JPH0446842B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article storage device for storing articles on shelves.

BACKGROUND ART In such an article storage device, when there are many small articles to be stored, the articles are stored in a container and the container is stored on a shelf.

The functions of the storage device vary depending on the type of storage device. Necessary items are selected each time from among the stored items and taken out individually. The removed items are returned to their original locations after use. Such removal and return work is done quite frequently, and the items to be taken out,
Since the order of taking out items, the quantity of taking out items, etc. change every day, and the amount of work for loading and unloading also varies depending on the time of day, it is desirable that the loading and unloading work of items in such article storage equipment be carried out by automatic equipment controlled by a computer. It is rare.

In order to automate loading and unloading, each item must be stored at a predetermined position on the shelf with sufficient precision so that the automatic loading/unloading machine can accurately locate the specified item in response to a command. Must be. However, within a wide shelf, a relatively small
Furthermore, it is difficult to accurately allocate a storage position to each of a large number of articles, especially when the articles have different shapes and sizes.

Therefore, as mentioned above, items are stored in containers and these containers are stored on shelves. First, the container containing the specified item is selected from the shelf and carried out. If a desired article is taken out from the container, it becomes relatively easy to automatically take out the stored articles.

However, if the individual items stored in the container are relatively small or thin, such as tapes, documents, or books, it will be difficult to find or return the desired item from the container. In the individual article loading and unloading device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 56-149904, the articles stored in a case (small box) are treated as one unit, and these are stored in multiple units of containers, and each case is It is designed to be put in and taken out of the container.

In this individual article loading and unloading device, a container push/pull device, a case push/pull device, a case push back device, an optical or magnetic reading device, and a moving device for the container push/pull device are placed on the lifting table of the stacker that moves along the shelves. , a case holding frame, etc. are provided, and the case is taken out from the container and the case is put back into the container on the lifting table.

Problems to be Solved However, the loading and unloading device described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 149904/1984 has a large number of shelves, and a large number of stackers (container loading and unloading machines) are installed along each shelf.
If you try to apply it to an article storage device equipped with
The lifting table of each stacker must be provided with various devices for loading and unloading cases, and since the lifting table is heavy, each stacker must be made sturdy, which increases the equipment cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an article storage device that solves these problems and allows automatic loading and unloading of small articles to be carried out more efficiently and easily.

Means and Effects for Solving the Problems Therefore, in the present invention, a plurality of shelves are provided for storing containers in which a plurality of units of goods stored in small boxes are stored, and a container is moved along each shelf. In the article storage apparatus, the apparatus includes a plurality of container loading and unloading machines that take out a predetermined container from the shelf or store the predetermined container at a predetermined position on the shelf, the small box is guided to the container and the container is loaded into the container. A plurality of first transfer tables on which containers to be loaded and unloaded by the loading/unloading machine are temporarily placed are arranged in a line adjacent to the end surfaces of the respective shelves. At the same time, at least one second transfer table on which a container for loading/unloading is placed is provided at a position facing the row of the first transfer tables at a distance, and
Selectively take out the predetermined small box from the container on the transfer table and transfer it to the carry-in/out container on the second transfer table, or transfer the predetermined small box in the carry-in/out container to the first A transfer device for selectively transferring a container to a predetermined position on a transfer table is provided between the first and second transfer tables so as to be movable along the row of the first transfer table.

According to the present invention, small boxes are taken in and out of the container on a transfer table provided adjacent to a shelf, and there is no need to provide each container loading/unloading machine with a device for loading and unloading small boxes.
Moreover, the transfer of small boxes taken out from a container to a loading/unloading container or the transfer of small boxes taken out from a loading/unloading container to a container is carried out using a common transfer platform that can be moved between multiple transfer tables. Since this is carried out using a transfer device, equipment costs are significantly reduced.

In addition, the items stored in a small box are taken out as a unit, so if one item is stored in a small box, each item is taken out of the container one by one. It is precisely positioned so that automatic equipment can be commanded to this position to accurately remove the small box containing the desired item. That is,
Even if the shapes and dimensions of the articles are different, by storing them in respective small boxes, it becomes possible to take out the desired articles by a uniform operation, regardless of the shape and dimensions of the articles. Automatic loading and unloading of small articles individually or in small units can be carried out easily and efficiently.

Embodiments Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to illustrated embodiments. As mentioned above, the present invention is applicable to stored items such as recorded magnetic tapes for computers, video tapes, audio tapes or disks for broadcasting stations,
The effect is particularly great in the case of medical record files for hospitals, and the present embodiment is also an article storage device intended for such stored articles.

FIG. 1 is a partial side view of the article storage device according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a front view along the frontage of the storage shelf. This article storage device is constructed by arranging a plurality of storage shelves 1 parallel to each other at intervals, and the storage shelves 1 are provided with a large number of shelf booths 2 in the vertical and horizontal directions. Each of these shelf booths 2 has a frontage 3 on both front and rear end faces, and articles can be taken in and out from either side through these frontages 3, 3.

A shelf passage 4 is formed between each storage shelf 1, and running rails 5 and guide rails 6 are installed at the bottom and top of the shelf passage 4, oriented in the longitudinal direction. An article loading/unloading machine 7 that travels within the shelf passage 4 along the traveling rail 5 is placed on the traveling rail 5 and is engaged with a guide rail 6. This loading/unloading machine 7 has a main frame 8 that extends until it approaches the upper and lower rails 5 and 6 and has a built-in drive device, and an elevator platform 9 that can be raised and lowered up and down along the main frame 8, The lifting platform 9 is provided with a loading platform 11 equipped with a hook 10 that performs reciprocating motion.

In each shelf booth 2 of the storage shelf 1, one container 13 storing a plurality of articles 12 is stored, as shown in FIG. 1 and as will be described in more detail later. These containers 13 have handles 1 on both end surfaces corresponding to each frontage 3 of the shelf booth 2.
4 are provided in a protruding manner, and these handles 14, 14 are exposed to the shelf passages 4, 4 on both sides of the storage shelf 1, respectively. Therefore, by moving the main frame 8 of the loading/unloading machine 7 and moving the lifting platform 9 up and down, the loading platform 11 is positioned in front of the desired shelf space 2, and the handles of the containers 13 stored in the shelf space 2 are moved. By engaging the hook 10 with the hook 14 and moving the hook 10 backward, a desired container 13 can be taken out onto the loading platform 11, and the container 13 on the loading platform 11 can be moved onto the loading platform 11.
It can also be stored in shelf booth 2 by pressing 0.

Container 13 pulled out in this way from shelf booth 2 of storage shelf 1 onto loading platform 11 of loading/unloading machine 7
are transported to the end of the shelf passage 4 by the loading/unloading machine 7. A first transfer table 15 is provided at the end of the shelf passage 4 in the same row as each storage shelf 1, and the containers 13 on the loading platform 11 are transferred onto the first transfer table 15 here. This transfer is performed by moving the hook 10 in the same way as loading and unloading from the shelf booth 2. A transfer device 16 is arranged opposite to the first transfer table 15, and a second transfer table 17 is installed on the side of the transfer device 16 opposite to the first transfer table 15. As will be described in more detail later, the transfer device 16 is equipped with a turntable 18, and a designated article 12 is removed from the container 13 on the first transfer stand 15 by a loading/unloading device provided on the turntable 18. is pulled out and placed in the guide member 19. Next, the turntable 18
The article 12 rotated by 180 degrees and housed in the guide member 19 is transferred to the container 20 for loading/unloading on the second transfer table 17 . The loading/unloading container 20 has a similar structure to the container 13, and the structure of the container 13 will be described in more detail later.
The transfer device 16 is movably provided on the rail 21, and therefore, a predetermined article 12 can be pulled out on a transfer table 15 other than the first transfer table 15 facing the second transfer table 17. In this case, the rotation table 18 is rotated while the transfer device 16 returns to the position of the second transfer table 17. Each first transfer table 1
5 may be provided on the second transfer table 17, respectively.

Specified goods 1 in the loading/unloading container 20
2, the container 20 for carrying in and out is transferred onto the conveyor 22 as shown by the broken line in FIG. 2, and carried out from the main storage device by the conveyor 22. The returned articles 12 to the original shelf booth 2 are carried out in the reverse order of operations as described above. A barcode reader 23 is provided at the end of the conveyor 22 on the loading/unloading side, reads the barcode displayed on each article 12, and sends information regarding the loaded article 12 to the computer.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of FIG. 3. In this modification, the first transfer table 15, the transfer device 16, the second transfer table 17, and the conveyor 22 are provided in two stages, upper and lower, so that articles can be taken in and out more efficiently. Furthermore, it is also possible to carry out loading and unloading at the same time, for example, by using the upper tier for carrying out articles and the lower tier for carrying in articles. These loading/unloading operations are automatically performed under computer control.

Each article 12 is placed in a small regular box 26 and stored in the container 13, as shown in FIG. Each small box 26 has a container 13
A handle 27 similar to the handle 14 of is provided,
When transferring the article 12 from the first transfer table 15 to the second transfer table 17, the loading/unloading device on the transfer device 16 is engaged with this handle 27, and the small box 26 is move it. Magnetic tapes, video tapes, audio tapes, etc. come in different sizes, but by placing them in the small standard box 26 and storing them in the container 13, each article 12 can be stored in the container regardless of its size, thickness, or thickness. 13 at predetermined intervals, it is extremely useful for the transfer device 16 to determine the position of the specified article 12 and to take out the article 12 appropriately.
A barcode 28 is displayed on the upper surface of the article 12, and the barcode 28 is read by the barcode reader 23 as described above. The article 12 shown in FIG. 5 is a case in which various types of tapes are housed in a rectangular case, but the shape of the article 12 may be arbitrary.
For example, it may be a case in which a film, a disk, etc. are housed in a disc-shaped case. FIG. 1 shows a container 13 containing a rectangular article 12, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show a container 13 containing a disc-shaped article 12. Furthermore, the number of articles 12 that can be stored in the small box 26 is not limited to one, but two or more articles 12 can be stored as a unit in one small box 26, and articles 12 can be taken in and out of each unit. It can also be done.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing an example of the container 13. The container 13 is open at the top and one side in the depth direction, and has a number of partition plates 25 erected at predetermined intervals on the bottom plate 24 at right angles to the depth direction. One small box 26 containing articles 12 is stored between each partition plate 25. Therefore, the position of each small box 26 within the container 13 is accurately defined by the partition plate 25.

The container 13 shown in FIG.
5, a guide member 29 is provided to protrude from the bottom plate 24. These guide members 29 are arranged approximately along the center line of the small box 26 placed on the bottom plate 24, and a groove 30 into which the guide members 29 fit is provided at the bottom of the small box 26 along the center line. It is located along the Therefore, the small box 26 is guided by the guide member 29 by the engagement between the guide member 29 and the groove 30, and is pushed into the container 13 or pulled out from the container 13 at right angles to the depth direction of the container 13. A fall stopper 32 is vertically provided at the rear end of the guide member 29 along the side wall 31, and a handle 27 of the small box 26 is provided vertically along the side wall 31.
is provided with a notch 33, and this notch 3
3 and the falling stopper 32 engage, the article 1
This prevents a small box 26 storing 2 from falling down on a container 13. Therefore, even if there are no other small boxes 26 on either side of the small box 26, the small box 26 can independently maintain the upright state together with the article 12, and even if the width of the small box 26 is within a certain range, For example, even if the small boxes 26 have slightly different dimensions, they can be placed in the container 13 with their centers aligned at predetermined positions. FIG. 8 is a drawing of the small box 26 seen from the bottom side, and as mentioned above, a groove 30 is provided along the center line, but both ends 30a and 30b of this groove 30 are widened. This makes it easy for the guide member 29, especially for pushing the small box 26 into the container 13, to fit into the groove 30.

FIG. 9 shows the container 13 on the first transfer table 15,
Although it is a perspective view showing the transfer device 16 and the container 20 for loading and unloading on the second transfer table 17, the positions of the second transfer table 17 and the container 20 for loading and unloading are shown for clarity in the drawing. It is shown shifted, and is actually located at the position indicated by the two-dot chain line 17a. Note that the articles 12 in each small box 26 are not shown.
The transfer device 16 includes a reciprocating table 34 that can reciprocate left and right along the rail 21, and a rotary table 18 rotatably provided on the reciprocating table 34.
A guide rod 35 is further fixed on the top, and the guide rod 3
A sliding member 36 is provided which slides back and forth while being guided by 5. A hook 37 is attached to the sliding member 36, and by engaging the hook 37 with the handle 27 of the small box 26 and retracting the sliding member 36 along the guide rod 35, the container 13 Move the upper small box 26 to the turntable 1
Pull it up to 8. A guide member 38 is also fixed on the rotating table 18, and this guide member 38 aligns with the guide member 29 of the container 13 when the small box 26 is drawn in, and the groove 30 that was fitted with the guide member 29 is aligned with the guide member 29 of the container 13. continues to fit into and be guided by the guide member 38. The rotary table 18 is further provided with a pair of left and right side guides 19 for guiding both sides of the small box 26.
The small box 26 is correctly placed at a predetermined position on the transfer device 16 in a predetermined direction by the guide member 38 and the side guide 19.

In this way, the small box 2 inside the container 13
6 is pulled out and placed on the transfer device 16,
The rotating table 18 rotates horizontally by 180 degrees, and the pulled out small box 26 directly faces the loading/unloading container 20 on the second transfer table 17 behind it, so the sliding member 36 is slid and the hook is removed. Small box 2 due to 37
6 is pushed out and placed in a predetermined position inside the container 20 for carrying in and out. In this case, the position of the carriage 34 is adjusted by moving it left and right along the rail 21 as necessary. The structure of the loading/unloading container 20 is the same as that of the container 1.
3, and is equipped with a guide member similar to the guide member 29, so the small box 26 is guided by this guide member and the guide member 38 and smoothly fits into a predetermined position in the loading/unloading container 20. .

Although not shown, the transfer device 16 includes:
A drive device is built in to perform the reciprocating movement of the carriage 34, the sliding movement of the sliding member 36, the rotational movement of the rotary table 18, and the vertical movement of the hook 37 necessary for the engagement of the handle 27 and the hook 37. This drive device is controlled by a computer.

Effects of the Invention As described above, in the present invention, there are provided a plurality of shelves storing containers storing a plurality of units of articles stored in small boxes, and a container that is moved along each shelf and removed from the shelf. In an article storage device having a plurality of container loading/unloading machines that take out a predetermined container or store a predetermined container at a predetermined position on the shelf, the small boxes are guided to the container and inserted into the container at a predetermined interval. A plurality of first containers are provided with guide members for positioning, and temporarily place containers to be taken in and out by the loading/unloading machine.
Transfer tables are arranged in a row adjacent to the end faces of the respective shelves, and a second transfer table is provided in which containers for loading and unloading are placed at positions facing the row of the first transfer tables at intervals. At least one loading table is provided, and a predetermined small box is selectively taken out from a container on the first transfer table and transferred to a container for loading/unloading on the second loading table or for loading/unloading. A transfer device for selectively transferring a predetermined small box in a container to a predetermined position of a predetermined container on the first transfer table is provided between the first transfer table and the second transfer table. Since each small box is movable along the row of tables, each small box is precisely positioned within the container, and this position can be commanded to automatic equipment to accurately remove the desired item.

In addition, even if the shapes and dimensions of the articles to be loaded and unloaded are different, the desired articles can be loaded and unloaded by a uniform operation regardless of this, and each small article or small unit can be loaded or unloaded. Automatic loading and unloading can be performed easily and efficiently.

Furthermore, small boxes can be taken in and out of containers on the transfer table, eliminating the need for each container loading/unloading machine to be equipped with a device for loading and unloading small boxes. Since this is performed by a common transfer device that is movable between a plurality of transfer tables, equipment costs are reduced.

In addition, the goods that were stored in separate containers and stored on separate shelves are collected into one loading/unloading container by the transfer device and taken out from the storage device, and then transferred to one loading/unloading container. Therefore, the articles carried into the article storage device in bulk are distributed and stored in predetermined containers by the transfer device and stored on each predetermined shelf, and the loading and unloading of the predetermined articles to and from the article storage device is controlled. This can be done all at once using a storage container, which is extremely advantageous in terms of the operation of the article storage device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partial side view of the article storage device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, Fig. 3 is a front view of the storage shelf as seen from the shelf aisle side, and Fig. 4 is a modification of Fig. 3. 5 is a perspective view showing articles stored in the container, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of the container, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of the container and a small box stored therein. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the small box seen from the bottom side, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the transfer device. 1... Storage shelf, 2... Shelf booth, 3... Frontage, 4
... Shelf aisle, 5 ... Traveling rail, 6 ... Guide rail, 7 ... Loading/unloading machine, 8 ... Main frame, 9 ... Lifting platform, 10 ... Hook, 11 ... Loading platform, 12 ... Article , 13...container, 14...handle, 15...
First transfer table, 16... Transfer device, 17... Second transfer table, 18... Turning table, 19... Side guide, 2
0...Export container, 21...Rail, 22...
...Conveyor, 23...Barcode reader, 24...
...Bottom plate, 25...Partition plate, 26...Small box, 27...Handle, 28...Barcode, 29...
... Guide member, 30 ... Groove, 31 ... Side wall, 33
... cut, 34 ... carriage, 35 ... guide rod,
36...Sliding member, 37...Hook, 38...Guide member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of shelves storing containers containing multiple units of articles stored in small boxes, and a device that moves along each shelf to take out a predetermined container from the shelf or to a predetermined position on the shelf. In an article storage device having a plurality of container loading and unloading machines for storing predetermined containers in the container, the container is provided with a guide member that guides the small boxes and positions them at prescribed intervals within the container, and the loading and unloading machines A plurality of first transfer tables on which containers to be taken in and out are temporarily placed are arranged in a row adjacent to the end surfaces of each of the shelves, and
At least one second transfer table on which containers for loading and unloading are placed is provided at a position facing the row of transfer tables at intervals, and predetermined small boxes are removed from the containers on the first transfer table. Selectively take out the second
Transfer to the loading/unloading container on the transfer table or move a predetermined small box inside the loading/unloading container to the first container.
A transfer device for selectively transferring a container to a predetermined position on a transfer table is provided between the first and second transfer tables so as to be movable along the row of the first transfer table. An article storage device characterized by: