JP6844779B2 - Automatic warehouse - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an automated warehouse in which an article to be stored can be stored in a bucket.

As this type of automated warehouse, there are a loading / unloading station, a plurality of storage shelves, a stacker crane (an example of the traveling transfer device of the present invention) that moves between these and transfers items to be stored, and inside. Various types are known that include a plurality of buckets that accommodate the articles to be stored and that can be attached to and detached from each storage shelf (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below). This stacker crane receives the bucket containing the goods to be stored at the warehousing / delivery station and then moves it to a predetermined storage shelf.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-269062

In the conventional one, there is no warehousing / delivery station after the stacker crane moves the bucket, and when the next warehousing request is made, it is necessary to warehousing the bucket containing the goods to be stored from the outside. However, management of empty buckets (buckets that do not contain items to be stored) outside the automated warehouse may become complicated.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to facilitate the management of buckets and improve the convenience of automated warehouses.

The automated warehouse of the present invention accommodates a warehousing station, a warehousing station, a plurality of storage shelves, a traveling type transfer device that moves between these and transfers the storage target article, and the storage target article inside. It is an automated warehouse equipped with a plurality of buckets that can be attached to and detached from each storage shelf, and the bucket is used only between the warehousing station, the warehousing station, and the storage ledge, and contains nothing inside. There are cases where it is used as an empty bucket that is not empty, and there are cases where it is used as an actual bucket that contains the article to be stored. when there is a request or relocation request, said after the actual bucket was removed from the goods receipt station or the storage shelf, a shall be supplied with air buckets from the stock portion to the goods receipt station or the storage shelf It is a feature.

According to the present invention, it is possible to facilitate the management of buckets and improve the convenience of automated warehouses.

The figure which shows the outline of the article temporary storage apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view of the article temporary storage device according to the same embodiment. A side sectional view of the article temporary storage device according to the same embodiment. The operation explanatory drawing of the article temporary storage device which concerns on the same embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In the present embodiment, the automated warehouse of the present invention is applied to the automated warehouse type temporary storage device 1, and specifically, it is used as an automated warehouse type locker installed in a store such as a station square or a convenience store. Is something that can be done.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the sender H1 of the storage target article G to be deposited in the automated warehouse type temporary storage device 1 and the warehousing to store the storage target article G in the temporary storage device 1 It is assumed that there is a person H2, a warehousing person H3 who issues the storage target article G from the goods temporary storage device 1, and a recipient H4 who receives the storage target article G. Hereinafter, the sender H1, the warehousing person H2, the warehousing person H3, and the recipient H4 may be collectively referred to as "a person concerned with the storage target article G". When the sender H1 and the warehousing person H2 are the same person, when the sender H3 and the recipient H4 are the same person, or when all of them are the same person, various other patterns can be considered. In the present embodiment, in order to show an example of using a locker as a receiving port for a courier service, the sender H1 is a store, the warehousing H2 is a courier, and the sender H3 and the recipient H4 are the requesters (one individual) of the storage target article G. ), In other words, a case where the automatic warehouse type temporary goods storage device 1 is used as a relay locker for a parcel delivery service will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the automated warehouse type temporary storage device 1 includes a warehousing station 31, a warehousing station 32, a storage shelf 43, and a traveling type transfer device. Specifically, a pair of fixed racks 4 having a plurality of storage shelves 43, a stacker crane 5 (traveling type transfer device) capable of traveling along a traveling rail 51 between the fixed racks 4, and one fixed rack. A plurality of warehousing / delivery stations 31 and 32 that also serve as a warehousing station 31 and a warehousing station 32 provided in 41 are provided. Further, in the automated warehouse type goods temporary storage device 1, after the warehousing person H2 puts the storage target article G in the bucket B waiting in advance at the warehousing / delivery stations 31 and 32, the storage target article G is put into the bucket. B is temporarily stored inside the automated warehouse. This automated warehouse has a structure partitioned by a wall 6, and includes a plurality of storage shelves 43 arranged along the traveling rail 51 of the stacker crane 5 in the internal space 7 thereof. In the automated warehouse, a pair of fixed racks 4 provided with a large number of storage shelves 43 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction are arranged on both sides of the traveling rail 51 of the stacker crane 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, each fixed rack 4 includes a plurality of storage shelves 43 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. On the other hand, the fixed rack 41 has an outer surface side in contact with the wall and is accessible to the stacker crane 5 from the inner surface side. The other fixed rack 42 faces the passage through which the user can pass on the outer surface side, and the stacker crane 5 can access it from the inner surface side. A part of the storage shelf 43 of the other fixed rack 42 is used as the warehousing / delivery stations 31 and 32 by making the back side of the stacker crane 5 openable and closable. That is, the outer surface side of the storage shelves 43 used as the warehousing / delivery stations 31 and 32 is provided with a door 33, and the storage shelves 43 can be accessed from the outside. Further, a wall 32 is formed on the outer surface side of the other storage shelves 43 so that the storage shelves 43 cannot be accessed from the outside.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, each storage shelf 43 stores the storage target article G using the same type of bucket B having a predetermined depth. Each bucket B is provided with a detachable locking portion (not shown) on each storage shelf 43, and has an opening on the upper surface side. In each bucket B, when the stacker crane 5 accesses the storage shelf 43 and takes out the bucket B, the locked portion is released from the storage shelf 43, and the stacker crane 5 puts the bucket B on the storage shelf 43. The storage shelf 43 is configured to engage the locking portion when it is moved. The bucket B is used only between the warehousing station 31, the warehousing station 32, and the storage shelf 43, that is, only in the space inside the automated warehouse type temporary storage device 1, and contains nothing inside. It may be used as an empty bucket BE that is not empty, or it may be used as an actual bucket BF containing the storage object G inside.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the stacker crane 5 moves between the warehousing / delivery stations 31 and 32 and the storage shelf 43 to transfer the storage target article G. The stacker crane 5 has a function of arranging the storage target article G from the warehousing station 31 to the storage shelf 43 and a function of arranging the storage target article G from the storage shelf 43 to the warehousing station 32. It has a function of rearranging the storage target article G from the storage shelf 43 in which the storage target article G is stored to another storage shelf 43.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the stacker crane 5 of the present embodiment moves the storage target article G together with the bucket B, and includes a fork portion (not shown) for holding the bucket B. Further, the stacker crane 5 is provided with a stock portion 52 for holding the empty bucket BE, and the stock portion 52 also includes a fork portion (not shown). These fork portions are driven individually from each other. Then, when there is a warehousing request or a relocation request, the actual bucket BF is taken out from the warehousing station 31 or the storage shelf 43, and then an empty bucket BE is removed from the stock unit 52 from the warehousing station 31 or the storage shelf 43. Supply to 43.

The automated warehouse type temporary storage device 1 is controlled by a control device (not shown). The control device may include hardware resources such as a CPU, main memory, auxiliary storage device, and communication interface, such as a general-purpose personal computer or workstation, and these may be controlled by a controller. , Dedicated hardware may be used.

Hereinafter, an example of the operation of the automated warehouse type temporary storage device 1 controlled by the control device will be described.

In the initial state, the empty bucket BE is housed in all the storage shelves 43 including the warehousing / delivery stations 31 and 32, and one empty bucket BE is also held in the stock portion 52 of the stacker crane 5. That is, the total number of empty buckets BE in the automated warehouse type temporary storage device 1 is basically "the total number of storage shelves 43 + 1".

From this state, the warehousing person H2 uses an operation terminal device (not shown) or the like to contact information about the storage target article G (for example, the ID and contact information of the sender H1 (store) and the ID and contact information of the warehousing person H2 (courier). First, the ID and contact information of the issuer H3 and the recipient H4 (requester), the product name of the item G to be stored and the storage method at room temperature / refrigeration, the number of the issue port and the desired conditions (that is the issue port). (How strong do you want to be), refusal conditions (how strong you want to reject the delivery port), date and time of delivery and desired conditions (how much you want or can leave at that date and time) When input such as (whether there is a possibility) or refusal condition (how much there is a possibility that the goods will not be delivered at that date and time), the control device will memorize the contents.

When a series of information input by the warehousing person H2 is completed, one door 33 of the warehousing / delivery station 31 and 32 is opened, and the warehousing person H2 is stored in the bucket B prepared in advance at the warehousing / delivery station 31 and 32. The warehousing work is completed by inserting the article G and closing the door 33. In other words, after the warehousing person H2 makes a warehousing request with the operation terminal device, he / she notifies which warehousing station 31 of the plurality of warehousing stations 31 is to be warehousing. Then, the warehousing person H2 goes to that place, opens the outer opening / closing door 33 of the storage shelves 43 (the warehousing / delivery stations 31 and 32), and then stores the storage target article G in the storage shelf 43.

From this state, the control device of the automated warehouse type temporary storage device 1 controls the stacker crane 5 as follows. Further, when a warehousing request is received from the operation terminal device, the stacker crane 5 takes out the actual bucket BF from the warehousing station 31 as shown in FIG. 4 (A). After that, the stacker crane 5 moves in the vertical direction, and as shown in FIG. 4B, the empty bucket BE is supplied to the warehousing station 31 from the stock portion 52 of the stacker crane 5.

After that, the stacker crane 5 moves the actual bucket BF to the storage shelf 43 to be stored. At that time, as shown in FIG. 4C, the stock portion 52 of the stacker crane 5 takes out the empty bucket BE from the storage shelf 43. After that, the stacker crane 5 moves in the vertical direction, and as shown in FIG. 4D, the actual bucket BF is supplied from the stacker crane 5 to the storage shelf 43.

The storage shelf 43 to be moved to is determined based on the information input at the time of warehousing. For example, the storage shelf 43 to which the storage target article G (actual bucket BF) is to be moved is determined based on information such as from which delivery port the goods are to be delivered and at what date and time the goods are to be delivered. Specifically, an actual bucket BF whose date and time should be delivered from the delivery port is arranged on the storage shelf 43 near one delivery port. On the other hand, items that are not scheduled to be delivered for a while due to the setting of refusal date and time conditions may be stored in a position away from the delivery port.

Further, when a warehousing request is received from the operation terminal device or the like, the stacker crane 5 moves the actual bucket BF from the storage shelf 43 to the warehousing station 32 in the reverse procedure of the above-mentioned warehousing. Specifically, after the warehousing person H3 makes a warehousing request with the operation terminal device, the stacker crane 5 takes out the actual bucket BF from the storage shelf 43.

After that, the stacker crane 5 moves in the vertical direction, and the empty bucket BE is supplied to the storage shelf 43 from the stock portion 52 of the stacker crane 5. After the stacker crane 5 moves up, down, left and right from this state, the stacker crane 5 takes out the empty bucket BE from the delivery station 32. After that, the stacker crane 5 moves in the vertical direction, and the actual bucket BF is supplied from the stacker crane 5 to the delivery station 32.

The control device of the automated warehouse notifies which of the plurality of delivery stations 32 the delivery station 32 is to be delivered. The warehousing person H3 goes to the place and opens the outer opening / closing door 33 of the storage shelves 43 (the warehousing / delivery stations 31 and 32), so that the storage target article G can be taken out.

The automated warehouse-type temporary storage device 1 of the present embodiment is a stacker crane 5 that moves between a warehousing station 31, a warehousing station 32, a plurality of storage shelves 43, and a storage target article G. An automated warehouse-type temporary storage device for goods 1 including a plurality of buckets B in which the goods G to be stored are housed and which can be attached to and detached from each storage shelf 43. The bucket B is the storage. It is used only between the station 31, the delivery station 32, and the storage shelf 43.

Therefore, the bucket B can be easily managed, and is particularly suitable for the automated warehouse type temporary storage device 1 placed in a public place as in the present embodiment. Further, since the buckets B having the same size / shape are used, the stacker crane 5 can appropriately carry the article G to be stored regardless of the shape. In addition, "only between the warehousing station, the warehousing station and the storage shelf" refers to the entire space of the automated warehouse including these, and does not exclude the traveling type transfer device such as the stacker crane.

The bucket B may be used as an empty bucket BE containing nothing inside, or may be used as an actual bucket BF containing the article G to be stored inside. The stacker crane 5 is the stacker crane 5. A stock unit 52 for holding an empty bucket BE is provided, and when a warehousing request is made, the actual bucket BF is taken out from the warehousing station 31, and then the stock unit 52 is placed in the warehousing station 31 from which the actual bucket BF is taken out. Supply an empty bucket BE from.

Therefore, the stacker crane 5 is not usedlessly moved, and the processing associated with the warehousing can be efficiently executed. Further, since the empty bucket BE is supplied to the warehousing station 31 in exchange for the actual bucket BF, the waiting time at the warehousing port is reduced as compared with the case where the empty bucket is placed at the warehousing station after the warehousing request is made. It can also respond to continuous warehousing requests.

In particular, in the present embodiment, after the storage shelf 43 to be stored is determined, the empty bucket BE is taken out from the storage shelf 43 to the stock unit 52, and then the empty bucket BE is taken out to the storage shelf 43. Supply the real bucket BF. Further, in some cases, after the actual bucket BF stored earlier is taken out from the storage shelf 43 in which the actual bucket BF is already stored to the stock unit 52, the actual bucket BF previously stored is taken out. The actual bucket BF to be stored this time may be supplied to the stored storage shelf 43. That is, a plurality of actual bucket BFs may be exchanged with each other via the stacker crane 5.

If it is such a thing, the actual bucket BF can be moved to the most suitable storage shelf 43 in order to make the movement of the stacker crane 5 more efficient among the plurality of storage shelves 43. That is, as compared with the conventional method of filling the vacant storage shelves 43 in order, an effect that the actual bucket BF can be easily arranged at a preferable place among the plurality of storage shelves 43 can be obtained. Therefore, it is preferable when the storage shelf 43 for storing the storage target article G is determined based on the information given by the client as in the present embodiment.

Further, in the automated warehouse 1 of the present embodiment, when the delivery request is made, the actual bucket BF is taken out from the storage shelf 43, and then the actual bucket BF is taken out from the storage shelf 43 from the stock unit 52. Supply an empty bucket BE. After moving to the warehousing station, the empty bucket BE is taken out from the warehousing station 32 to the stock section 52, and the actual bucket BF is supplied to the warehousing station 32 from which the empty bucket BE is taken out.

Therefore, the stacker crane 5 is not usedlessly moved, and the processing associated with the delivery can be efficiently executed. After the article G to be stored is taken out from the bucket B at the delivery station 32, it remains as it is at the delivery station 32 as an empty bucket BE. Therefore, if the warehousing station 31 and the warehousing station 32 are used in combination as in the present embodiment, the storage target article G can be immediately regarded as a standby state in which the goods G can be warehousing.

In the present embodiment, the automated warehouse is used as a temporary storage locker for courier services, etc., and each time the storage target article G is stored, the information given by the client is linked to the storage target article G. Since the control is performed using the above, the convenience can be improved, and it is possible to temporarily cope with the congestion when many people collect the goods. Further, since the automated warehouse of the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of warehousing / retrieval stations 31 and 32, the processing amount of the storage target article G to be warehousing / unloading in the automated warehouse type temporary storage device 1 can be dramatically increased. Can be done. Needless to say, the stacker crane 5 can perform the rearrangement work of the storage target article G that has already been stored during the time period when there is no warehousing work or warehousing work.

Further, the automated warehouse type temporary storage device 1 of the present embodiment takes out the actual bucket BF from the storage shelf 43 when there is a request for mechanical automatic relocation or artificial relocation, and then the above. The empty bucket BE is supplied from the stock unit 52 to the storage shelf 43. In other words, after the actual bucket BF is taken out from the storage shelf 43, an empty bucket BE is supplied from the stock unit 52 to the storage shelf 43 from which the actual bucket BF is taken out. Control according to control can be performed.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

The traveling transfer device is not limited to the stacker crane described above. That is, the traveling type transfer device may be an automatic guided vehicle or the like, in addition to the device that linearly moves on a predetermined route. Further, the stock portion may be set on either side of the two individually driven crane portions. Further, the stock unit may be appropriately switched between the two crane units during the series of operations. The two crane units provided with the stock unit on one side can be arranged side by side or arranged side by side in various ways. Further, a plurality of stock portions may be provided.

The warehousing station and the warehousing station may be provided separately. Further, it may be provided in a place other than the storage shelf. Further, the number of warehousing stations and warehousing stations may be one or a plurality. Furthermore, the arrangement can be changed in various ways.

The arrangement of racks in the automated warehouse is not limited to the one shown in the figure, and can be changed in various ways. For example, a rack may be formed over the lower floor and the upper floor.

The size and shape of the bucket are not limited to those shown in the figure, and may be any size. Further, in the above-described embodiment, it is shown that the bottom side is attached (held) to the storage shelf, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the locking portion is the side surface side or the opening side (upper end side) of the bucket. ) May be formed. Further, the method of engaging the locking portion with the storage shelf is not limited to the one placed on the shelf board, and may be held only by the shelf support as shown in the prior art document. The storage shelf of the present invention is a name for a space that can accommodate a bucket, and may be one that does not have a shelf board, that is, one that supports the bucket only by a shelf support.

The buckets used in the automated warehouse do not have to all have the same size / shape. For example, two types of buckets having different depths may be used. In this case, it is preferable to provide two stock portions so that one type of empty bucket can be kept on standby.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the automated warehouse of the present invention is applied to a locker has been described, but it can also be applied to temporary storage of luggage at the front desk of a hotel and temporary storage of parts used for assembly at a factory. Temporary luggage storage at the front desk of the hotel (event venue) will concentrate on receiving luggage during the end time of the event, but if you use an automated warehouse similar to the locker mentioned above, many people will temporarily store it. Can cope with congestion when collecting goods. Further, in the manufacturing factory, it is possible to improve the work efficiency by collecting the corresponding items to be stored at the delivery station at a convenient date and time according to the product number or the work. Further, the locker is not limited to the one described in the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made such as using a locker in which the entrance / exit port is formed in a drawer type.

In addition to the function of arranging the storage target article from the storage station to the storage shelf, the traveling type transfer device described above has the storage target article from the storage shelf in which the storage target article is stored to another storage shelf. It had a function to relocate. If this is the case, the storage shelves in the vicinity of the delivery station can be effectively used according to the desired delivery time zone, and congestion at the delivery port can be alleviated. In the case of a parcel delivery locker, it may be rearranged in consideration of the pick-up time desired by each issuer, and in the case of a hotel front desk, it may be rearranged in consideration of the end time of each event.

In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the delivery locker, the case where the sender is a store, the warehousing is a courier, and the sender and the recipient are one individual (requester) has been described, but various other situations are assumed. For example, the sender and the warehousing person may be one individual (requester), the warehousing person may be a courier, and the recipient may be a store or an individual other than the requester or the requester. Note that the information used to control the automated warehouse is the exit / exit of another automated warehouse-type temporary storage device provided at a location different from the automated warehouse-type temporary storage device that stores the goods to be stored. It may be possible to specify a delivery port group. In such a case, it is possible to receive the stored goods at a desired place by having a courier or the like move the stored goods from one place to another automated warehouse.

The embodiments disclosed this time are examples and are not limited thereto. The present invention is shown by the scope of claims, not the scope described above, and is intended to include all modifications in the sense and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

The present invention can be used in an automated warehouse used as a temporary storage device for goods.

1 ... Automatic warehouse type temporary storage device for goods (automated warehouse)
31 ... warehousing station 32 ... warehousing station 43 ... storage shelf 5 ... stacker crane (traveling transfer device)
52 ... Stock section B ... Bucket BE ... Empty bucket BF ... Actual bucket G ... Items to be stored

Claims (1)

A warehousing station, a warehousing station, a plurality of storage shelves, a traveling type transfer device that moves between them to transfer the items to be stored, and a traveling type transfer device in which the items to be stored are housed and for each storage shelf. It is an automated warehouse with multiple removable buckets.
The bucket is used only between the warehousing station, the warehousing station, and the storage shelf, and is used as an empty bucket with nothing inside, or as a real bucket with the goods to be stored inside. It may be
The traveling transfer device includes a stock portion for holding the empty bucket.
When there is a goods receipt request or relocation request, after the actual bucket was removed from the goods receipt station or the storage shelves, and features that you supply an empty bucket from the stock portion to the goods receipt station or the storage shelf Automatic warehouse to do.

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