JPH0460881B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] When the loading means that can be loaded with additional storage is taken out of storage and stored with additional storage items, the amount of storage items to be stored and the amount of storage that can be increased are determined, When the amount of stored items to be stored is large, it is further determined whether the amount that can be stored is larger or smaller than the maximum amount that can be stored.
Based on the determination result, the storage efficiency of the loading means can be improved by selecting and storing the loading means from three methods: the loading means that can be increased, the empty loading means, and the combination of both.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a storage method for a multi-level automatic warehouse in which stored items loaded on pallets are automatically put into storage using a loading means, such as a crane, and in particular, pallets that can be loaded with additional items to be stored are taken out and stored. The present invention relates to an automatic warehouse storage system that can improve pallet storage efficiency when storing pallets.

In recent years, automation of warehouses has progressed, and in particular, automated warehouses that use cranes to automatically transport pallets and store them three-dimensionally have become popular.

In such warehouses, pallets that can be stacked are taken out of storage to add to the amount of stored items that should be stored in the warehouse. A method to increase this is desired.

[Conventional technology]

Items stored in automated warehouses are usually bundled and tied with strings and mounted on pallets, and the pallets are transported by holding the lower surface of the pallets with the arms of cranes.

When the stored items are loaded onto pallets and stored, when the stored items arrive at the storage entrance, the pallets that are stored and can be stacked are called to the storage entrance and added to the storage, but generally as follows: Two methods are being used.

The order in which pallets are stored, which can be stacked unconditionally, is first-in, first-out.
First-out (Fi-Fo) is taken out of the warehouse, the storage items to be stored are increased by the amount that can be accumulated, and if there are any remaining items, the remaining items are loaded onto empty pallets and stored.

A pallet that can increase the amount of stored items to be stored is searched, and if a corresponding item is found, it is taken out, loaded and stored, and if not, it is loaded on an empty pallet and stored.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As mentioned above, in the conventional method, the number of bundles (for example, in the case of magazines, multiple books are bundled) is different, so even if pallets that can be stacked are sent out, it may not be possible to stack them. Since it involves work such as separating the parts, work efficiency deteriorates.

In this method, empty pallets are often used, reducing warehouse shelf efficiency.

There is a problem.

[Means for solving problems]

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the principle of the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 6 denotes a setting section, in which a limit value L for loading storage means stored in a warehouse, such as pallets, is set. Here, the stackable limit value L is, for example, a value obtained by multiplying the maximum loadable amount of stored items on a pallet by a rate set empirically.

7 is a determination unit which, when the stored items arrive at the storage entrance, determines the size of the volume A of the stored items and the stackable volume B of the pallets that can be stacked and taken out according to the order of storage. , when A>B, the additional storage capacity B and the additional storage limit L
Determine the size of.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a selection instruction section, in which three storage methods are set, namely, the use of pallets that can be stacked, the use of pallets with no stored items, and the combination of these methods. Instruct selection based on.

Therefore, it is configured such that the stored items to be stored are loaded onto the pallet in the manner selected and instructed by the selection instruction section 8.

[Effect]

When a stored item to be stored arrives at the storage entrance, the determination unit 7 first determines the volume A of the stored item and the volume B of the pallets that can be stacked and taken out according to the storage order, and then stores the item. When the volume A of the object to be stored is large, the size of the replenishable volume B and the replenishable limit value L of the setting unit 6 is determined.

Based on this determination result, the pallets selected by the selection instruction section 8 are selected, that is, pallets that can be stacked, pallets that are not loaded, or pallets that can be stacked and pallets that are not loaded. By selecting and specifying the items to be stored and loading and storing them, it is possible to improve the storage efficiency of pallets.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 2 and the flowchart of FIG. 3. The same reference numerals indicate the same objects throughout the figures.

In FIG. 2, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are shown surrounded by a chain line.

The main control section 4 has the function of controlling each section to perform storage operations such as adding and storing the stored objects 1 on the pallet 2, and also performs calculations for updating stored data due to storage.

The storage file section 5 is a memory that files storage status data such as shelf addresses, storage order, and stackable capacity of pallets 2 stored in the warehouse, and also holds empty storage shelf addresses.

In the stacking limit setting section 6a, a maximum stacking limit L of the stored items 1 on the pallets 2 stored in the warehouse is set. Here, the stackable limit value L is set, for example, to a value obtained by multiplying the maximum loadable volume of the stored items 1 on the pallet 2 by an empirically determined ratio (for example, 0.2).

The determining unit 7a is activated by a command from the main control unit 4 when the stored item 1 to be stored arrives at the storage entrance, and determines the volume A of the stored item 1 to be stored and the capacity for stacking and replenishment to be taken out according to the storage order. The size of the stackable volume B of the pallet 2 is determined, and when A>B, the sizes of the stackable volume B and the stackable limit value L are determined.

The selection instruction unit 8a selects the set storage method based on the determination result of the determination unit 7a, that is, the use of the pallet 2 that can be stacked, the use of the pallet 2 without the stored items 1, and the combination of these. Choose from three methods. That is, specify as shown in the table below.

Method Judgment result Specified pallet A≦B Palette that can be stacked A>B, B>L 〃 +Empty pallet A>B, B≦L Empty pallet The storage command memory 9 is input sequentially from the control center (not shown) or the keyboard 10 It stores the storage command signal of the stored object 1 to be stored, and storage object data such as name, volume, etc. In some cases, storage item data for a plurality of storage items 1 is stored.

The keyboard 10 is an automatic warehouse start/stop button,
It is provided with a data input button and a drive instruction button 10a for loading the stored items 1 on the pallet 2 and storing them.

The display 11 displays data input from the keyboard 10 and the name of the stored item during the storage operation.
The volume, storage position of pallet 2, etc. are displayed.

The crane drive control unit 12 is activated by a start command from the keyboard 10, and is activated by a storage command sent from the main control unit 4, that is, by an address signal instructing the retrieval and retrieval of pallets 2 for additional stacking. Controls the drive of the crane 3.

Since it has such a configuration and function, the method of storing the stored object 1 will be explained with reference to the flowchart in FIG. The command is input and held in the storage command memory 9.

When it is the turn of the storage object 1 to be stored, the data of the storage object to be stored is outputted from the storage command memory 9 and displayed on the display 11 in response to the storage start signal of the main control unit 4, and the storage object data to be stored is displayed on the display 11. The volume A of the stored object 1 is sent to the determination section 7a.

Furthermore, the main control unit 4 reads out the address of the pallet 2 in first-in, first-out order and the available capacity B for stacking from the storage status data in the warehouse in the storage file unit 5, and first determines the available capacity B for stacking by the determining unit 7.
Send to a.

The determining unit 7a compares the volume A of the stored item 1 to be stocked with the capacity B that can be increased and determines the size.

As a result of the determination, when A≦B, the selection instruction section 8a
When a signal to that effect is sent, the selection instruction section 8a specifies the storage method and sends it to the main control section 4.

The main control section 4 sends the address to the crane drive control section 12, and the pallets 2 that can be stacked are taken out from the designated address. Thereupon, the stored items 1 to be stored are loaded onto the pallet 2 by the staff.

The pallet 2 is stored at its original address by pressing the drive instruction button 10a.

As a result of the determination, when A>B, a signal to that effect is sent to the main control section 4, and the main control section 4 reads out the additional accumulation possible limit value L from the accumulation limit setting section 6a and sends it to the determination section 7a.

The determining unit 7a compares the replenishable volume B and the replenishable limit value L to determine the size.

As a result of the determination, when B>L, the selection instruction section 8a
When the signal b indicating the navel is sent, the selection instruction section 8a specifies the storage method and sends it to the main control section 4.

The main control section 4 issues an address signal and a command to transport the empty pallet 2 to the warehouse entrance. In this way, pallets 2 that can be stacked and empty pallets 2 are prepared at the warehouse entrance.

There, pallets 2 can be stacked up by the staff.
The storage items 1 are loaded in the amount that can be added to the pallet 1 and stored at the original address in the same manner as above, and the remaining storage items 1 are loaded on the empty pallet 2, and the main control unit 4 makes an inquiry to the storage file unit 5. Stock is received at the specified empty shelf address to be commanded.

As a result of the determination, when B≦L, the selection instruction section 8a
When a signal to that effect is sent, the selection instruction section 8a specifies the storage method and sends it to the main control section 4. The main control unit 4 issues a command to transport the empty pallet 2 to the warehouse entrance, and the empty pallet 2 is prepared at the warehouse entrance.

Then, the stored object 1 is loaded onto the empty pallet 2 by the staff, and the main control section 4 loads the stored object 1 onto the empty pallet 2.
The items will be stocked at the address of the specified empty shelf, which is requested by inquiring.

These stored data are updated and stored in the storage file section 5.

Since it is possible to select and specify the storage method in this way, the probability of stacking up the pallets increases and the storage efficiency of the pallets 2 can be improved.

By changing the stackable limit L and setting the most efficient value for the type of stored object 1, etc., storage efficiency can be further improved.

In addition, in the above example, the storage capacity, the amount that can be stacked, etc. were explained using the volume of stored item 1. However, depending on the type of stored item 1, when bundling different numbers of items of a constant size, the quantity Of course, it may also be expressed as Further, in the above example, a pallet is used as the loading means, but the present invention can be similarly applied to other loading means, such as when loading stored items on a bucket.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the storage efficiency of pallets on which stored items are mounted can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of FIG. 2. In the figure, 1 is the stored object, 2 is the pallet, 3 is the crane, 4 is the main control section, 5 is the storage file section,
6 is a setting section, 6a is an additional limit setting section, 7, 7
a indicates a determination section, 8 and 8a indicate a selection instruction section, and 9 indicates a storage instruction memory.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an automated warehouse comprising: a loading means for loading a plurality of stored objects; a warehouse for storing the plurality of loading means; and an automatic transport device for moving the stored objects by transporting the loading means. , a setting unit 6 in which a limit value of the storage contents of the loading means stored in the warehouse is set; and a setting unit 6 for setting the maximum storage limit for the storage contents of the loading means stored in the warehouse; Determining the size of the replenishable volume of the reloadable loading means that are delivered in accordance with the order, and when the volume of the storage to be stored is large, determining the size of the replenishable volume and the replenishable limit value. a determining unit 7; and a selection instructing unit 8 that selects and instructs the use of the loading means that can be stacked, the single use of the loading means on which no stored items are loaded, or the combination thereof based on the determination result of the determining unit 7. An automatic warehouse storage system, comprising: loading the stored items on the loading means selected and instructed by the selection instruction section 8.