JPH07255536A - Control device for movement of motor-driven moving rack device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically release inhibited movement by causing a detection means to detect without contact the movement into and out of a passage between moving racks, and causing a movement determination means to determine that the moving racks are either allowed to move or inhibited from moving in accordance with the detection result CONSTITUTION:On the sides of a front panel which serve as opposite wall face portions between moving racks, a light-emitting portion 31 serving as a transmitting portion and a light-receiving portion 32 serving as a receiving portion, both of which constitute the detecting portion of a movement control device 3, are spaced a predetermined distance from each other along the depth and the horizontal direction of a moving rack main body. The difference between the numbers of times of movement into and out of a passage is computed by a computing portion 26 based on a move-in-out discriminating portion 35 that discriminates between moving-in and moving-out from a reduced time lag, from the light-emitting portion 31 to the light-receiving portion 32. When the computed difference is zero, a drive portion 33 is permitted to move the moving racks, while, when the difference is not zero, the drive portion is inhibited from moving the moving racks. Therefore, the inhibited movement can be automatically released.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a movement control device for an electric type moving rack device which is widely used in offices, libraries and the like as a substitute for a storage cabinet or a bookshelf.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electric moving rack device of this type is one in which a plurality of moving racks having shelves are mounted on rails laid on the floor so that they can be moved by an electric drive device in the depth direction of the shelves. It is common. Such a movement control device for an electric type moving rack device is often arranged in the vicinity of a moving rack installation place, and a switch or the like is operated at that position to move the moving rack to a desired position. Is configured. Then, in order to prevent an accident of a user entering the passage formed between the moving racks, for example, a means for detecting a change in weight is provided on the floor between the rails, and a predetermined weight is set by the user or a book. It is known that the moving rack is controlled so as to prohibit the movement of the moving rack while the weight exceeding the limit is detected. In such a device, a reset switch is provided at the entrance side of the moving rack so that the user can cancel the prohibition when leaving the aisle, and the movement of the moving rack is prevented when the reset switch is operated. It is configured to restart.

[0003]

By the way, for a user who is always using the device, it is a daily routine when using this device to operate the reset switch to release the interlock of movement prohibition after use. However, for those who do not use it very often, we may forget the existence of such a reset switch. In that case, the next user needs to go to the moving rack first, operate the reset switch, then return to the front of the movement control device again and perform the operation for movement,
The operation may be complicated.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate such a problem.

[0005]

The present invention takes the following means in order to achieve such an object. That is, the movement control device of the electric type moving rack device according to the present invention is composed of a plurality of moving racks mounted on the rail so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from each other, and the moving racks face wall surfaces facing mutually adjacent moving racks. Electrically driven by an electric moving rack device having a section, and driving means for moving the moving rack to a desired position when a passage formed between the moving racks is not in use. A moving control device for controlling a moving rack device, the detecting means being provided in the wall surface part, for detecting entry into and exit from a passage formed between moving racks in a non-contact state, and the detecting means. And a movement determining means for determining movement and prohibition of movement of the moving rack forming the passage in accordance with the entered and exited states, and the driving means based on the determination of the movement determining means. Is electric And controlling the mobile rack device.

As the detecting means and the movement determining means in the present invention, the detecting means is arranged so as to be separated in a substantially horizontal direction and outputs an output signal when a received signal is blocked by the entrance and the exit. Either one of the two receiving units for one passage, the transmitting unit that is arranged facing the receiving unit and sends a signal to the receiving unit, and the output signal output from each receiving unit disappears. Calculate the difference between the number of times of entry and exit of the passage based on the signal output from the advancing / retreating section and the advancing / retreating section based on the time difference from the time when the remaining one disappears It is preferable that the movement determining means includes a set / reset portion that outputs a signal permitting movement of the moving rack to the driving means when the difference calculated by the arithmetic portion is 0.

[0007]

With such a structure, the detecting means detects the entry and exit of the moving rack between the moving racks in a non-contact state, and the movement determining means judges the moving rack from moving and prohibiting movement. Therefore, it is possible to drive the moving rack after determining the condition of advancing / retreating to / from the passage. In other words, since the entrance and exit of the passage are detected by the detection means, it is possible to reliably detect that the passage is in an unused state, that is, empty due to the exit without operating a special switch or the like when exiting the passage. be able to.

If the detecting means is composed of at least the transmitting section, the receiving section, the advance / retreat judging section, and the calculating section, and the movement determining means is composed of the set / reset section, a plurality of them are provided. It is possible to confirm the presence of the user in the aisle numerically even if the user of the vehicle repeatedly enters and exits the aisle multiple times, and it is possible to determine the movement of the moving rack and the prohibition of movement based on the numerical value. Is possible.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

The electric movable rack device 100 is formed by mounting a plurality of movable racks 2 on a rail 1 laid on a floor F so that they can be moved in and out of each other.

Each of the movable racks 2 has such a form that it can be used as a shelves having openings on both sides in the movement direction. The top plate 22 and the bottom plate 23 are connected to the upper and lower ends of a plurality of pillars 21 and the intermediate height thereof. A movable rack main body 25 is also provided, which is also provided with a plurality of shelf boards 24 at the position. A front panel 26 and a rear panel 27 are fixed to the front and rear of the movable rack body 25.

On the side surface 26a of the front panel 26 which is a wall surface portion facing each other between the movable racks 2, a light emitting portion 31 which is a transmitting portion and a light receiving portion 32 which is a receiving portion which constitute a detecting portion in the movement control device 3 described later move. In the depth direction of the rack body 25,
And a predetermined distance apart in a substantially horizontal direction, for example, 1 from the floor
Two of them are attached at a height of about m. The light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32 are adjacent to each other in the moving rack 2
In the above, the light receiving unit 32 and the light emitting unit 31 are arranged so as to face each other, that is, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 31 of the one moving rack 2 enters the light receiving unit 32 of the other moving rack 2. ing. The first pair is arranged on the front side.
The light emitting portion 31a and the first light receiving portion 32a are provided, and the pair disposed on the back side of the moving rack 2 is the second light emitting portion 31b and the second light receiving portion 3.
2b. With such an arrangement, the time difference can be reliably detected regardless of the passage position of the user in the passage width direction. Further, limit switches LS that change the height and output a signal when adjacent moving racks 2 come into contact with each other are attached to the upper ends of both side surfaces of the rear panel.

Therefore, the movable rack 2 is arranged on the rail 1 via the wheels 28 constituting the drive means TM, and is movable along the rail 1 in the depth direction of the shelf plate 24. The wheels 28 are driven by the motor M that constitutes the driving means TM, and are electrically connected to the movement control device 3 installed adjacent to the electric moving rack device 100. The drive means TM includes wheels 28, a motor M that can rotate in a forward direction and a reverse direction, and a drive unit 33 described later.
Composed of and. Each moving rack 2 is a moving rack body 2
5 is connected by a connecting arm 29 foldably provided on the upper part, and the connecting arm 29 has electric wiring built therein to send a signal necessary for control output from the light receiving unit 31 to the movement control device 3. is doing.

The movement control device 3 of this embodiment has a motor M.
An operation including a drive unit 33 for controlling energization to the mobile rack 2 and a plurality of operation switches 34a provided for the mobile rack 2 and for instructing the movement of the mobile rack 2 corresponding to the drive unit 33 when operated. Output signals output from the switch unit 34, the first and second light emitting units 31a and 31b and the first and second light receiving units 32a and 32b attached to the moving rack 2, and the first and second light receiving units 32a and 32b. An advancing / retreating determination unit 35 that discriminates between entry and exit based on a time difference Td from the time when one of the two disappears to the time when the other remains.
When the difference calculated by the calculation unit 36, which forms the movement determining means TD and the calculation unit 36 that calculates the number of times of entry into and exit from the passage based on the signal output from the advancing / retreating determination unit 35, is 0 Further, a set / reset unit 37 for outputting a signal for permitting the movement of the moving rack 2 to the driving means 33 is provided corresponding to each moving rack 2. That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, with respect to one moving rack 2, two pairs of the light emitting unit 31 and the light receiving unit 32, the advancing / retreating determination unit 35, the computing unit 36, the set / reset unit 37, The drive unit 33 and the operation switch unit 34 are provided as one set. The advancing / retreating determination unit 35, the calculation unit 36, and the set / reset unit 37 are shared by each moving rack 2, and the output signal from the light receiving unit 32 and the reset signal from the set / reset unit 37 are input to the operation switch unit 34. Operation switch 3 corresponding to the operated moving rack 2
4a may be switched in synchronism with 4a and input to the next stage.

The drive unit 33 is provided with, for example, a semiconductor switching element, and determines whether to rotate in the forward direction or the reverse direction according to the moving direction by the limit switch of the moving rack 2 forming the passage C being turned on. When the interlock for prohibiting the movement of the moving rack 2 is reset, electric power is supplied to the target motor M according to the operation of the corresponding operation switch 34a of the moving rack 2. The drive unit 33 may use a relay instead of the semiconductor switching element, or may be a combination of both. Operation switch section 3
The reference numeral 4 includes, for example, an illuminated push-button switch and a control circuit for self-holding its contact signal so that it can be electrically reset. The push button switch is turned off when the interlock is set and is turned on when the interlock is set, and its self-holding is reset by the limit signal. Examples of the control circuit include a latch (D flip-flop) circuit and the like.

The first and second light emitting portions 31a and 31b are each provided with a light emitting diode for emitting infrared light, for example, and always emit infrared light. Further, the first and second light receiving portions 32a and 32b are configured to include phototransistors that output an output signal when the incident infrared light is blocked. The advancing / retreating determination unit 35 compares the first output signal output from the first light receiving unit 32a and the second output signal output from the second light receiving unit 32b, and the output signal that disappears first and the output signal that disappears later. And a circuit for detecting an entry flag and an exit flag based on the time difference Td and the respective output signals, and outputting an entry flag and an exit flag. In this case, it is not necessary to measure the actual time difference Td from the extinction time of one output signal to the extinction time of the other output signal, and it is sufficient to detect the existence of the time difference Td. Then, when it is determined that the vehicle has entered, the entry flag is output to the calculation unit 36, and when it is determined that the vehicle has exited, the exit flag is output. The entry flag and the exit flag are represented by 2-bit data, for example.

Each time the entry flag and the exit flag output from the advancing / retreating determination section 35 are input, the computing section 36 temporarily stores the entry flag and the exit flag. If the entry flag is entered, the computation result stored up to that point is stored. 1 is added to, and if the exit flag is subtracted, an addition circuit is provided, and a storage circuit that stores the obtained calculation result as a calculation result instead of the calculation result up to then is provided. The latest calculation result is output to the set / reset unit 37. The set / reset unit 37 includes a circuit that determines the numerical value of the calculation result output from the calculation unit 36 and also determines the contact signal from the limit switch LS. When it is determined that the numerical value of the calculation result is 0, a reset signal for releasing the interlock of the moving rack 2 forming the passage C is output to the drive unit 33, and the moving rack 2 is After the movement is completed, that is, the moving rack 2 adjacent to the moving direction
Outputs a set signal to set the interlock when touched. The output of the reset signal is performed based on the numerical value of the calculation result. If the numerical value of the calculation result becomes 1 or more again after the reset signal is output, the reset signal disappears at that time and the interface of the corresponding moving rack 2 is lost. The lock works again.

The operation when the desired moving rack 2 is moved to form the passage C between the moving rack 2 and the adjacent moving rack 2 will be described. First, the moving rack 2
Is moved by operating (pressing) the corresponding operation switch 34a of the operation switch section 34. When the operation switch 34a is operated, a corresponding movement signal is input to the drive unit 33. The drive unit 33 supplies forward or reverse electric power to the corresponding motor M of the moving rack 2 based on the movement signal. Then, when the desired moving rack 2 moves and comes into contact with the moving rack 2 in the moving direction, the limit switch L
S operates, the set / reset unit 37 outputs a set signal to the drive unit 33, and the interlock functions.
In this state, the moving rack 2 forming the passage C is prohibited from moving.

Next, when the user starts to enter the passage C, the infrared light emitted from the first light emitting portion 31a is blocked by the body of the user and does not reach the first light receiving portion 32a. Next, after the cutoff timing, the infrared light from the second light emitting unit 31b is cut off, and the second light receiving unit 3
No more reaching 2b. After that, when the user completely enters the passage C, re-light reception is started in the order of the first light receiving unit 32a and the second light receiving unit 32b. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the first output signal rises first and the second output signal rises with a delay. Similarly, the first output signal and the second output signal fall (disappear) in this order. Therefore, between the time when the first output signal falls and the time when the second output signal falls, there is a time delay or time difference Td according to the approach speed of the user. In the advancing / retreating determination unit 35, when the first and second output signals are input,
It is detected which output signal disappears first to cause the time difference Td, and the approach flag or the advancing / retreating flag is output based on the result. That is, when the first output signal disappears first, it is determined that the user has entered the passage C, and the entry flag is output, and when the second output signal disappears first, the advance / retreat flag is output.

The operation unit 36 adds 1 to the stored operation result when the entry flag from the advance / retreat determination unit 35 is input, and subtracts 1 when the exit flag is input. For example, when the user continuously enters the passage C, the entry flags are continuously input, and the calculation result increases by the number of entry flags. Then, if there is a withdrawal, the number of withdrawals is adjusted based on the calculation result stored at that time. The set / reset unit 37 does not output the reset signal but outputs the set signal when the operation result output from the operation unit 36 is a numerical value other than 0. Therefore, the drive unit 33 continues to be in the state of being interlocked by the limit switch LS, and does not energize the motor M of the moving rack 2. On the other hand, while the calculation result from the calculation unit 36 is 0, the set / reset unit 37 outputs a reset signal to the drive unit 33. Drive unit 33
Receives the reset signal to release the interlock. If the operation switch 34a is operated during this period, the moving rack 2 corresponding to the operation switch 34a is driven.

As described above, at the entrance portion of the passage C, the approach and the exit are detected in a non-contact manner based on the timing difference (time difference Td) at which the two infrared rays are blocked, and the detected approach is detected. The number of people (number of people) and the number of times of exit (number of people) are added and subtracted to detect the number of users existing in the passage C, and when the number of users becomes 0, a reset signal is output. The person does not need to perform any operation when leaving the passage C, and the interlock is released. For this reason, even if a plurality of users repeatedly enter and leave the corridor C a plurality of times, the user forgets to operate the exit and leaves the door in an interlocked state, and wants to move the moving rack 2. Problems such as not being possible will not occur. Further, the interlock is released after surely detecting that there is no user in the passage C, so that an accident in which the user is trapped in the passage C can be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, the advance / retreat determination unit 35,
The arithmetic unit 36, the set / reset unit 37, and the operation switch unit 34 may be realized by a computer system including a microcomputer. In such a computer system, the output signal from the light receiving unit 32 and the set and reset signals output from the set / reset unit 37 are switched in accordance with the moving rack 2 forming the passage C and then switched. It may be configured so as to input to the stage. In this case, the control procedure in the microcomputer includes the following.

(1) When the power is turned on, the initial value of the calculation result is set to 0.
Set to and memorize.

(2) A signal is output to the drive unit 33 in response to the operated operation switch 34a to start energizing the motor M of the corresponding moving rack 2.

(3) An interlock set signal is output to the drive unit 33 when the limit switch LS of the moved movable rack 2 is activated.

(4) The first input of the output signal input from each light receiving section 32 is detected.

(5) The time difference Td from the disappearance of the output signal input first to the disappearance of the output signal input later is detected.

(6) Whether to enter or exit is determined from the detected time difference Td. If the determination result is entry, the calculation result is incremented, and if exiting, decrementing.

(7) The operation result is inspected, and if the numerical value is 0, a reset signal is output, and if it is not 0, a set signal is output.
Output to 3.

(8) When the operation switch 34a is operated during the output of the reset signal, the above item (2) is executed.

Further, the light emitting section 31 is one, and the light receiving section 32 is
May be arranged so as to face the light emitting section 31 so that parallel light is incident. In addition, as the receiving unit, in addition to the one using the phototransistor for receiving the infrared beam described in the above embodiment as the light receiving element,
A photoelectric conversion element such as CdS that receives white light and changes its resistance value is used as a light receiving element, a light receiving element that can receive laser light, and a microphone that receives ultrasonic waves. Good. In response to this,
The transmitting unit may be composed of a light source using an incandescent lamp, a laser oscillator, and an ultrasonic oscillator corresponding to each of the above.

Further, with respect to the mounting positions of the receiving part and the transmitting part, a pair of front panels 26 of the moving rack body 25 are provided.
May be provided on the side surface 26a of the above, and the remaining pair may be provided on the front wall portion of the shelf plate 24 with a horizontal distance. Further, since the movable rack 2 is arranged so as to be able to move back and forth from the rear side, the receiver and the transmitter may be provided on the side surface of the rear panel 27 in the same manner as the layout of the front panel 26. Good.

Besides, the configuration of each part is not limited to the illustrated example, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0034]

As described above in detail, the present invention detects the entry and exit of a passage without contact, and moves and prohibits movement of the moving rack forming the passage according to the state. Since it is determined that the movement prohibition can be canceled automatically, it is possible to surely avoid the situation where the movement is impossible even though the passage is not used. Moreover, by counting the number of entrances and exits (number of people) and confirming the users in the aisle, it is possible to more reliably avoid the inability to move and prevent accidents in the aisle. It becomes possible to do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the rear front of the mobile rack of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an essential part showing an enlarged mounting position of a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion of the embodiment.

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

FIG. 5 is a timing chart of output signals output from the light receiving unit of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Rail 2 ... Moving rack 3 ... Movement control device 31 ... Light emission part 32 ... Light receiving part 33 ... Drive part 34 ... Operation switch part 35 ... Advancement / retraction determination part 36 ... Calculation part 37 ... Set / reset part MT ... Drive means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An electric moving rack apparatus comprising a plurality of moving racks mounted on a rail so as to be able to come in contact with and away from each other, and the moving racks have wall surfaces facing the adjacent moving racks. A movement control device that is electrically connected and that includes a drive unit that moves the moving rack to a desired position when a passage formed between the moving racks is not in use is provided. Detecting means for detecting entry and exit to and from a passage formed between the movable racks provided in the wall surface portion in a non-contact state, and the passage according to the entry and exit states detected by the detecting means And a movement determining means for determining movement and prohibition of movement of the moving rack forming the moving rack, wherein the driving means controls the electric moving rack device based on the determination of the moving determining means. Electric Movement control device of a mobile rack system. 2. The detecting means is arranged so as to be separated from each other in a substantially horizontal direction and outputs two output signals when a received signal is blocked by the entrance and the exit.
The receiving unit of the stand, the transmitting unit that is arranged to face the receiving unit and sends out a signal to the receiving unit, and the output signal output from each receiving unit disappears from the time when one of them disappears and the other disappears. It consists of an advancing / retreating section that discriminates between entry and exit based on the time difference up to the time point, and a computing section that computes the difference in the number of times of entry into and exit from the passage based on the signal output by the advancing / retreating section. The difference calculated by the calculating unit by the determining unit is 0.
2. The movement control device for an electric type moving rack device according to claim 1, further comprising a set / reset unit that outputs a signal permitting movement of the moving rack to the drive means.