JPH0620308U - Fixed station - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified) [Purpose] There is no need to store empty pallets in a separate storage location from the fixed station, which greatly simplifies the work of transporting empty pallets and transports loads using pallets. Improve the efficiency of. [Structure] A fixing station 20 is provided at an end of a rack 11 in which a load W is loaded and unloaded by a stacker crane. A first support claw 24 and a second support claw 3 are provided above the accommodation chamber 21.
3 is provided, and a lifter 41 is provided below. First support claw 24
Is usually used to hold the pallet P. When the empty pallet P on the first support claws 24 is stored in the storage chamber 21, first, the second support claws 33 rotate to enter the opening A of the pallet P and rise to support the pallet P. Next, the first support claw 24 rotates and faces upward. Then, the support base 43 of the lifter 41 rises to lift the pallet P, and the second support claw 33 rotates and is released from the opening A of the pallet P. Next, the lifter 41 descends and the pallet P
Are accommodated in the accommodation chamber 21.

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. In addition, when unloading a load from a rack, the load is taken out together with the pallet by a stacker crane and placed on a fixed station. The cargo on the fixed station is taken out by hand, for example, and moved to a predetermined place, and the empty pallet left on the fixed station is taken out by a hand or a forklift, for example, and stored at 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, loads and empty pallets in different storage locations must be transported to a fixed station by hand or forklift, etc., so that 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 the fixing station, and it is intended to greatly simplify the work of transporting an empty pallet and improve the efficiency of the work of transporting a load using the pallet. There is.

[0004]

A fixing station according to the present invention includes a support member capable of supporting a pallet and an empty pallet provided below the support member and capable of holding a plurality of empty pallets in a stacked state. The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with an automatic pallet accommodating portion and a means for transferring an empty pallet between the support member and the empty pallet accommodating portion.

[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.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the rack 11 and the fixed station 20. The rack 11 is configured by fixing a shelf receiving member 18 at a predetermined height position to a large number of columns 17 standing on the floor of the warehouse. The accommodating portion 14 is formed by a pair of shelf receiving members 18 provided on the adjacent columns 17 and facing each other. The load W is placed on the shelf P in the state of being placed on the pallet P.

The fixing station 20 is provided at the end of the rack 11 and has an empty pallet storage chamber 21 formed by digging the floor surface. Four columns 22 are erected on the bottom surface of the empty pallet storage chamber 21, and a first support claw 24 is rotatably attached to the upper end of each column 22 via a pin 23. A first drive mechanism 25 is provided at a predetermined position on the column 22. The tip of the push rod 26 extending upward from the first drive mechanism 25 is connected to the base end of the first support claw 24 via the pin 27. The push rod 26 is moved up and down by the first drive mechanism 25, whereby the first support claw 24 is rotationally displaced. The first support claw 24 is in a horizontal position in the state shown in FIG. 2 and supports the empty pallet P. As will be described later, in the process of storing the empty pallet P in the storage chamber 21, the first support claw 24 is rotationally displaced upward. To do.

A second drive mechanism 31 is fixed between the tip of the column 22 and the first drive mechanism 25. The second drive mechanism 31 is provided with an elevating rod 32, the elevating rod 32 extends in the vertical direction, and a second support claw 33 is provided on the upper end portion thereof. The up-and-down rod 32 is driven up and down by the second drive mechanism 31, and is rotated around the axis. The second support claw 33 enters the opening A 1 of the pallet P by the rotation of the lifting rod 32 and can support the pallet P.

A lifter 41 is provided on the bottom surface of the empty pallet storage chamber 21. The lifter 41 has a base 42 fixed to the bottom surface of the storage chamber 21, a support base 43 that supports the pallet P, and a link 44 that connects the base 42 and the support base 43. The support base 43 can be raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder or the like (not shown).

An example of the operation of the device of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. First, the operation of storing the empty pallet P in the storage chamber 21 will be described. Normally, the first supporting claw 24 is in a horizontal state as shown in FIG. 2, and the second supporting claw 33 does not interfere with the pallet P when the pallet P is placed on the first supporting claw 24. It has retreated to its original position. Here, the stacker crane 16 (FIG. 1) takes out the pallet P and the load W from the rack 11 and places the pallet P and the load W on the first support claw 24. Then, the load W on the pallet P is taken out by, for example, manpower and is transported to a predetermined place. As a result, an empty pallet P remains on the first support claw 24 as shown in FIG.

Next, the second drive mechanism 31 operates to rotate the elevating rod 32 and the second support claw 33, and the second support claw 33 enters the opening A of the empty pallet P. Then, the elevating rod 32 ascends, and the empty pallet P is lifted by the second support claw 33 as shown in FIG. As a result, the first support pawl 24 is released from the empty pallet P, then the first drive mechanism 25 operates, and the first support pawl 24 rotates so that its tip faces upward. As a result, a gap into which the empty pallet P can be inserted is formed between the first support claws 24. In this state, the lifter 41 operates and the support base 43 rises to lift the already stored empty pallets P1 and P2.

The ascending operation of the support base 43 causes the uppermost empty pallet P1 to come into contact with the lower surface of the pallet P held by the support claw 33. When the support base 43 further rises, the pallet P is lifted by the pallet P1 and separated from the support claw 33. Then, the second support claw 33 is rotated to come out of the opening A of the pallet P and released from the pallet P. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, the support table 43 descends and the pallets P, P1, P2 are stored in the storage chamber 21. Further, at this time, the first drive mechanism 25 is operated, the first support claw 24 is again in the horizontal state, and the pallet and the load can be placed.

When the pallet P stored in the storage chamber 21 is taken out, the above operation is reversed. That is, from the state of FIG. 4, the first drive mechanism 25 operates to rotate the first support claw 24, and the tip thereof is directed upward as shown in FIG. Then, the lifter 41 operates and the support base 43 rises to lift the uppermost pallet P to a position facing the second support claw 33. Then, the second drive mechanism 31 is operated to rotate the support claw 33 to enter the opening A of the pallet P. Then, the support table 43 descends, so that only the top pallet P is supported by the support claw 33. The other pallets P 1 and P 2 are returned to the accommodation chamber 21 by the lifter 41. Next, the first support claws 24 rotate and are displaced horizontally as shown in FIG. 4, and then the second support claws 33 descend and the pallet P is placed on the first support claws 24. Then, the second support claw 33 rotates to come out of the opening A of the pallet P, and the pallet P is completely taken out.

As described above, in this embodiment, the empty pallet storage chamber 21 is formed in the fixed station 20, and the empty pallet P placed on the first support claw 24 is taken into the storage chamber 21 by the lifter 41. Alternatively, the empty pallet P in the storage chamber 21 is transferred to the first support claw 24 by the lifter 41. 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 work of handling the empty pallet is simplified, and the efficiency of the work of transporting the load using the pallet is improved.

The rotation direction of the first support claw 24 is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and even when the lifter 41 is operated, even if the tip end portion is rotated downward as opposed to FIG. Good. Further, the second support claw 33 does not necessarily have to move up and down, and the pallet P can be delivered between the first support claw 24 and the second support claw 33 by the lifting operation of the lifter 41.

[0017]

[Effect of 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 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 side view showing a rack and a fixing station.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state where a lifter is raised.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state where a lifter is lowered.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Empty Pallet Housing 24 First Support Claw (Support Member) 25 First Drive Mechanism 31 Second Drive Mechanism 33 Second Support Claw (Support Member) 41 Lifter P, P1, P2 Pallet

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A support member capable of supporting a pallet, an empty pallet housing portion provided below the support member and capable of holding a plurality of empty pallets in a stacked state, and the support member and the empty pallet housing portion. A fixed station comprising means for transferring empty pallets between the stations.