JPH0656204A - Books carrying-in/out device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the searching work of books from a container where books are stored in plural rows in a depth direction by providing with a means which lifts plural books stored in a container per block unit selectively. CONSTITUTION:This system is constituted of plural containers 12 which are sorted in a book rack 11, where plural books 13 are stored respectively, and whose inside is blocked into plural parts, and an automatic carrying-in/out means which takes out a designated container 12 out of the plural containers 12 to transfer it to stations 22, 24, 25, and transfer the containers 12 at the stations 22, 24, 25 to the book rack 11 and return them. Besides, it is provided with a lift plate 34b which can lift the plural books 13 stored in the containers 12 held by the stations 22, 24, 25 in a block unit selectively. Therefore, it is possible to lift a block which includes a book 13 required to be taken out to a position higher than the other blocks, and make it easy to look at books, covers and back covers, thus facilitating searching work.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a book loading and unloading device which enables easy lending and returning of a large amount of books in a large library or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in a large-scale library having a large amount of books, a book requested by a user to be borrowed can be accurately and promptly taken out of the library and transported to a user counter, and An automatic warehousing system has been introduced to automate the work of recording that a book has been rented, or the work of recording that a book has been returned and returning it to the library and recording the storage position. .

In this case, in order to facilitate the management of the storage position (location) of the book, each book is provided with a bar code, and a plurality of books are housed in a container and entered into the library in container units. It is designed to be delivered. Then, when it is requested to take out the book, the container accommodating the book is automatically unloaded from the library and conveyed to the user counter. Then the librarian
A desired book is retrieved from the transported containers and given to the user, where the book is rented.

When the books are returned, the librarian takes out an empty container from the library to the user counter, puts the returned books in the container and stores them in the library, and returns the books to the library. Is performed. In this case, the barcode of the book contained in the container is read when the container is loaded, and the stored content indicating the location of the book is updated.

By the way, in the above-mentioned automatic book loading / unloading system, if the books are stored in a container in a line in the thickness direction, the number of containers increases and the storage efficiency deteriorates. Books are arranged in two containers in a line in the thickness direction in a single container. Therefore, when a librarian searches for a desired book from the container that has been transported to the user counter when retrieving a book, the books in the row farther from the library are obstructive to the books in the row farther from the librarian. As a result, the cover and spine are invisible and hindering the search work.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional automatic loading / unloading system for books, the books are stored in the container in a line in the thickness direction in two or three rows in order to enhance the storage efficiency. There is a problem that the covers and spine covers of all the books contained in the container cannot be seen at a glance, making it difficult to search for a desired book.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides a very good book loading and unloading apparatus which can facilitate the retrieval work of books from a container accommodating books arranged in a plurality of rows in the thickness direction. The purpose is to do.

[0008]

A book loading / unloading apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of containers, each of which is housed in a library and contains a plurality of books, and the inside of which is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a plurality of the containers. Automatic loading / unloading means for taking out the designated container from the inside and transferring it to the station, transferring the container of the station to the library and returning it, and a plurality of books contained in the container held in the station in block units And an elevating means for selectively elevating and lowering.

[0009]

According to the above construction, since the plurality of books contained in the container are selectively moved up and down in block units, the block containing the book requested to be taken out is higher than the other blocks. By lifting to the position, the cover or spine of the book of the block becomes easy to see, and the work of searching for the book from the container can be facilitated.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of an automatic book entry / exit system for books described in this embodiment. That is, reference numeral 11 in the figure is, for example, a bookshelf installed in the library on the third floor of the library, and a plurality of containers 12, 12, ...
Is housed. A plurality of books 13, 13, ... Are respectively accommodated in these containers 12, 12, ... Arranged in a plurality of rows in the thickness direction.

A stacker crane 15 is installed on the front of the bookcase 11 and is guided by a rail 14. This stacker crane 15 is a book 1
At the time of delivery of 3, 13, ..., The desired container 12 is taken out from the bookcase 11 and transferred to the delivery rack station 16. The container 12 transferred to the shipping rack station 16 is transferred to the container unloading port 18 via the transfer conveyor 17, and then transferred to the second floor container loading port 19 or the first floor via a vertical transfer device (not shown). It is transported to the container loading port 20.

Of these, the container 12 transferred to the second-tier container carry-in port 19 is conveyed to the second-floor station 22 which is a user counter via the conveyor 21. Further, the container 12 transferred to the first-floor container carry-in port 20 is transferred via the transfer conveyor 23 to the first-floor station 24 or 25 which is a user counter.

On the other hand, the container 12 at the station 24 or 25 on the first floor is conveyed to the container outlet 27 for the first floor via the conveyer conveyor 26, and the station 22 on the second floor 22
The container 12 located in is transferred to the second floor container outlet 29 via the transfer conveyor 28. Then, the container 12 transported to the container outlet 27 for the first floor or the container outlet 29 for the second floor is transferred to the container inlet 30 on the third floor via a vertical transporter (not shown), and via the transport conveyor 31. After being transferred to the storage rack station 32, the stacker crane 15 stores the books in the bookshelf 11.

Here, FIG. 2 shows the station 2 on the second floor.
2 shows the details. In addition, the first floor station 24,
Since 25 has the same configuration as the second floor station 22, the description thereof will be omitted. That is, in the second-floor station 22, a counter stand 33 and two container support parts 34 arranged along the counter stand 33,
35 and is equipped.

The container 12 transferred to the second-floor station 22 via the transfer conveyor 21 is selectively supported by either one of the container support sections 34 or 35. In addition, which container support 34 or 3
The container 12 supported by 5 can also be selectively transferred to the second-story container outlet 29 via the transfer conveyor 28.

On the counter stand 33, an operation unit 36 for the librarian to perform various operations relating to loading and unloading of the books 13, 13 ,.
A bar code reader 37 for reading the bar codes attached to 3, ... The walls 38 and 39 on the back side of the container support portions 34 and 35 are provided with the containers 1 supported by the container support portions 34 and 35, respectively.
Indicators 40 and 41 for indicating the book name, the book number, etc. of the book 13 to be taken out of the No. 2 are installed.

Here, the container support parts 34, 35 are provided.
Has substantially frame-shaped supporters 34a and 35a for supporting the peripheral portion of the bottom surface of the container 12. That is, container 12
The bottom peripheral portion of the container is supported on the container support parts 34 and 35 by mounting the peripheral portions of the bottom surface on the support bases 34a and 35a, and most of the bottom surface is exposed.

On the other hand, the container 12 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, nine sub-containers A to I are housed, and each of the sub-containers A to I has a book 13, 1 respectively.
3, ... are arranged in a line in the thickness direction. Then, openings 12a to 12i are formed on the bottom surface of the container 12 corresponding to the sub-containers A to I, respectively, as shown by the dotted lines in FIG.
That is, each of the sub-containers A to I has openings 12a to 12
It is accommodated in the container 12 while being supported by the edge of i.

Then, for example, in the container support portion 34, as shown in FIG. 3B, the openings 12a to 12i formed in the container 12 face the bottom surface of the container 12 supported by the support base 34a. There is prepared a lift plate 34b which can be selectively inserted. That is, in the container support portion 34, the two screw shafts 34 parallel to each other along the lateral direction of the container 12 supported by the support base 34a are provided.
c, 34d are installed, and both ends are screwed into the screw shafts 34c, 34d, so that the support base 3
A rack gear 34e is installed along the longitudinal direction of the container 12 supported by 4a.

Therefore, due to the rotational force of the motor 34f,
Both screw shafts 34c through the transmission mechanism 34g,
By simultaneously rotating 34d about its axis, the rack gear 34e is moved in the directions of arrows a and b in the figure. The lift plate 34b is slidably supported on the rack gear 34e along the longitudinal direction thereof, that is, in the directions of arrows c and d in the figure.

That is, the lift plate 34b is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the rack gear 34e is supported by a support unit 34h that is slidably supported. The support unit 34h is moved along the rack gear 34e by transmitting the rotational force of the motor 34k to the gear 34j meshed with the tooth portion 34i of the rack gear 34e.

A pair of cylinder mechanisms 34l and 34m for supporting both ends of the lift plate 34b are installed in the support unit 34h, and the lift plate 34b is moved from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the chain double-dashed line. It is designed so that it can be raised up or down.

Then, the lift plate 34b is moved in the directions of arrows a, b and c, d in FIG.
As shown in (d), when the lift plate 34b is lifted in this state while facing the desired openings 12a to 12i of the container 12 supported by the support base 34a, the lift plate 34b is lifted.
Are inserted through the openings 12a to 12i to lift the sub-containers A to I. The container support section 35 also has the same structure as the container support section 34 and operates in the same manner. Such container support sections 34 and 35 are also installed at the first floor stations 24 and 25, respectively. Of course.

Here, FIG. 4 shows a control system of the automatic loading / unloading system for books as described above. That is, reference numeral 42 in the drawing denotes a central processing unit, which incorporates, for example, a microprocessor or the like. In the central processing unit 42, first, via a bus line 43, an uninterruptible power supply unit 44,
A floppy disk 46 via a file adapter 45, a hard disk 47 and a cartridge tape 48 in which system control programs are stored, and a hard disk 50 in which book information is stored via a file adapter 49.
And a hard disk 52 in which backup information is stored are connected via a file adapter 51.

Further, the central processing unit 42 is connected to a central control panel 54 and a stationary detector 55 via a bus line 43 and a serial interface adapter 53. The overall control panel 54, which will be described in detail later, comprehensively controls the operations of the stacker crane 15, the vertical transfer machine, the transfer conveyors 17, 21, 23, 26, 28, 31 and the container support parts 34, 35. However, the control operation is performed based on the detection result of the stationary detector 55 that detects the position of the container 12.

Further, in the central processing unit 42, via the bus line 43, the serial interface adapter 56, the console 57, the display 58, the bar code reader 59 (the operation unit 36, the bar code reader 37 shown in FIG. 2). (Corresponding to the display devices 40, 41, etc.) and the serial printer 60 are connected. The console 57, the display 58, the bar code reader 59, and the serial printer 60 are installed in the second floor station 22.

In the central processing unit 42, a bus 62, a serial interface adapter 61, a display 62, a bar code reader 63,
The serial printer 64 and the barcode printer 65 are connected. The display 62, the bar code reader 63, the serial printer 64, and the bar code printer 65 are installed in the first floor stations 24 and 25, respectively.

Here, FIG. 5 shows a detailed structure of the integrated control panel 54. That is, the bus line 43
Is connected to the control circuit 67 via the input / output circuit 66. The control circuit 67 includes a stacker crane 15, a vertical transfer machine (indicated by reference numeral 68 in FIG. 5), transfer conveyors 17, 21, 23, 26, 28, 3 which are control objects.
1 and the container support parts 34 and 35, the input / output circuits 69, 70, 71 and 72 and the drive circuits 73 and 74, respectively.
A control signal is generated and transmitted via 75 and 76.

Further, each stacker crane 15, vertical transfer machine 68, transfer conveyors 17, 21, 23, 26, 2
8, 31 and container support parts 34, 35 are provided.
Stationary detectors 54a, 5 for detecting the position of the container 12
Output signals from 4b, 54c and 54d are supplied to corresponding input / output circuits 69, 70, 71 and 72, respectively,
It is used to generate control signals. Further, the outputs of the bar code readers 59 and 63 are supplied to the input / output circuit 66 to drive the integrated control panel 54, that is, the stacker crane 1
5, vertical carrier 68, carrier conveyors 17, 21, 23
26, 28, 31 and the container support parts 34, 35 are driven.

The operation of the book loading / unloading system configured as described above will be described below. First, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are flowcharts for explaining the take-out operation of the book 13. That is, the take-out operation of the book 13 is started by the user telling the librarian at the second floor station 22 the book 13 which the user requests to take out (step S1). Then, the librarian at the station 22 on the second floor, in step S2, the console 57
Is operated to input an instruction to take out the requested book 13 into the central processing unit 42.

When the delivery instruction is input, the central processing unit 4
In step S3, the stacker crane 15 moves the stacker crane 15 to the storage position of the container 12 containing the required books 13 in the bookshelf 11 via the integrated control panel 54 in step S3.
At 4, the container 12 is taken out of the bookcase 11 and moved to the shipping rack station 16. Then, in step S5, the central processing unit 42 controls the vertical transfer machine 68 and the transfer conveyors 17 and 21 via the integrated control panel 54 to transfer the container 12 taken out to the shipping rack station 16 to the second floor station. It is transferred to, for example, the container support portion 34 of 22, and is supported by the support base 34a thereof.

Thereafter, the central processing unit 42 proceeds to step S
6, the container support part 34 is controlled via the integrated control panel 54, and the lift plate 34b is moved to the required book 13 inside the container 12.
The sub-containers A to I are moved to positions corresponding to the sub-containers A to I, and the lift plate 34b is raised in step S7.
As a result, the sub-containers A to I including the requested book 13
However, since it is lifted to a position higher than the other sub-containers A to I, the covers and spine covers of the books 13, 13, ... accommodated in the lifted sub-containers A to I become easy for the librarian to see. .

Next, the central processing unit 42 carries out step S8.
Then, the display device 40 is requested to the display device 40 via the integrated control panel 54.
Display the book number or book name of. Then, in step S9, the librarian retrieves the book 13 having the book number or the book name displayed on the display 40 from the sub-containers A to I that have been lifted in the container 12 by the lift plate 34b. Take it out. Then, in step S10, the librarian reads the barcode attached to the taken-out book 13 with the barcode reader 59.

Then, the central processing unit 42 determines in step S
At 11, it is determined whether or not the read barcode corresponds to the book 13 requested to be taken out, and if it corresponds (YE
S) In step S12, it is determined whether or not there is another book 13 requested to be taken out from the containers 12 currently supported by the container support section 34. If there is no other book 13 requested to be taken out (N
O), the central processing unit 42 controls the container support part 34 via the integrated control panel 54 to lower the lift plate 34b in step S13.

Thereafter, the central processing unit 42 proceeds to step S
At 14, the vertical carrier 68 and the conveyors 28 and 31 are controlled via the integrated control panel 54, and the container support 34
The container 12 in the storage rack station 32 is transferred to the storage rack station 32, and the stacker crane 15 is controlled in step S15.
Is returned to the original position of the bookshelf 11, and the work of taking out the book 13 is completed here (step S16).

When the read bar code does not correspond to the book 13 requested to be taken out in step S11 (NO), the librarian, in step S17, extracts the book 13 from the original sub-containers A to I. Then, in step S18, the book 13 having the book number or the book name displayed on the display 40 is searched again and taken out. Then, in step S19, the librarian reads the barcode attached to the retrieved book 13 with the barcode reader 59.

Then, the central processing unit 42 proceeds to step S
At 20, it is determined whether or not the read bar code corresponds to the book 13 requested to be taken out, and if it corresponds (YE
S), and the process proceeds to step S12. If the barcode read in step S19 does not correspond to the book 13 requested to be taken (NO), the librarian, in step S21, puts the book 13 taken out into the sub-container A.
Returning to the original position in ~ I, it is determined in step S22 whether the requested book 13 is in the lifted sub-containers A ~ I.

In some cases (NO), the librarian
If the process of step S18 is not executed again (YE
S), in step S23, the console 57 is operated to input an instruction to the central processing unit 42 that there is no required book 13 in the subcontainers A to I that have been lifted. Then, the central processing unit 42 shifts to the processing of step S12.

Further, in step S12, there is another book 13 requested to be taken out from the containers 12 currently supported by the container support section 34 (YES).
If it is determined that the central processing unit 42 is
At 4, the container support section 34 is controlled via the integrated control panel 54, and the lift plate 34b is lowered to move it to the position corresponding to the sub-containers A to I of the next required book 13 in the container 12. Then, the temperature is raised, and the process proceeds to step S8.

Next, FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the returning operation of the book 13. That is, book 13
For the return operation of, the book 13 returned by the user, for example, 2
It is started by handing over to the librarian at the station 22 on the floor (step S25). Then, the second floor station 22
In step S26, the librarian inputs the instruction to store the returned books 13 into the central processing unit 42 by operating the console 57.

When a storage instruction is input, the central processing unit 4
In step S27, the stacker crane 15 is moved to the storage position of the empty container 12 in the bookshelf 11 via the integrated control panel 54 in step S27, and the container 12 is taken out of the bookshelf 11 in step S28 and the rack station for delivery. Move to 16. And the central processing unit 42
Controls the vertical conveyor 68 and the conveyors 17 and 21 via the integrated control panel 54 in step S29, and the container 12 taken out to the shipping rack station 16 is controlled.
Of the second floor station 22 such as the container support portion 34
And is supported by the support table 34a.

Thereafter, the central processing unit 42 proceeds to step S
At 30, the container support section 34 is controlled via the integrated control panel 54, and the lift plate 34b is moved to a position corresponding to the empty sub-containers A to I in the container 12 and raised. Then, in step S31, the librarian reads the barcode attached to the return book 13 with the barcode reader 59, and then returns the return book 13 to the raised sub-containers A to I.

Next, in step S32, the librarian determines whether or not there is only one book to be returned, and if there is only one book (YES), in step S33, the console 57 is operated to complete the return. The support is input to the central processing unit 42. Then, in step S34, the central processing unit 42 controls the container support part 34 via the integrated control panel 54 to lower the lift plate 34b.

Thereafter, the central processing unit 42 proceeds to step S
At 35, the vertical conveyor 68 and the conveyors 28, 31 are controlled via the integrated control panel 54, and the container support 34
The container 12 in the storage rack station 32 is transferred to the storage rack station 32, and the stacker crane 15 is controlled in step S36.
Is returned to the original position of the bookshelf 11, and the returning work of the book 13 is completed here (step S37).

In step S32, the return book 1 is returned.
If it is determined that 3 is not the only one (NO), the librarian determines in step S38 whether or not there is a space for accommodating another return book 13 in the sub-containers A to I currently being raised. If yes (YES), the barcode attached to the returned book 13 is read by the barcode reader 59 and returned to the raised sub-containers A to I in step S39. Then, in step S40, the librarian determines whether or not there is a book 13 to be returned,
If not (YES), the process of step S33 is executed, and if it is (NO), the process of step S38 is executed.

Further, in step S38, another return book 1 is placed in the sub-containers A to I currently being raised.
When it is determined that there is no space to accommodate 3 (NO), the librarian determines in step S41 whether or not there is a space to accommodate the return book 13 in the other sub-containers A to I. If not (NO), the process of step S33 is executed. When it is determined that there is a space for storing the return book 13 in the other sub-containers A to I (YES), the librarian operates the console 57 to lower the lift plate 34b in step S42. , Move to the positions of other vacant sub-containers A to I and raise them. Then, in step S43, the librarian reads the bar code attached to the return book 13 with the bar code reader 59, and then lifts the return book 13 to the sub-container A.
To I, and the process of step S40 is executed.

Therefore, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, the container 12 containing the book 13 requested to be taken out is taken out from the bookshelf 11 and the second floor station 22.
The sub-containers A to I containing the required books 13 in the container 12 are moved up to the sub-container A containing the required books 13 while being transferred to and supported by the container supporting section 34 of
~ I is designed to be lifted to a position higher than the other sub-containers A-I.
The covers and spine covers of the books 13, 13, ... Stored in ~ I become easy for the librarian to see, and the retrieval work of the requested book 13 from the container 12 can be facilitated.

Here, a modification of the above embodiment will be described below. First, in the automatic book loading and unloading system of the book shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the stacker crane 15, a vertical carrier 68 and a stacker crane 15 are used for transferring the containers 12 between the bookcase 11 and the second floor and first floor stations 22, 24, 25. Although a large-scale one using the transfer conveyors 17, 21, 23, 26, 28, 31 and the like has been described, for example, a small-scale one in which the container 12 is transferred between the bookcase 11 and the station only by the stacker crane 15. In the system, an integrated control panel 54 having a configuration as shown in FIG. 9, that is, one that controls the stacker crane 15 and the container support portions 34 and 35 in the station may be used. In this case, as the station, as shown in FIG. 10, the container 12 transported by the stacker crane 15 is
The container supporting portions 34 and 35 on both sides are selectively supported.

Next, FIG. 11 shows a modification of the container 12. That is, the height of the container 12 is about 1/2 of the height of the book 13 in which the container 13 is housed, and the cover or spine of the book 13 is exposed when the book 13 is housed. Further, the container 12 accommodates a plurality of books 13, 13, ... arranged in two rows, in the thickness direction thereof, a front row of books 13a on the front side for the librarian and a back row of books 13b on the back side. I will get it. In the case of such a container 12, no sub-container is provided for the book 13a in the front row, and only the book 13b in the back row is accommodated in the sub-container J.

The sub-container J has a pair of guide grooves Ja and Jb vertically formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction.
By being fitted respectively to a pair of guide portions 12a and 12b formed in the vertical direction at both ends of the container 12 in the longitudinal direction, the container 12 is movably supported in the vertical direction in the drawing. In addition, of the bottom surface of the container 12, the sub-container J
A plurality of (one in the illustrated case) circular through holes 12c are formed in the portion corresponding to. A piston of a cylinder mechanism (not shown) is inserted into the circular through hole 12c so that the sub container J can be moved up and down.

Therefore, in the state where the container 12 is taken out to the station, the required book 13 is the book 13a in the front row.
If it is inside, the sub-container J is not raised, and the librarian looks for the requested book 13 by looking at the front cover or spine of the book 13a in the front row. Further, when the requested book 13 is in the book 13b in the back row, the sub-container J is raised, and the librarian can look up the cover or spine of the book 13b in the back row to retrieve the requested book 13.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12 (a), a plurality (three in the case shown) of sub-containers K, L, for accommodating the books 13b in the rear row described above are stored in the container 12.
M is accommodated, and a pair of circular through holes 12c, 12d, 12e are formed on the bottom surface of the container 12 corresponding to each sub-container K, L, M, respectively. Then, as shown in FIG. 12 (b), each pair of circular through holes 12 c, 1
2d and 12e respectively, a pair of cylinder mechanisms 77 and 7
The 8, 79 pistons 77a, 78a, 79a are inserted so that the sub-containers K, L, M are moved up and down independently of each other.

According to this structure, the books 13 in the back row
Since b is divided into three parts and moved up and down, the search range of the book 13b in the back row by the librarian is narrowed and the search can be facilitated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, for example, if only one piston 77a of the pair of cylinder mechanisms 77 is actuated to incline the sub-container K, the book 13b in the sub-container K becomes one side. Since it is converged, it is convenient for storing the returned books 13. In this case, it is effective to raise the piston 77a while slightly vibrating it vertically so that the books 13b in the sub-container K converge to one side.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, illumination lamps 80 and 8 are provided above the sub-containers K, L and M, respectively.
Subcontainers K, L, and M that have been raised by installing 1, 82
By illuminating, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that, for example, the raised sub-container K is empty and cannot be seen because it is blocked by the book 13a in the front row. Needless to say, as a means for illuminating the raised sub-containers K, L, M, as shown in FIG. 15, an illumination lamp 83 whose irradiation angle can be changed may be used.

Further, in the above description, the sub-container is raised, but as shown in FIG. 16, by rotating the sub-container N in the rear row, the book 13 in the rear row is shown.
You may look at the spine cover of b. In this case, FIG.
As shown in, the cylinder mechanism 84 can rotate the sub-containers N in the rear row. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0057]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a very good book loading / unloading device that can facilitate the search operation of books from a container that stores books arranged in a plurality of rows in the thickness direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of a book loading / unloading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing details of a second floor station of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram showing a control system of the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block configuration diagram showing details of an integrated control panel of the control system.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation when lending a book in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation when lending a book in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an operation when returning the book according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing another example of the integrated control panel.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing details of a station of the other example.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining a container that stores books in two rows.

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining an elevating operation of the container.

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining a storing operation in the same container.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining an example of illuminating the container.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining another example of illuminating the container.

FIG. 16 is a view for explaining an example of rotating the container.

FIG. 17 is a view for explaining another example of rotating the container.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... bookcase, 12 ... container, 13 ... book, 14 ... rail, 15 ... stacker crane, 16 ... delivery rack station, 17 ... transport conveyor, 18 ... container carry-out port, 19 ... container for second floor, 20 ... 1st floor container inlet, 21 ... transport conveyor, 22 ... second floor station, 23 ... transport conveyor, 24, 25 ... 1st floor station, 26 ... transport conveyor, 27 ... 1st floor container inlet, 28 ... transport conveyor, 29 ... 2nd floor container outlet, 30 ... container inlet, 31 ... transport conveyor, 32
… Storage rack station, 33… Counter stand, 3
4, 35 ... Container support part, 36 ... Operation unit, 37
... Bar code reader, 38, 39 ... Wall, 40, 41 ... Indicator, 42 ... Central processing unit, 43 ... Bus line, 44 ...
Uninterruptible power supply, 45 ... File adapter, 46 ... Floppy disk, 47 ... Hard disk, 48 ... Cartridge tape, 49 ... File adapter, 50 ... Hard disk, 51 ... File adapter, 52 ... Hard disk, 53 ... Serial interface adapter, 54
... General control panel, 55 ... Stationary detector, 56 ... Serial interface adapter, 57 ... Console, 58 ... Display, 59 ... Bar code reader, 60 ... Serial printer, 61 ... Serial interface adapter,
62 ... Display, 63 ... Bar code reader, 64 ...
Serial printer, 65 ... Bar code printer, 66 ...
Input / output circuit, 67 ... Control circuit, 68 ... Vertical carrier, 69
-72 ... I / O circuit, 73-76 ... Drive circuit, 77-7
9 ... Cylinder mechanism, 80-83 ... Illumination lamp, 84 ... Cylinder mechanism.

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 7, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a book loading / unloading device for storing a large quantity of books in a large library or the like and facilitating the lending and returning of the books.

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

By the way, in the above-mentioned automatic book loading / unloading system, if the books are stored in a container in a line in the thickness direction, the number of containers increases and the storage efficiency deteriorates. Depth of books in one container
It is arranged so that it can be stored in a line of 2 to 3 rows. Therefore, when a librarian searches for a desired book from the container that has been transported to the user counter when retrieving a book, the books in the row farther from the library are obstructive to the books in the row farther from the librarian. As a result, the cover and spine are invisible and hindering the search work.

[Procedure 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional automatic loading / unloading system for books, since the books are stored in the container in a row in the depth direction in order to enhance the storage efficiency, There is a problem that the covers and spine covers of all the books contained in the container cannot be seen at a glance, making it difficult to search for a desired book.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and provides a very good book loading and unloading apparatus that can facilitate the retrieval work of books from a container accommodating books arranged in a plurality of rows in the depth direction. The purpose is to do.

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0047

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Therefore, according to the configuration of the above embodiment, the container 12 containing the book 13 requested to be taken out is taken out from the bookshelf 11 and the second floor station 22.
The sub-containers A to I containing the required books 13 in the container 12 are moved up to the sub-container A containing the required books 13 while being transferred to and supported by the container supporting section 34 of
~ I is designed to be lifted to a position higher than the other sub-containers A-I.
The covers and spine covers of the books 13, 13, ... Stored in ~ I become easy for the librarian to see, and the retrieval work of the requested book 13 from the container 12 can be facilitated. Further, even when the book 13 is returned, the empty sub-containers A to I are automatically lifted from the container 12 supported by the container support portion 34, so that the librarian operates the console 57. Sub container A to be returned
It is not necessary to input I each time, and handling is convenient, and it is possible to prevent mistaken return sub-containers A to I.

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0057

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0057]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a very good book loading / unloading device that can facilitate the search operation of books from a container that stores books arranged in a plurality of rows in the depth direction.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of containers, each of which is stored in a library and each of which stores a plurality of books and whose inside is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a designated container is taken out of the plurality of containers and transferred to a station. An automatic loading / unloading means for transferring the container of the station to the library and returning it, and an elevating means for selectively elevating and lowering a plurality of books contained in the container held in the station in block units. A device for loading and unloading books.