JPH04243703A - Automatic warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an automatic warehouse wherein the maintenance and measures against occurrence of trouble are facilitated by improving an interface between an operator and the facility. CONSTITUTION:A liquid crystal display unit 42 and a screen setting switch 47 are provided on an operation panel 41 of an automatic warehouse being provided with a receiving base for goods, and a screen display part 60 which outputs detecting data of a state of crane to the liquid crystal display unit 42 according to a format in Japanese preset on the basis of setting signal input from the screen setting switch 47 is attached to a crane control unit 31. The state of crane is indicated on the liquid crystal display unit 42 in Japanese, thereby an operating state of the automatic warehouse is grasped on the operating panel and the maintenance and measures against occurrence of trouble can be facilitated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automated warehouse equipped with a loading/unloading crane.

0002

[Prior Art] Fig. 1 shows an example of the configuration of the above-mentioned conventional automated warehouse.
The explanation will be based on the layout diagram of 0. The automated warehouse 1 in FIG. 10 includes a shelf 5 having a plurality of cargo storage spaces 4 for storing cargo 3,
A crane 7, which is a loading/unloading device that moves along the shelves 5 and carries loads 3 in and out of the shelves 5, a safety fence 8 for worker safety, and an optical transmission between the crane 7 and A control device 9 sends and receives signals via a device (not shown) to control the crane 7, and transfers the load 3 to and from the crane 7 and transfers the load 3 to and from the forklift 2, which is a cargo handling vehicle. A loading platform 12 and a load 3 placed on the loading platform 12
It consists of a load detector 13 made of a reflective photoelectric switch that detects the load without contact, and an operator unit 14 provided on the side of the control device 9. This operator unit 14 is composed of a lamp 15 that displays the work mode and a completion switch 16 that inputs the completion of the work, and these lamps 15, completion switch 16, and inventory detector 13 are connected to the control device 9 of the crane 7. It outputs an inventory detection signal from the inventory detector 13 and an operation signal for the completion switch 16 to the control device 9.

[0003] With the above configuration, the worker operates a switch (not shown) on the operation panel 10 provided on the surface of the control device 9 to perform a plurality of work modes and enter and exit the warehouse in the order in which the work is performed. Work data including the number of the cargo storage space 4 of the shelf 5 is set, and the forklift 2 is operated to load or unload the cargo 3 to the cargo receiving platform 12, and each time one task is completed, the work data is set. At the same time, the completion switch 16 of the operator unit 14 is operated to input the completion of one work to the control device 9.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in conventional automated warehouses, workers cannot check the status of the crane 7 on the operation panel 10, so there is a problem that it takes time to perform maintenance or troubleshoot recovery. there were.

[0005] The present invention solves the above problems, and
The purpose is to provide an automated warehouse that improves the interface with workers and facilitates maintenance and troubleshooting.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the automatic warehouse of the present invention includes shelves having a plurality of cargo storage spaces,
It is equipped with a loading/unloading device that moves along the shelf and carries cargo in and out of the shelf, and the state detection data input from the loading/unloading device and work input from the operation panel are provided on the ground side. An automatic warehouse equipped with a warehousing/unloading control means for controlling the loading/unloading of a cargo loading/unloading device based on data, wherein the operation panel is provided with a screen display means and a setting input means for the screen display means, and the said warehousing/unloading control The means includes a display control for outputting the state detection data of the loading/unloading device to the screen display means in accordance with a preset Japanese format based on a setting signal input from the setting input means of the screen display means. It is characterized by having a means.

[0007]

[Operation] According to the configuration of the invention described above, the status of the loading/unloading device is displayed in Japanese on the screen display means based on the setting signal inputted from the setting input means of the screen display means. Therefore,
The operating status of the automated warehouse can be monitored on the operation panel, making it easier to perform maintenance and respond to breakdowns.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same components as those in the conventional example shown in FIG.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an automatic warehouse equipped with a loading platform showing one embodiment of the present invention. The automated warehouse shown in FIG. 1 has a control device 9 for the crane 7 in the conventional automated warehouse shown in FIG.
Instead, a control device 31 comprising a microcomputer according to the present invention and serving as storage/unloading control means for the crane 7 and a handy barcode reader (hereinafter referred to as a scanner) 32 connected to the control device 31 are provided. There is. In addition, instead of the fixed cargo receiving platform 12, a self-propelled vehicle that transports the cargo 3 by moving on a fixed path 33 between the loading/unloading position HP of the crane 7 and the loading/unloading position BP of the cargo 3 with the forklift 2 can be used. A load handling device 35 equipped with a running truck 34 is provided.

Operation panel 4 of control device 31 of crane 7
1, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a liquid crystal display device 42, which is a screen display means for displaying the status of the work mode, malfunctions, etc., and a work mode setting switch 43, which is used in the manual mode when the scanner 32 is not used. A numeric keypad switch 44, a clear switch 45, a set switch 46, a screen setting switch (function call switch, page turning switch, etc.) 47, which is a setting input means for the screen display means set when interacting with the liquid crystal display device 42, and a cursor movement switch. A switch 48, an operation switch 49 for starting, stopping a cycle, canceling an abnormality, and shifting, and this operation panel 41.
A key switch 50 that selects a remote mode that is set using a remote mode, an online mode that is set by a setting signal from a higher-level controller (not shown), and an off mode that does not use the automated warehouse, and displays operation and abnormalities. An indicator light 51 is provided, and an emergency stop switch 52 is provided below the operation panel 41 as shown in FIG.
It is connected to the.

The control device 31 will be explained with reference to the block diagram of FIG. The control section 54 sequentially retrieves a plurality of work data preset in the setting data storage section 55, including the work mode, the product name or number of the cargo 3, the quantity of the cargo 3, etc., and selects the online mode using the key switch 50. When the remote mode is selected, the switch 49, 5 inputted via the input section 56 is pressed immediately.
2, the input data stored in the input data storage unit 59 {state detection input from the crane 7 via the input/output unit 57 and the optical transmission device 53 or from the material handling device 35 via the input/output unit 58 Data, for example, state detection data of the crane 7, presence/absence (absence) data of the load 3 on the self-propelled trolley 34 inputted from the load presence detector 13 of the self-propelled trolley 34, and cargo receiving data inputted from the operator unit 14. The crane 7 is controlled via the input/output section 57 and the optical transmission device 53, and the material handling device 35 is controlled via the input/output section 58 based on the work completion data of the completion switch 16 which is operated every time the table work is completed. The indicator light 51 is controlled via the output section 63, and data on the current control state of the material handling device 35 is output to the screen display section 60.

Further, when an online mode selection signal is input from the key switch 50, the setting section 61 transmits a signal to a host computer (not shown) via a data transmission section 62.
The work data from 1 to 5 is sequentially stored in the setting data storage unit 55, and when a remote mode selection signal is input from the key switch 50, operation signals for the switches 43 to 50, 52 are inputted via the input units 56, 63. , the work data is stored in the setting data storage section 55 in response to the signals from the scanner 32.

Furthermore, the screen display section 60 receives a work mode signal input from the operation panel 41 via the input section 56;
The mode screen data, function call menu data, control state data of the material handling device 35 input from the control unit 54, or input data storage unit are instructed by the screen setting signal and according to a predetermined Japanese format stored in advance. The input data stored in 59 is output to the liquid crystal display device 42 for display.

With the above configuration, the control device 31 receives work data from the host computer or the switches 43.
According to the operation signals 50 and 52 and the input signal of the scanner 32, the crane 7 and self-propelled trolley 34 are controlled via the cargo handling device 35 and the optical transmission device 53 to carry out loading and unloading of the cargo 3, and display devices etc. 42 and 51 are displayed. In addition,
When the emergency stop switch 52 is operated during loading and unloading work, or when a failure occurs in the cargo handling device 35 or the crane 7, the control device 31 stops all operations,
When a failure occurs, the contents are displayed on the liquid crystal display device 42 until the failure is repaired.

The procedure for displaying the status of the crane 7 and material handling device 35 on the liquid crystal display device 42 by the screen display unit 60 of the control device 31 will be described below with reference to the screen operation procedure diagram in FIG. 4 and the screen diagrams in FIGS. 4 to 9. Therefore, it will be explained in detail.

First, when the auto-remote position or the online position is selected with the key switch 50 and then the function call is selected with the screen setting switch 47, a function call menu shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 42. When the maintenance job menu screen number is set by looking at this function call menu, that is, the maintenance job menu number is set using the numeric keypad switch 44.
10" is input and then the set switch 46 is operated, the maintenance job menu shown in FIG. When the set switch 46 is then operated, the screen shown in FIG.
Displays the status of the first loading platform (load handling device) shown in FIG.

[0017] On the screen in this loading platform state, a self-propelled cart 34 is shown.
presence or absence of stock (ON if present), the control status currently being executed by the control device 31 on the material handling device 35 (for example, during warehousing, etc.), the lamp 15 of the operator unit 14
The lighting status (for example, the entry/exit display) is displayed in Japanese instead of the device number.

Here, when the next page is operated with the screen setting switch 47, the status of the second loading platform is displayed, and when the previous page is operated with the screen setting switch 47, the status of the first loading platform is displayed. Show status.

Next, when "End" is selected with the screen setting switch 47, the maintenance job menu shown in FIG. 6 is returned and displayed, and when "End" is selected with the screen setting switch 47, the maintenance job menu shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. The function call menu is returned to and displayed on the liquid crystal display device 42.

In this state, when looking at the function call menu and inputting the number "11" for the system maintenance menu using the numeric keypad switch 44, and then operating the set switch 46, the system maintenance menu shown in FIG. 8 is displayed. Then, looking at this system maintenance menu, input the main body input signal number "7" using the numeric keypad switch 44, and then press the set switch 46.
When is operated, the main body input signal screen shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

The main body input signal screen displays the status data of the crane 7 input from the crane 7 via the optical transmission device 53, that is, the on/off status of the detector of the crane 7, the status of the fork of the crane 7 ( For example, limit)
is displayed in Japanese instead of the device number etc.

Here, when the next page is operated with the screen setting switch 47, the state of the second main body input signal is displayed, and when the previous page is operated with the screen setting switch 47,
The state of the first main body input signal is displayed.

Next, when exit is selected with the screen setting switch 47, the system maintenance menu shown in FIG. 8 is displayed, and when exit is selected with the screen setting switch 47, the function call menu shown in FIG. 5 is displayed. Liquid crystal display device 42
to be displayed.

By performing operations while interacting with the screen as described above, the status of the cargo handling device 35 and the status of the crane 7 are displayed in Japanese. Therefore, the worker can check the entire status of the automated warehouse on the operation panel 41, and in the case of maintenance or when an abnormality occurs, the worker can easily and quickly respond to the problem, improving work efficiency. be able to.

[0025]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the status of the loading/unloading device is displayed in Japanese on the screen display means, so that the worker can grasp the operating status of the automated warehouse on the operation panel. This makes it possible to easily and quickly respond to maintenance or malfunctions, thereby improving work efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an automatic warehouse equipped with a cargo receiving platform according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the operation panel of the automated warehouse.

FIG. 3 is a control configuration diagram of the automated warehouse.

FIG. 4 is a screen operation procedure diagram showing the operation procedure of the automated warehouse.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a function call menu screen of the liquid crystal display device of the automated warehouse.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a maintenance job menu screen for a liquid crystal display device in the automated warehouse.

FIG. 7 is a screen diagram showing the loading platform status of the liquid crystal display device of the automated warehouse.

FIG. 8 is a system maintenance menu screen diagram of the liquid crystal display device of the automated warehouse.

FIG. 9 is a screen diagram showing the main body input status of the liquid crystal display device of the automated warehouse.

FIG. 10 is a layout diagram and a perspective view of essential parts of a conventional automatic warehouse equipped with a cargo receiving platform.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Automatic warehouse 3 Cargo 4 Cargo storage space 5 Shelf 7 Crane (loading/unloading device) 31 Control device (loading/unloading control means) 35
Cargo handling device 41 Operation panel 42 Liquid crystal display device (screen display means) 43
Work mode setting switch 47 Screen setting switch (setting input means for screen display means) 54 Control section 55 Setting data storage section 59 Input data storage section 60 Screen display section

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A shelf having a plurality of cargo storage spaces, and a cargo loading/unloading device that moves along the shelf and carries cargo in and out from the shelf, and the cargo loading/unloading device is installed on the ground side. An automated warehouse comprising a storage/unloading control means for controlling storage/unloading of a cargo loading/unloading device based on state detection data inputted from an operation panel and work data inputted from an operation panel, the operation panel having a screen display means and A setting input means for the screen display means is provided, and the state detection data of the cargo loading/unloading device is input to the storage/unloading control means based on a setting signal inputted from the setting input means of the screen display means. An automatic warehouse characterized by comprising display control means for outputting to the screen display means according to a Japanese format.