JPH0582910U - Fixed station - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified) [Purpose] Eliminates the need to store empty pallets in a separate storage location from the fixing station, greatly simplifies empty pallet transport work, and transports loads using pallets. Improve work efficiency. [Structure] A load W stored in a storage unit 14 of a rack while being placed on a pallet P is taken out by a stacker crane, conveyed to a fixed station having a support frame 21, and placed on a support member 22. It Load W is pallet P
Then, only the empty pallet P remains on the support member 22. The support member 22 is provided on the support frame 21 so as to be able to move up and down. A plurality of empty pallets P1 to P3 are provided above the support member 22.
The empty pallet housing portion 23 for holding the stacks is formed. The empty pallet housing portion 23 is provided with engaging claws 24 that enter the opening of the empty pallet P and support the pallet. The support member 22 moves up to the position of the engaging claw 24 and transfers the empty pallet P to and from the engaging claw 24.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a fixed station provided at the end of a rack such as an automated warehouse.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Conventionally, in automatic warehouses and the like, a fixed station is provided at the end of a rack that stores loads, and the loads are placed on the pallet and placed on the fixed station. The cargo on the fixed station is transported together with the pallet by the stacker crane and is stored in the rack at the specified storage location. When unloading a load from a rack, the load is taken out by a stacker crane together with the pallet and placed on a fixed station. The cargo on the fixed station is unloaded by, for example, manpower and moved to a predetermined place, and the empty pallet left on the fixed station is unloaded by, for example, manpower or a forklift and stored in a predetermined storage place. When using an empty pallet stored in this storage place, the empty pallet is placed on a fixed station by a human or a forklift, and a load is manually placed on it.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, with such a configuration, the load and empty pallets in different storage locations must be transported to the fixed station manually or by a forklift, etc., so the work is complicated and time-consuming, and work efficiency is improved. There is a problem that there is no. The present invention does not need to store an empty pallet in a storage place different from that of the fixing station, greatly simplifies the transportation work of the empty pallet, and improves the efficiency of the load transportation work using the pallet. There is.

[0004]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The fixing station according to the present invention is provided at the end of a rack where a stacker crane loads and unloads loads, and can transfer pallets to and from the stacker crane. A support member that can move up and down, and an empty pallet storage portion that is provided above the support member and that can transfer empty pallets between the support members and that can hold a plurality of empty pallets in a stacked state. It is characterized by having.

[0005]

【Example】

 The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of an automated warehouse having a fixed station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The racks 11 and 12 are provided in parallel with each other, and a crane passage 13 is formed between the racks 11 and 12. The racks 11 and 12 are formed with a large number of accommodating portions 14 for accommodating loads placed on pallets. A rail 15 is laid in the crane passage 13, and the stacker crane 16 travels while being guided by the rail 15, transports a load, and loads and unloads the racks 11 and 12. At the ends of the racks 11 and 12, a fixing station 20 for temporarily holding loads and pallets is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rack 11 is constructed by fixing a shelf receiving member 18 at a predetermined height position on a large number of columns 17 standing on the floor of a warehouse. The accommodating portion 14 is formed by the pair of shelf receiving members 18 provided on the adjacent columns 17 and facing each other. The load W is placed on the shelf receiving member 18 while being placed on the pallet P. The other racks 12 have the same structure as the rack 11.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixing station 20 has a supporting frame 21 which is erected on the floor. A lifter including a pair of support members 22 is vertically supported on the support frame 21. An empty pallet accommodating portion 23 capable of holding a plurality of empty pallets in a stacked state is provided on the upper portion of the support frame 21. In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting structure of the supporting frame 21 and the supporting member 22 is omitted for simplification of description, and the structure of the empty pallet accommodating portion 23 is shown in a simplified manner.

The support member 22 is driven up and down by a lifting drive mechanism (not shown) such as a hydraulic cylinder device. The support member 22 is normally in the lowered position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and in this position, the load is transferred to and from the stacker crane 16. That is, the slide fork 30 of the stacker crane 16 enters between the pair of support members 22 and moves up and down to place the load on the support member 22 or receive the load on the support member 22. Further, the support member 22 can be lifted up to the lower part of the empty pallet housing portion 23. That is, the support member 22 is moved up and down by the elevating and lowering drive mechanism to store the empty pallet P in the empty pallet storage section 23 or take out the empty pallet P stored in the empty pallet storage section 23.

An engaging claw 24 that can enter into the opening A of the empty pallet P is provided below the empty pallet storage portion 23. As shown in FIG. 1, four engaging claws 24 are provided in each empty pallet accommodating portion 23, and are arranged at the same height position. These engaging claws 24 are respectively supported by a drive mechanism 25 so as to be movable back and forth, and project or retract in synchronization with each other. The drive mechanism 25 is fixed to a frame or the like that constitutes the empty pallet housing portion 23.

An example of the operation of the apparatus of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the operation of storing the empty pallet P in the empty pallet storage portion 23 will be described. In this example, it is assumed that the engaging claws 24 are in a protruding state to support the empty pallet P1 and the empty pallets P2 and P3 are stacked on the empty pallet P1. That is, three empty pallets P1, P2, P3 have already been accommodated in the empty pallet accommodating portion 23.

The load W accommodated in the accommodation section 14 of the racks 11 and 12 while being placed on the pallet P is taken out by the slide fork 30 of the stacker crane and conveyed to the fixed station 20. The pallet P and the load W are placed on the support member 22 at the fixing station 20, and the load W is taken out of the pallet P by, for example, a man and is transported to a predetermined place. As a result, only the empty pallet P remains on the support member 22 as shown in FIG.

Next, the support member 22 rises, and as a result of this raising operation, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface of the empty pallet P is the lower surface of the lowermost empty pallet P 1 held by the engaging claws 24. Contact When the support member 22 further rises, the already stored empty pallets P1 to P3 are lifted by the support member 22 together with the empty pallet P, and the empty pallet P1 is separated from the engaging claw 24. As a result, a gap is formed between the engaging claw 24 and the empty pallet P1. Then, the drive mechanism 25 is actuated to retract the engaging claw 24, and the engaging claw 24 is removed from the opening A of the pallet P1 and released from the pallet P1. After that, the support member 22 further rises, and as shown in FIG. 5, the empty pallet P is lifted to a position facing the engaging claws 24 and stopped. Then, the drive mechanism 25 is activated to cause the engaging claws 24 to project into the opening A of the pallet P and the supporting member 22 to descend. As a result, the four empty pallets P, P1, P2, P3 are held by the engaging claws 24.

When the empty pallet P is taken out from the empty pallet accommodating portion 23, the above operation is reversed. That is, the support member 22 rises and comes into contact with the lower surface of the lowermost empty pallet P held by the engaging claws 24. The support member 22 further rises, and as a result, the empty pallet P is lifted and separated from the engaging claw 24. Next, the drive mechanism 25 is operated, and the engaging claws 24 retreat and come out from the opening A of the pallet P and are released from the pallet P, as shown in FIG. Then, the support member 22 descends and stops at a position where the empty pallet P1 faces the engaging claw 24. Next, the drive mechanism 25 operates, and as shown in FIG. 4, the engaging claws 24 project into the opening A of the pallet P1 and hold the pallet P1. In this state, the supporting member 22 on which the empty pallet P is placed descends, and as shown in FIG. 2, it stops at a position where the slide fork 30 of the stacker crane can receive it. This completes the operation of taking out the empty pallet P.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the empty pallet accommodating portion 23 is formed above the support member 22 that supports the pallet, and the empty pallet P is lifted by the support member 22. It is held by the engaging claws 24 in the empty pallet housing portion 23. Further, the empty pallet P in the empty pallet housing portion 23 is taken out from the empty pallet housing portion 23 by the reverse procedure of the housing operation. That is, the pallet P can be stored in the fixed station 20, and the pallet P can be stored and paid out quickly. Therefore, it is not necessary to transport the empty pallet to a place away from the fixing station 20 as in the conventional case, the handling work of the empty pallet is simplified, and the efficiency of the work of transporting the load using the pallet is improved.

[0016]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to store an empty pallet in a storage place different from the fixing station, which greatly simplifies the work of transporting an empty pallet and also the work of transporting a load using a pallet. Improves efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an automated warehouse having a fixing station according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a rack and a fixing station.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a fixing station.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which an engaging claw protrudes to hold a pallet.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which the engaging claws are retracted to release the pallet.

[Explanation of symbols]

 22 Support Member 23 Empty Pallet Housing 24 Engaging Claw 25 Drive Mechanism P, P1, P2, P3 Pallet

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A support member which is provided at an end of a rack for loading and unloading a load by a stacker crane, is capable of transferring a pallet to and from the stacker crane, and is movable up and down, and above the support member. A fixed station, comprising: an empty pallet accommodating portion which is provided and is capable of delivering an empty pallet to and from a support member and which can hold a plurality of empty pallets in a stacked state.