a contact portion on which the rod-like body 21 can freely contact is provided on the retracting mechanism 13 side of the storage container 20 and above the rotation shaft 22h in the vertical direction.
Then, the rod-shaped body 21 moves to the side approaching the lifting guide mast 11 on the side where the storage container 20 is provided (hereinafter referred to as the lifting platform end side), whereby the storage container 20 side end of the rod-shaped body 21 is moved. The contact portion of the storage container 20 is pushed out, and the storage container 20 is switched to the discharge posture. Further, the rod-shaped body 21 moves to the center side of the lifting platform, so that the connecting portion of the storage container 20 with the spring 20S is pulled toward the center of the lifting platform by the biasing force of the spring 20S, so that the storage container 20 assumes a storage posture. Is switched to.

  The rod-like body 21 has an end on the central side of the elevator base, which is positioned between a pair of guide parts 21g fixed to the elevator base 12 and spaced apart in the direction along the travel path, and is in contact with the guide part 21g. A rolling roller 21r is attached. In the plan view, each of the pair of guide portions 21g protrudes closer to the lifting guide mast 11 on the side where the storage container 20 exists in the central portion in the lateral direction of the path, and closer to the central side of the lifting platform at the end portion in the lateral direction of the path. It is configured in a bow shape.

  Further, when the fork portion F is in the protruding state, the roller 21r is positioned closer to the article holding portion 5S than the end portions in the protruding direction of the pair of guide portions 21g in plan view, that is, the pair of guide portions. Since the state where the fork part F is in the retracted state is brought out of contact with the guide 21g, the pair of the pair of guides 21g can be smoothly guided again in order to smoothly guide the roller 21r. Both ends of the guide portion 21g in the path width direction are separated from each other in plan view.

  Therefore, when the fork portion F is located at the protruding position, the roller 21r is not guided by the pair of guide portions 21g but is urged toward the center of the lift by the spring 21S. When the storage container 20 is switched to the storage posture and the fork portion F is positioned at the retracted position, the roller 21r is guided by the guide portion 21g and positioned at the end of the lift platform. Since it will be in a state, the rod-shaped body 21 will be in the state which protrudes to the raising-lowering stand edge part side here, and the storage container 20 will be switched to a discharge attitude | position.

  That is, the rod-shaped body 21, the roller 21r, the guide portion 21g, the spring 20S, the spring 21S, and the like constitute an attitude switching mechanism, and the force switching mechanism is moved along with the movement of the article support portion 15 in the storage container 20. Is configured by a linkage mechanism K that is mechanically switched between a storage posture and a discharge posture.

As shown in FIG. 7, the lifting platform 12 of the stacker crane 1 is provided with a storage tank 30 as a storage unit that stores the nutrient solution discharged from the storage container 20.
The storage tank 30 is provided with an electromagnetic valve 31 and an electric pump 32 so that the nutrient solution stored in the storage tank 30 can be discharged from the nozzle 33 to an external discharge location. Therefore, the electromagnetic valve 31 and the electric pump 32 correspond to the discharge device S.

  The storage tank 30 is provided with a water level sensor D (an example of a storage amount detection unit) that detects whether or not the stored nutrient solution has exceeded the set storage amount in the storage tank 30. When it is detected that the nutrient solution stored in the tank 30 has exceeded the set storage amount, it is determined that the discharge device S is malfunctioning, and a notification lamp and a notification buzzer are operated as a notification unit for notifying that effect. It is configured to let you. Although not shown, the notification lamp and the notification buzzer are installed in the vicinity of the crane controller H that controls the operation of the stacker crane 1.

  The crane controller H operates the traveling motor based on a command from a higher-level management device or a command from an operator to cause the stacker crane 1 to travel to a traveling position corresponding to the article holding unit 5S to be transferred. The motor is operated to move the lifting platform 12 up and down to the lifting position corresponding to the article holding unit 5S to be transferred. Then, by moving the retracting mechanism 13 between the protruding position protruding toward the article holding part 5S located on the side of the travel path 2 and the retracted position, the fixed planting plate B and the article holding part 5S are supported. It can be exchanged with the part 15.

  In this way, when the fixed planting board B is transferred, for example, in order to unload the fixed planting board B, it is transported to an entry / exit location to be transferred to the self-propelled carriage 3, or an article holding unit that holds the fixed planting board B. When a plurality of article holding parts 5S for different environments are set as 5S depending on the growth stage of the plant, another fixed plant B suitable for the growth stage of the plant held by the fixed planting board B is used. In some cases, the article holding unit 5S is moved to be positioned.

  As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.7, it is the edge part of the driving | running | working path | route 2, Comprising: The location (it calls a home position HP) corresponding to the location for loading / unloading which the stacker crane 1 is located at the time of standby or the fixed planting board B loading / unloading The nutrient solution storage tank 2W that discharges the nutrient solution stored in the storage tank 30 to the outside is provided at a position adjacent in the horizontal width direction of (). The nutrient solution storage tank 2W is provided with an opening below the position where the opening end of the nozzle 33 is located when the stacker crane 1 is positioned at the home position HP and the lifting platform 12 is positioned at the lower limit position. It has been. That is, the nutrient solution storage tank 2W corresponds to the discharge location.

  And when the crane controller H discriminate | determines that the stacker crane 1 is located in the said home position HP based on the detection information of a traveling position detection apparatus, the nutrient solution stored in the storage tank 30 is made into the nutrient solution storage tank 2W. The electromagnetic valve 31 and the electric pump 32 are operated to be discharged.

  Therefore, when the stacker crane 1 is located at the home position HP as a place for loading / unloading in order to load / unload the fixed planting board B, the stacker crane 1 is stopped at the home position HP for loading / unloading the fixed planting board B. The nutrient solution stored in the storage tank 30 can be discharged to the nutrient solution storage tank 2W by using the time in between.

  Next, the effect | action at the time of transfer of the fixed planting board B in this embodiment is demonstrated based on FIG.8 and FIG.9. The cultivation facility of the present embodiment hydroponically cultivates the plant to be cultivated in a form in which the fixed planting board B is supported by the plurality of nutrient solution storage units 5Y. When the plant to be cultivated sufficiently grows or when the position of the article holding unit 5S is moved to the optimum position depending on the growth stage of the plant to be cultivated, the fixed planting plate B is used by the stacker crane 1. Will be transferred.

  When crawling the fixed planting plate B supported by the nutrient solution storage unit 5Y, the crane controller H operates the traveling motor, and as shown in FIG. 8, there are a plurality of article support units 15 in the traveling direction of the stacker crane 1 in a plan view. The stacker crane 1 is moved to the transfer position between the nutrient solution storage units 5Y, and the lifting platform 12 is moved up and down to a height corresponding to the article holding unit 5S holding the planting plate B to be transferred. At this time, the elevating motor is operated so that the height of the upper end of the article support unit 15 is lower than the height of the bottom surface of the planting board B to be transferred.

Subsequently, the crane controller H operates the retracting mechanism 13 to cause the fork portion F to protrude to the protruding position on the article holding portion 5S side. The protruding position is a position where the article support 15 overlaps the fixed planting board B in plan view.
Subsequently, the crane controller H operates the lifting motor to move the article support 15 upward. As the article support section 15 moves up, the article support section 15 passes between the nutrient solution storage sections 5Y, and the upper end of the article support section 15 comes into contact with the lower surface of the planting plate B.

  Then, the lifting platform 12 is stopped at the position where the upper end of the article support unit 15 is raised from the height at which the upper end of the article support unit 15 contacts the lower surface of the fixed planting plate B. Thereby, the fixed planting board B will be spaced apart from the upper surface of the nutrient solution storage part 5Y, and will be in the state supported only by the articles | goods support part 15. FIG. Then, by operating the retracting mechanism 13 to position the fork portion F at the retracted position with the fixed planting plate B supported by the article support unit 15, the fixed planting plate B is placed on the stacker crane 1 (the traveling carriage 10 in a plan view). The stacker crane 1 is run in a state where the fixed planting plate B is transported to a target transfer destination location.

  When the fork portion F is positioned in the retracted position with the planting plate B supported by the article support unit 15 as described above, the root of the plant held on the planting plate B as shown in FIG. 9 is the nutrient solution storage unit 5Y. The liquid receiving portion 14 that receives the nutrient solution dropped from the root of the plant held on the fixed planting plate B is located at the position where it is taken out from the nutrient solution and overlaps the lifting platform 12 in plan view. Since it is provided so as to move in and out integrally with the support portion 15, all of the dropped nutrient solution is received by the liquid receiving portion 14, and the nutrient solution is dropped on the stacker crane 1 body such as the lifting platform 12 and the traveling carriage 10. You can avoid the situation.

[Another embodiment]
(1) Although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where the article conveyance equipment of this invention was applied to the vegetable cultivation equipment, it is not limited to such a structure, For example, a workpiece | work with a possibility that cutting oil may drip. The present invention can be applied to various types of equipment for transporting articles that may drop liquid, such as a transport facility between metal processing steps for transporting a fish and a transport facility for transporting a fish product.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the group of nutrient solution storage units 5Y that place and support one fixed planting plate B is the article holding unit 5S has been described. However, the configuration is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a box-shaped nutrient solution storage tank provided with one storage tank for all of a plurality of plants to be cultivated held on the fixed planting board B, and a fixed planting board B indicated at the upper end of the nutrient solution storage tank As an article to be transported, the article holding unit 5S is constituted by a brace or the like that mounts and supports the nutrient solution storage tank, and the article support unit 15 mounts and supports the nutrient solution storage tank so as to transfer and convey the article. It may be configured. Also in this case, by providing the liquid receiving portion 14 so as to be withdrawn and withdrawn integrally with the article support portion 15, even when the nutrient solution stored in the nutrient solution storage tank overflows, the lifting platform 12 and the traveling cart 10. It is possible to prevent the nutrient solution from dripping.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, the posture switching mechanism that switches the storage container 20 between the storage posture and the discharge posture is configured such that the posture of the storage container 20 is mechanically stored in the storage posture and the discharge posture as the article support unit 15 moves in and out. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the posture switching mechanism is configured by an electric mechanism such as a motor or a linear actuator. Also good.
The storage container 20 is not switchable between a storage posture and a discharge posture, but is a container such as a tank capable of storing a quantity of nutrient solution dropped onto the liquid receiving portion 14 in a predetermined number of transfers. You may comprise so that the drainage operation | work which removes the said tank etc. artificially or mechanically for every transfer of the number of times and discharge | releases the stored solution may be performed.

(4) In the above embodiment, the configuration has been described in which the entry / exit location is provided on the end side of the travel path 2 and the nutrient solution storage tank 2W is provided at a position corresponding to the entry / exit location. It is not limited to. For example, when the entry / exit location is set closer to the center than the end portion in the direction along the travel route 2, the nutrient solution storage tank 2 </ b> W is located in the location closer to the center than the end portion in the direction along the travel route 2. May be provided.
Moreover, it is comprised so that the trough-shaped member for nutrient solution discharge provided along the driving | running route 2 may be made into a discharge location, and the nutrient solution stored in the storage tank 30 when the lifting platform 12 is located in a raising / lowering lower limit position You may comprise so that may be discharged | emitted to a bowl-shaped member. Moreover, you may form the groove | channel for nutrient solution discharge | emission on a floor surface instead of providing a member like a bowl-shaped member.

(5) In the above embodiment, when the water level sensor D detects that the nutrient solution stored in the storage tank 30 exceeds the set storage amount, the operation of the discharge device S (the electromagnetic valve 31 and the electric pump 32). It was determined that it was defective, and the notification lamp and the notification buzzer were operated to notify that effect, but instead of such a configuration, the water level sensor D is set to the nutrient solution stored in the storage tank 30 The crane controller H is configured to notify the crane controller H that it has detected that the amount of storage has been exceeded, and the crane controller H stops the stacker crane 1 and reports a malfunction of the discharge device S. You may comprise so that one or both of alerting | reporting control alert | reported by may be performed.

(6) In the said embodiment, although it was set as the structure provided with the electromagnetic valve 31 and the electric pump 32 as the discharge device S, it is good also as a structure provided only with either the electromagnetic valve 31 or the electric pump 32 as the discharge device S. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with the opening / closing mechanism which opens and closes a discharge port so that the liquid in the storage tank 30 may be discharged | emitted naturally, without providing the solenoid valve 31 or the electric pump 32 as the discharge device S.

(7) In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the flat plate portion 14t of the liquid receiving portion 14 is formed in an inclined posture that becomes a lower position in the vertical direction as approaching one end side in the direction along the traveling path 2 is illustrated. For example, the flat plate portion 14t is horizontally positioned in the direction along the travel route 2, and both ends in the route width direction are set to high positions in the vertical direction, and the center portion in the route width direction is set. Is formed at a lower position in the vertical direction, and a channel groove is formed at the center in the horizontal direction of the path so as to become a lower position in the vertical direction as it approaches one end side in the direction along the travel path 2. May be.

(8) In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the plurality of concave groove portions 14m arranged radially around the discharge port is provided around the discharge port in the flat plate portion 14t. It is good also as a structure which does not provide the concave-groove part 14m as an inclined surface used as a low position. Moreover, you may form the ditch | groove part 14m so that it may incline with respect to the radial shape centering on a discharge port by planar view.

(9) In the above-described embodiment, the article support unit 15 includes the support column 15S that is provided upright from the outside of the liquid receiving unit 14 in a plan view, and the support column 15S extends downward through the support column 15S. Although the plate-like body for guiding the moving nutrient solution to drop inward from the peripheral wall portion 14S of the liquid receiving portion 14 in a plan view is provided as the liquid guide portion 15W, instead of such a configuration, An upright member that stands upright substantially vertically, an inclined member that has one end connected to the upper end of the upright member and the other end located at a position overlapping the liquid receiving portion 14 in plan view, and the inclined member It is good also as a structure provided with the upper part which abuts the fixed planting board B from the downward | lower direction by making the edge part which overlaps with the liquid receiving part 14 by planar view contact | abuts the fixed planting board B from the downward direction at an upper end.

  In this case, the nutrient solution that moves downward from the fixed planting plate B through the upper member moves to the end portion on the side overlapping the liquid receiving portion 14 in plan view in the inclined member, but is connected to the upright member in the inclined member. Since the end of the inclined member is higher in the vertical direction than the end of the inclined member that overlaps the liquid receiver 14 in plan view, the nutrient solution that moves downward along the upper member is the liquid receiver. 14 falls. That is, the liquid guide portion 15W is configured by the upper member and the inclined member.

(10) In the above embodiment, the example in which the fixed planting plate B is formed of a synthetic resin plate has been shown. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and may be made of other materials such as a metal plate or a tempered glass plate. It may be configured. Even in this case, if a glossy material is used on the surface, the illumination light for cultivation irradiated from above the planting plate B is reflected, and the plant leaves held on the planting plate B are viewed from below. Can also be irradiated with illumination light for cultivation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mobile body 2 Traveling path 5S Article holding | maintenance part 14 Liquid receiving part 14S Circumferential wall part 14m Groove part 14t Flat plate part 15 Article support part 15S Strut part 15W Liquid guide part 20 Storage container 30 Storage part B Article D Storage amount detection part L Traveling position Detection device S Discharge device 2W Discharge location

Claims (9)

A movable body for conveying an article that is movable along a travel path, and an article holding unit that is disposed on a side of the travel path in a lateral width direction of the travel path and holds an article,
The movable body includes an article support portion that places and supports an article to be conveyed so that the article can freely move in and out along the lateral width direction between a projecting position and a retreat position that project laterally of the travel path. , An article conveying facility configured to be able to transfer an article to be conveyed between the article holding unit,
A liquid receiving portion that receives liquid dropped from an article to be transported supported by the article support section below the article is provided in the moving body so as to be withdrawn and withdrawn integrally with the article support section;
The liquid receiving part is an article conveying facility provided with a storage container for storing the liquid discharged from the discharge port for discharging the received liquid. The storage container is configured to be switchable between a storage posture for storing liquid and a discharge posture for discharging the stored liquid,
The storage container is set to the storage posture when the article support portion is located at the protruding position, and is set to the discharge posture when the article support portion is located at the retracted position. The article conveyance facility according to claim 1, further comprising a posture switching mechanism that switches the posture of the stool.   The said attitude | position switching mechanism is comprised by the cooperation mechanism by which the attitude | position of the said storage container is switched to the said storage attitude | position and the said discharge attitude | position with the movement of the said article support part. Goods conveying equipment. A storage part for storing the liquid discharged from the storage container is provided in the moving body,
The movable body for conveying an article is configured to convey an article between an article storage / exit location provided along the travel route and the article holding unit,
The article conveyance facility according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a discharge location for discharging the liquid stored in the storage section to the outside is set at a position corresponding to the location for loading and unloading. A discharge device for discharging the liquid stored in the storage unit to the outside is provided,
A travel position detection device for detecting a position of the moving body in the travel route is provided;
When the travel position detection device detects that the moving body is located at an end of the travel route, the discharge device is operated to discharge the liquid stored in the storage portion to the discharge location. The article conveyance equipment according to claim 4 constituted. The storage unit is provided with a storage amount detection unit that detects whether or not the stored liquid exceeds a set storage amount in the storage unit,
When the storage amount detection unit detects that the liquid stored in the storage unit exceeds the set storage amount, it is determined that the liquid stored in the storage unit is not discharged, The article conveyance facility according to claim 4 or 5 configured to operate a notifying unit for notifying that effect. A flat plate portion in an inclined posture in which the liquid receiving portion is lowered in the vertical direction from one end portion to the other end portion in a direction along the travel path, and a peripheral wall portion rising upward from the periphery of the flat plate portion. It is formed in a container shape with an upper surface opening provided,
The outlet is provided in proximity to the other end of the flat plate portion;
The article conveyance facility according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a plurality of concave grooves arranged radially around the discharge port are provided around the discharge port in the flat plate portion. The article support unit is configured to include a support column provided upright from the outside of the liquid receiving unit in plan view,
The liquid guide portion that guides the liquid that moves downward along the support portion to drop inward from the peripheral wall portion of the liquid receiving portion in a plan view is provided on the support portion. Item conveying equipment of 7.   The article conveyance facility according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the article to be conveyed is a fixed planting plate that supports a plant cultivated in a state where a root portion is immersed in a nutrient solution.

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