JPH07257741A - Articles handling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To arrange in order various kinds of articles housed in a narrow space on a desirable line. CONSTITUTION:An article handling device comprises a plurality of first carrying lines 21 for carrying articles extracted from housing lines 1 in plural rows in the same stage to one load arranging line 4 and a second carrying line 22 for carrying articles extracted from the housing lines 1 in plural rows in the same stage to a plurality of load arranging lines 4. Respective load arranging lines 4 on which articles carried by the plurality of first carrying lines 21 are arranged and the plurality of load arranging lines 4 on which articles carried by the second carrying line 22 are arranged are same ones, the plurality of load arranging lines 4 are arranged at roughly the same height, the second carrying line 22 is arranged in the vicinity of the height of the plurality of load arranging lines 4 and articles housed in plural rows and stages of housing lines 1 are arranged in order on the plurality of load arranging lines 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article handling apparatus for aligning articles stored in a storage line having a plurality of rows and a plurality of stages on a plurality of load-aligning lines, and particularly for handling a large number of types of articles. The present invention relates to a device for handling articles suitable for being aligned.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique relating to an article handling apparatus, the one described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 54-886 is known.

The conventional technique described in the above publication will be described. In Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 54-886, the above-mentioned respective stages of an article storage rack having several rows of article storage means are described.
An article storage / delivery device provided with independent article delivery means is described.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned conventional techniques have the following problems.

That is, the article storage / delivery apparatus described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 54-886 is independent on each stage of an article storage rack having a plurality of rows and a plurality of stages of article storage means (storage lines). Since only the article delivery means (first transfer line) is provided, the articles that can be loaded at each payout gate (loading line) are limited to the articles stored in each stage of the article storage shelf. It is not possible to load various types of goods into the payout gate of what if,
When many kinds of articles are to be lined up for each payout gate by the article storage / payment device described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 54-886, a large number of articles storage means must be provided for each stage. In addition, this is a technology that is economically infeasible because it requires large-scale equipment and a vast space.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an article handling apparatus capable of aligning various kinds of articles stored in a narrow space with a desired load line.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article handling device for aligning articles stored in a storage line having a plurality of rows and a plurality of rows with a plurality of load line, and a storage line having a plurality of rows in the same row. A first transport line for transporting the articles taken out from one to a load line, and a second transport line for transporting the articles taken from a plurality of rows of storage lines in the same stage to a plurality of load line The above object is achieved by providing an article handling device characterized by comprising:

A plurality of first carrying lines are provided, and the articles carried by the plurality of first carrying lines are lined up by the respective packing line and the second carrying line. It is preferable that the plurality of packing lines for packing the sorted articles are the same.

Further, the plurality of load-arranging lines are arranged at substantially the same height, and the second carrying line is arranged near the height of the plurality of load-arranging lines. preferable.

[0010]

The article handling apparatus of the present invention takes out a desired type of article from the articles stored in a narrow space consisting of a plurality of rows and a plurality of stages of storage lines, conveys it to a desired load line, and loads it. The line can be loaded with desired types of articles.

[0011]

EXAMPLES Examples of the article handling apparatus of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an outline of an embodiment of the article handling apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line AA of the article handling apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is the gravity shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of a roller conveyor, a conveyance line, an article removing device, and the like. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view showing a downstream end portion of the gravity roller conveyor shown in FIG. 3 and a main part of the article taking device. 5 is a plan view of FIG.

In these drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a storage line arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of stages, which is composed of a gravity roller conveyor whose front end is inclined low. Further, 2 is a transport line arranged to connect the article take-out device 3 provided at the downstream end of each gravity roller conveyor 1, and forms a first transport line 21 and a second transport line 22. The first transport line 21 is provided with a plurality of stages (10 stages) in the vertical direction so as to convey the articles G taken out from the plurality of rows of gravity roller conveyors 1 in the same stage to one load alignment line 4. Has been. Further, the second transfer line 22 has a plurality of vertical (2) stages so that the articles G taken out from the gravity roller conveyors 1 of the same stage and a plurality of rows are conveyed to a plurality (10) of the load alignment lines 4.
Steps) are provided. Gravity roller conveyor 1
Are arranged in a plurality of rows (40 rows) in the direction along the transport line 2 and a plurality of rows (12 rows) in the vertical direction. With these gravity roller conveyors 1, a fluidized shelf F having a frontage of 40 rows and 12 rows is formed. It is configured. Also, the ten first
Of the articles G conveyed by the conveyance line 21 of 10 and the second conveyance line 22
The ten load arranging lines 4 for arranging the goods G conveyed by the same are the same, the ten load arranging lines 4 are arranged at substantially the same height, and the second transfer line 22 are arranged in the vicinity of the height of the 10 load line 4. Thus, the articles G accommodated in the gravity roller conveyor 1 of 40 rows and 12 stages are arranged on the 10 pieces of the packing line 4.

Explaining each part in the above embodiment, the gravity roller conveyor 1 comprises a plurality of rollers 1.
A pair of rail frames 12 provided with 1 are arranged in a slanting manner, 40 rows in the direction along the transport line 2 and 12 steps in the vertical direction are arranged. With these gravity roller conveyors 1, 40 rows and 12 steps are provided. A fluidized shelf F having a frontage is constructed. In FIG. 3, of the 40 rows and 12 stages of the gravity roller conveyor 1, only the 5 rows and 1 stage of the gravity roller conveyor 1 is shown, and the other gravity roller conveyors 1 are omitted.

In addition, the conveying line 2 is vertically orthogonal to the gravity roller conveyor 1 so as to connect the article take-out devices 3 provided at the downstream end of the gravity roller conveyors 1 arranged in parallel to each other in the vertical direction. It is a driving roller conveyor having a conveying speed of 16 m / min (266.7 mm / sec) arranged in stages, and the driving roller conveyor 2 has a shape of 8 between a roller (not shown) and a line shaft (not shown). It is configured to transmit the rotation of the line shaft to the roller by a stretched rubber band (not shown). A pulse encoder (not shown) is attached to the line shaft. In addition, the virtual space β according to the assortment order of goods
Is set on the drive roller conveyor 2, and when the set virtual space β reaches a position facing the gravity roller conveyor 1 that stores the article G to be taken out, the article G is instructed to be taken out to the drive roller conveyor 2. Equipped with means.

Further, a drive roller conveyor 2a, an inclined belt conveyor 2b, etc. are disposed downstream of the upper 10-stage drive roller conveyor 2, and the drive roller conveyor 2 and the inverted J-shape are disposed. Drive roller conveyor 2a,
Each of the first conveying lines 21 is formed by the downward inclined belt conveyor 2b and the like arranged downstream of the drive roller conveyor 2a. The inclined belt conveyor 2b forming the first conveying line 21 including the upper driving roller conveyor 2 is the inclined belt conveyor 2 forming the first conveying line 21 including the lower driving roller conveyor 2.
It is configured to be longer than b, and the respective first transport lines 21 are connected to the respective load line 4 arranged at substantially the same height. Further, the lowermost first transfer line 21 does not include the inclined belt conveyor 2 b, but the drive roller conveyor 2 a is connected to the load line 4. Then, the articles G taken out from the gravity roller conveyors 1 in a plurality of rows in the same stage to the respective drive roller conveyors 2 by the ten first transfer lines 21 arranged so as to be vertically overlapped with each other. It is adapted to be conveyed to the packing line 4.

Downstream of the lower two drive roller conveyors 2, drive roller conveyors 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f,
2g, 2h, 2i, inclined belt conveyors 2j, 2k, etc. are provided, and drive roller conveyor 2, drive roller conveyor 2c arranged in a U shape, drive roller conveyor 2
linear drive roller conveyor 2 disposed downstream of c
d, 9 driving roller conveyors 2e arranged so as to branch from the driving roller conveyor 2d, 10 upward inclined belt conveyors 2j arranged downstream of the driving roller conveyors 2d, 2e, inclined belt conveyor 2j The second transport line 2 including the upper drive roller conveyor 2 by 10 drive roller conveyors 2f and the like arranged downstream of
2 is formed. Further, the driving roller conveyor 2, the driving roller conveyor 2g linearly arranged, the U-shaped driving roller conveyor 2h arranged downstream of the driving roller conveyor 2g, and the driving roller conveyor 2h arranged downstream. A second conveyor line 22 including an upward inclined belt conveyor 2k, a driving roller conveyor 2i arranged downstream of the inclined belt conveyor 2k, and an upper driving roller conveyor 2
Drive roller conveyor 2d, which also forms 9 drive roller conveyors 2e, 10 inclined belt conveyors 2j, 10
A second transport line 22 including the lower drive roller conveyor 2 is formed by the individual drive roller conveyors 2f and the like. The second transport line 22 including the drive roller conveyor 2 on the upper side is arranged substantially horizontally at a position slightly lower than the height of the 10 load-alignment lines 4. Further, the second transport line 22 including the upper drive roller conveyor 2 and the second transport line 22 including the lower drive roller conveyor 2 are merged into one in the drive roller conveyor 2d,
The merged one second transport line 22 is branched,
The drive roller conveyor 2 is provided on the ten load-aligning lines 4 on which the articles G are transported by the ten first transport lines 21.
It is connected via f. Further, a stopper 5 is provided at the downstream end of the drive roller conveyor 2f, and the articles G are controlled by the stopper 5 so as to merge with the load line 4. Thus, 10 articles G taken out from each of the plurality of rows of gravity roller conveyors 1 in the same stage to the respective drive roller conveyors 2 forming the second conveyance line 22 arranged so as to overlap in the vertical direction. After being merged in the drive roller conveyor 2d arranged below the load-aligning line 4, the product is branched and conveyed to ten load-aligning lines 4.

The article take-out device 3 provided at the downstream end of each gravity roller conveyor 1 has a plurality of rollers 31 which are vertically swung by an air cylinder 35 and a lever 36 with shafts 33 and 34 as fulcrums. A pair of rail frames 32, a stopper 37 for locking the article G traveling in the tilting direction, and a wheel rail 38 arranged downstream of the rail frame 32. When it is at the descending end, the inclination of the rail frame 32 substantially matches the inclination of the rail frame 12, and the upper end of the stopper 37 projects from the upper surface of the roller 31. When an article take-out command is issued, the upper end of the stopper 37 is lowered from the upper surface of the roller 31 by operating the air cylinder 35, and the inclination of the rail frame 32 is made larger than the inclination of the rail frame 12 so that the stopper is stopped. The article G at the downstream end (front end) of the gravity roller conveyor 1 locked by 37 is taken out. At that time, the upstream end (rear end) of the rail frame 32 is higher than the surface of the roller 11 of the rail frame 12, so that the succeeding article G is locked at the upstream end of the rail frame 32 and placed on the gravity roller conveyor 1. One stored article G can be taken out, and the taken-out article G is joined to the drive roller conveyor 2 by the wheel rail 38.

Further, the ten load arranging lines 4 for arranging the goods G conveyed by the ten first conveying lines 21 and the goods G conveyed by the second conveying line 22 are arranged. The 10 load arranging lines 4 are the same conveyor configured by an accumulation conveyor, and the 10 load arranging lines 4 are arranged at substantially the same height. In addition, a stopper 6 is provided at an intermediate portion of each load line 4 and the first transfer line 21 is provided.
The article G conveyed by the second conveyance line 22 and the article G conveyed by the stopper 5 and the stopper 6
Are controlled so that they are merged on the load-sorting line 4 in a desired order.

Next, the above-mentioned gravity roller conveyor 1
A method of taking out a desired type of the article G from the articles G stored in the container, transporting it to the desired load alignment line 4, and aligning the desired type of goods G in the load alignment line 4 in a desired order will be described. To do.

First, the articles G are taken out from the lower two-stage gravity roller conveyors 1 to the lower two-stage drive roller conveyors 2 forming the second conveyor line 22, and the articles G joined to the respective drive roller conveyors 2. The process of merging with the drive roller conveyor 2d will be described with reference to a specific example in which the article G is taken out from the gravity roller conveyor 1 having two rows of five rows arranged on the upstream end side of the drive roller conveyor 2 (see FIG. 6). 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e are gravity roller conveyors 1f, 1g, 1h, 1i, 1j arranged on the upstream end side of the driving roller conveyor 2 in the first stage from the bottom.
Is a gravity roller conveyor arranged on the upstream end side of the second-stage driving roller conveyor 2 and is arranged in parallel along the first-stage and second-stage driving roller conveyors 2 from the bottom. When the arrangement interval of the 40 gravity roller conveyors 1 is 700 mm, the distance from the gravity roller conveyors 1e, 1j at the upstream end, that is, the offset value α, is the gravity roller adjacent to the gravity roller conveyors 1e, 1j. Conveyors 1d and 1i are 700m
m, the gravity roller conveyors 1c and 1h adjacent to the gravity roller conveyors 1d and 1i are 1400 mm, the gravity roller conveyors 1b and 1g adjacent to the gravity roller conveyors 1c and 1h are 2100 mm, and the gravity roller conveyors 1b and 1g are adjacent to each other. 1a and 1f are 2800 mm.

Further, 80 kinds of articles G having a small load alignment request frequency are stored in each of the lower two 80 gravity roller conveyors 1 one by one in each gravity roller conveyor 1. That is, the gravity roller conveyor 1
a has a length dimension, that is, an article Ga having a length of 430 mm in the flow direction of the drive roller conveyor 2, a gravity roller conveyor 1 b has a length dimension of 530 mm, and the gravity roller conveyor 1 c has a length dimension of 530 mm. 380 mm
The article Gc of No. 2 has a length dimension of 280 mm on the gravity roller conveyor 1d, the Ge article having a length dimension of 250 mm on the gravity roller conveyor 1e, and the length dimension of 430 mm on the gravity roller conveyor 1f. Gf has an article Gg having a length dimension of 380 mm on the gravity roller conveyor 1g, an article Gh having a length dimension of 590 mm on the gravity roller conveyor 1h, and an article Gi having a length dimension of 280 mm on the gravity roller conveyor 1i. A plurality of articles Gj each having a length of 250 mm are stored in the gravity roller conveyor 1j.

Then, on the driving roller conveyor 2d, for example, ten articles G are arranged in the following order: the articles Ga, Gg,
When there is a command to merge at Gj, Gj, Gd, Gi, Gi, Gh, Gj, and Gd, calculation and control are performed as follows, and the desired article G is transferred from the gravity roller conveyor 1 to the drive roller conveyor. 2 is taken out.

That is, the article Ga first merged with the drive roller conveyor 2d is taken out from the gravity roller conveyor 1a, but since the offset value α of the gravity roller conveyor 1a is located at 2800 mm, from the start of load alignment, The article Ga is taken out with a delay of the offset value α. That is, 2800 mm / 26
An article take-out command is given to the article take-out device 3 provided at the downstream end of the gravity roller conveyor 1a so that the article Ga is taken out from the gravity roller conveyor 1a to the drive roller conveyor 2 after 6.7 mm / sec = 10.5 seconds. .

Since the article Gg joined to the drive roller conveyor 2d next to the article Ga is stored in the gravity roller conveyor 1 which is different from the article Ga in the second stage from the bottom, the gravity roller conveyor 1 in the first stage from the bottom. The article G merged with each other is provided with a phase difference of 2 seconds so as not to collide with the article G, and the offset value α of the gravity roller conveyor 1g is 2100 mm, that is, 210.
0 mm ÷ 266.7 mm / sec = 7.9 sec added 9.9
After the time obtained by adding the merging time difference (hereinafter referred to as the "merging time difference") caused by the shorter conveying path than the second conveying line 22 including the lower drive roller conveyor 2 to the second, the gravity roller conveyor 1g to the article Gg An article take-out command is given to the article take-out device 3 provided at the downstream end of the gravity roller conveyor 1g so as to take out the article to the drive roller conveyor 2.

The article Gj joined to the drive roller conveyor 2d next to the article Gg is stored in the gravity roller conveyor 1 on the same stage as the article Gg, and thus the articles stored on the gravity roller conveyor 1 in the same stage. When G is continuously taken out by the drive roller conveyor 2 and merged, the virtual space β according to the order of merging the articles G and the length dimension of the articles G on the drive roller conveyor 2, that is, the length of the articles G. A space in which a certain margin space is added to the dimension is continuously set, and when the predetermined virtual space β reaches a position facing the article G to be merged, the article G is driven by the drive roller conveyor 2
The article take-out device 3 provided at the downstream end of the gravity roller conveyor 1 to take out the article
Since the article Gg joined to the driving roller conveyor 2d first is taken out to the driving roller conveyor 2 excluding the offset value α, that is, 2
Virtual space β of the article Gg obtained by adding 400 mm of margin space to the length dimension of 380 mm of the article Gg after the difference of seconds + merging time
g, that is, 380 mm + 400 mm = 780 mm, and the time required for the virtual space βg set in the drive roller conveyor 2 to move, that is, 780 mm ÷ 266.7.
mm / second = 2.9 seconds added 4.9 seconds + After the merge time difference, the article take-out command is issued so that the article Gj is taken out from the gravity roller conveyor 1j into the virtual space βj set in the drive roller conveyor 2j. Is provided to the article take-out device 3 provided at the downstream end of the. Since the offset value α of the gravity roller conveyor 1j is 0 mm, it is not necessary to add the offset value α to the above time.

Since the article Gj is continuously taken out after the article Gj, the length G of the article Gj is 250 mm after the take-out time, that is, 4.9 seconds + merging time difference.
The virtual space βj of the article Gj obtained by adding 00 mm, that is, 25
0 mm + 400 mm = 650 mm is set, and the time required for moving the virtual space βj set in the drive roller conveyor 2 is 650 mm ÷ 266.7 mm / sec = 2.
An article take-out command is provided at the downstream end of the gravity roller conveyor 1j so as to take out the article Gj from the gravity roller conveyor 1j to the virtual space βj set in the drive roller conveyor 2 after 7.3 seconds plus 4 seconds + merge time difference. It is given to the obtained article take-out device 3. Since the offset value α of the gravity roller conveyor 1j is 0 mm, it is not necessary to add the offset value α to the above time.

Since the article Gd joined to the drive roller conveyor 2d next to the article Gj is stored in the first gravity gravity roller conveyor 1 different from the article Gj, the take-out time excluding the above-mentioned merge time difference. That is, after 7.3 seconds and 9.3 seconds after adding the phase difference of 2 seconds, the offset value α of the gravity roller conveyor 1d is 700 mm, that is, 7 mm.
00mm ÷ 266.7mm / sec = 2.6sec added 1
After 1.9 seconds, the article G from the gravity roller conveyor 1d
An article take-out command is given to the article take-out device 3 provided at the downstream end of the gravity roller conveyor 1d so as to take out d to the drive roller conveyor 2. It should be noted that the following calculation is also performed in order to confirm whether or not a sufficient margin space is provided in the first-stage drive roller conveyor 2 from the bottom. That is, the drive roller conveyor 2 excluding the offset value α of the article Ga taken out before the article Gd is taken out to the downstream end of the first-stage drive roller conveyor 2 from the bottom.
Virtual space βa of the article Ga obtained by adding a marginal space 400 mm to the length dimension 430 mm of the article Ga, that is, 430 mm + 400 mm = 830 m after the taking-out time to, ie, 0 seconds.
The time required to move the virtual space βa set in the drive roller conveyor 2 by setting m, that is, 830 mm / 2
The value obtained by adding 66.7 mm / sec = 3.1 seconds is 3.1 seconds later, and comparing this value with the above extraction time, that is, 9.3 seconds later, the value after 9.3 seconds later is obtained. Since it is slower, it can be confirmed that the drive roller conveyor 2 in the first stage from the bottom has a sufficient margin. If the required extra space is not available in the first-stage drive roller conveyor 2 from the bottom, the above-mentioned take-out time, that is, the time for securing a further required extra space after 11.9 seconds is added. Controlled as.

The article Gi joined to the drive roller conveyor 2d next to the article Gd is stored in the second gravity gravity roller conveyor 1 different from the article Gd, so that the article Gi is joined to the drive roller conveyor 2d first. 11.3 that the phase difference of 2 seconds is added after the time of taking out the article Gd to the drive roller conveyor 2 excluding the offset value α, that is, 9.3 seconds.
After 1 second, the offset value α of the gravity roller conveyor 1i is 700 mm, that is, 700 mm ÷ 266.7 mm / second = 2.6 seconds is added to 13.9 seconds, and after a merging time difference is further added, the article is transferred from the gravity roller conveyor 1i. An article take-out command to take out Gi to the drive roller conveyor 2 is given to the article take-out device 3 provided at the downstream end of the gravity roller conveyor 1i. The following calculation is also performed in order to confirm whether or not a sufficient spare space is provided in the second-stage driving roller conveyor 2 from the bottom. That is, the second driving roller conveyor 2 from the bottom
Of the article Gj taken out before the article Gi is taken out to the downstream end of the drive roller conveyor 2 except the offset value α, that is, 7.3 seconds + the merging time difference,
A virtual space βj of the article Gj obtained by adding a margin space 400 mm to the length dimension 250 mm of the article Gj, that is, 250 mm + 4
Setting 00mm = 650mm, drive roller conveyor 2
Time required for the virtual space βj set to
That is, the value obtained by adding 650 mm ÷ 266.7 mm / sec = 2.4 sec is 9.7 sec + after the merging time difference, and the take-out time before adding this value and the offset value α of the above-mentioned article Gi, that is, Comparing 11.3 seconds + after merging time difference, it is slower after 11.3 seconds + merging time difference described above, so it is possible that a sufficient margin space is provided in the second drive roller conveyor 2 from the bottom. I can confirm.

Since the article Gi is continuously taken out after the article Gi, the taking-out time to the drive roller conveyor 2 excluding the offset value α of the article Gi joined to the drive roller conveyor 2d first, that is, 11. After 3 seconds + merging time difference, the length dimension of the article Gi is 280 mm and the margin space is 400 m.
Virtual space βi of the article Gi to which m is added, that is, 280 mm
+400 mm = 680 mm is set, and the time required for moving the virtual space βi set in the drive roller conveyor 2, that is, 680 mm ÷ 266.7 mm / sec = 2.5 seconds plus 13.8 seconds + merging time difference , The offset value α of the gravity roller conveyor 1i is 700 mm, that is, 70
0 mm ÷ 266.7 mm / sec = 2.6 sec added 16.
An article take-out command is sent to the article take-out device 3 provided at the downstream end of the gravity roller conveyor 1i so that the article Gi is taken out from the gravity roller conveyor 1i into the virtual space βi set in the drive roller conveyor 2 after 4 seconds + merging time difference. Given.

Since the article Gh joined to the drive roller conveyor 2d next to the article Gi is stored in the gravity roller conveyor 1 on the same stage as the article Gi, the offset of the article Gi joined to the drive roller conveyor 2d first. After taking out time to the driving roller conveyor 2 excluding the value α, that is, 13.8 seconds + merging time difference, the length dimension 28 of the article Gi is
A virtual space βi of the article Gi in which a margin space 400 mm is added to 0 mm, that is, 280 mm + 400 mm = 680 mm is set, and the virtual space β set in the drive roller conveyor 2 is set.
The time required for i to move, that is, 680 mm ÷ 26
6.7 mm / sec = 2.5 sec plus 16.3 sec + After the merge time difference, the offset value α of the gravity roller conveyor 1 h is 1400 mm, that is, 1400 mm ÷ 266.7 m
m / sec = 21.5 seconds plus 5.2 seconds + after the merge time difference, the article take-out command is issued so that the article Gh is taken out from the gravity roller conveyor 1h into the virtual space βh set in the drive roller conveyor 2h. Is provided to the article take-out device 3 provided at the downstream end of the.

Since the article Gj joined to the drive roller conveyor 2d next to the article Gh is stored in the gravity roller conveyor 1 on the same stage as the article Gh, the offset of the article Gh joined to the drive roller conveyor 2d first. The length dimension 59 of the article Gh after the take-out time to the drive roller conveyor 2 excluding the value α, that is, 16.3 seconds + merging time difference.
The virtual space βh of the article Gh obtained by adding the extra space 400 mm to 0 mm, that is, 590 mm + 400 mm = 990 mm, is set, and the virtual space β set on the drive roller conveyor 2 is set.
The time required for h to move, that is, 990 mm / 26
6.7 mm / sec = 3.7 sec plus 20.0 sec + Gravity roller conveyor 1j to article Gj after merge time difference
The article take-out command is given to the article take-out device 3 provided at the downstream end of the gravity roller conveyor 1j so as to take out the article into the virtual space βj set in the drive roller conveyor 2. Since the offset value α of the gravity roller conveyor 1j is 0 mm, it is not necessary to add the offset value α to the above time.

The article Gd joined to the drive roller conveyor 2d next to the article Gj is stored in the first gravity gravity roller conveyor 1 different from the article Gj, so that it is joined to the drive roller conveyor 2d first. Gravity roller conveyor 1 after the taking-out time to the drive roller conveyor 2 excluding the offset value α and the merging time difference of the article Gj, that is, 22.0 seconds after adding the phase difference of 2 seconds after 20.0 seconds
Offset value α of d is 700 mm, that is, 700 mm / 2
An article take-out command was provided at the downstream end of the gravity roller conveyor 1d so as to take out the article Gd from the gravity roller conveyor 1d to the driving roller conveyor 2 after 24.6 seconds after adding 66.7 mm / second = 2.6 seconds. It is given to the article removing device 3. It should be noted that the following calculation is also performed in order to confirm whether or not a sufficient margin space is provided in the first-stage drive roller conveyor 2 from the bottom. That is,
The article G is provided at the downstream end of the first driving roller conveyor 2 from the bottom.
Before the d is taken out, the length of the article Gd is 280 mm after the taking-out time of the article Gd taken out to the drive roller conveyor 2 excluding the offset value α, that is, 9.3 seconds.
Virtual space β of the article Gd in which a margin space of 400 mm is added to
d, that is, 280 mm + 400 mm = 680 mm is set, and the time required for moving the virtual space βd set in the drive roller conveyor 2 is 680 mm ÷ 266.7.
The value obtained by adding mm / second = 2.5 seconds is 11.8 seconds later,
Comparing this value with the take-out time before adding the offset value α of the above-mentioned article Gd, that is, after 22.0 seconds,
Since it is later after 22.0 seconds, it can be confirmed that the drive roller conveyor 2 in the first stage from the bottom has a sufficient margin.

As described above, the transport speed 26 of the drive roller conveyor 2 is calculated in the computer (not shown) from the start of load alignment to the time when each article G is taken out.
The value multiplied by 6.7 mm / sec becomes the transport distance of each virtual space β from the start of the load alignment to the removal of each article G. Therefore, the transport distance of the virtual space β during one pulse of the pulse encoder attached to the line shaft of the drive roller conveyor 2 is excluded from the transport distance of the virtual space β from the start of load alignment until the articles G are taken out. The obtained value is a pulse value from the start of the load arranging at which the respective articles G should be taken out. Then, the computer uses the gravity roller conveyor 1 from which the pulse values from the start of the packing and the respective articles G are to be taken out.
And the number of are sent to a sequencer (not shown). The sequencer receiving the data stores the pulse value from the start of the load alignment and the number of the gravity roller conveyor 1 from which the articles G should be taken out, and starts counting the pulses of the pulse encoder simultaneously with the start of the load alignment. The air cylinder 35 of the article take-out device 3 provided at the downstream end of the gravity roller conveyor 1 that matches the instructed pulse value is operated to control to take out the desired article G to the drive roller conveyor 2. Therefore, the articles G taken out to the respective drive roller conveyors 2 are transferred to the drive roller conveyors 2d by the articles Ga, Gg, Gj, Gj, Gd,
Gi, Gi, Gh, Gj, and Gd are joined in this order.

Some or all of the articles G merged with the drive roller conveyor 2d are branched to the drive roller conveyor 2e arranged upstream of the desired load line 4 or all of the articles G are branched. The article G is conveyed to the inclined belt conveyor 2j without being branched. Then, the article G conveyed by the second conveying line 22 passes through the inclined belt conveyor 2j, the driving roller conveyor 2f, etc., and is transferred to the desired load arranging line 4 among the 10 load arranging lines 4 as described later. Joined. That is, 80 kinds of articles Ga, Gb, Gc, ... Which are stored in the lower two-stage gravity roller conveyor 1 and have a low load request frequency are transferred by the second transfer line 22 to the 10 load transfer lines 4 It can be conveyed to any of the load line 4 among them.

Next, the article G is taken out from the upper 10-stage gravity roller conveyor 1 to the upper 10-stage drive roller conveyor 2 forming the first conveying line 21, and the articles G joined to the respective drive roller conveyors 2 are taken. The conveyance of G to the respective load line 4 via the inclined belt conveyor 2b will be described.

Forty (40) gravity roller conveyors 1 are arranged side by side along the driving roller conveyor 2 in the upper 10 steps (3rd to 12th steps from the bottom) at intervals of 700 mm. 40 kinds of articles G that are frequently requested to be arranged on the 40 gravity roller conveyors 1
One kind of k, Gl, Gm, ... Is stored in each gravity roller conveyor 1. It should be noted that ten gravity roller conveyors 1 arranged in the same row in the row direction
A plurality of articles G of the same type are stored in each. That is, the same 40 types of articles Gk, Gl, Gm, ... Are stored in the 40 gravity roller conveyors 1 taken out to the drive roller conveyors 2 of the respective stages.

Thus, for example, the top row (12th row from the bottom)
Gravity roller conveyor 1 to the uppermost drive roller conveyor 2 are 10 articles G in the following order:
k, Gn, Gp, Gr, Gl, Go, Gq, Gs, G
If there is a command to merge the m and Gt, the calculation and control are performed in the same manner as when the article G is taken out from the lower two-stage gravity roller conveyor 1 to the lower two-stage drive roller conveyor 2, and the uppermost stage is obtained. The desired article G is taken out from the gravity roller conveyor 1 to the uppermost driving roller conveyor 2 and is conveyed to the load-aligning line 4 via the inclined belt conveyor 2b. Similarly, the desired articles G are taken out to the third to eleventh drive roller conveyors 2 from the bottom, and conveyed to the respective load-alignment lines 4 via the respective inclined belt conveyors 2b. The article G transported to the load-aligning line 4 by the first transport line 21 is merged with the article G transported by the second transport line 22 as described later. That is, a desired type of article G among 40 types of articles Gk, Gl, Gm, ... By means of 21, it can be transported to each load line 4.

Thus, the articles Gk, Gn conveyed by the first conveying line 21 are transferred to the load line 4 arranged downstream of the first conveying line 21 including the uppermost driving roller conveyor 2. Gp, Gr, Gl, Go, Gq, Gs,
Gm, Gt and the articles Ga, Gg, Gj, Gj, Gd, Gi, Gi, G conveyed by the second conveyance line 22.
h, Gj, Gd are in the following order, that is, the articles Ga, Gk,
Gn, Gg, Gp, Gj, Gr, Gl, Go, Gj, G
d, Gi, Gi, Gq, Gh, Gs, Gm, Gj, G
When there is a command to merge at d and Gt, the stoppers 5 and 6 are operated intermittently to merge the articles G, and the articles G are aligned in the desired order on the load-aligning line 4 (FIG. 6). reference).

As described above, 40 kinds of articles Gk, Gl, and Gm which are frequently requested to be loaded on the 40 gravity roller conveyors 1 of the upper 10 steps among the 40 rows and 12 steps of the gravity roller conveyors 1. , Are stored in each of the gravity roller conveyors 1 one by one. A plurality of articles G of the same type are stored in each of the ten gravity roller conveyors 1 arranged in the same row in the step direction. Further, 80 kinds of articles Ga, Gb, Gc, ... Which have a low load alignment request frequency are stored in the lower two-stage gravity roller conveyor 1. Therefore, 40 kinds of articles Gk, Gl, Gm, ... Stored in the respective upper 10 stages of the gravity roller conveyor 1
.Of the desired article G among the first transfer lines 2
The desired article G among the 40 types of articles Gk, Gl, Gm, ...
Can be sorted. Further, 80 kinds of articles Ga, G stored in the lower two-stage gravity roller conveyor 1
The desired article G among b, Gc, ... Is transported by the second transport line 22 and is transferred to the 10 load-aligning lines 4 by 80.
It is possible to load the desired articles G among the types of articles Ga, Gb, Gc, .... That is, it is possible to load the desired articles G among the 120 types of articles G on each of the 10 load arranging lines 4.

Although one embodiment of the article handling apparatus of the present invention has been described above, the article handling apparatus of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, another load line for aligning the articles G transported by the second transport line 22 in the vicinity of each load line 4 for aligning the articles G transported by the first transport line 21. May be provided.

A plurality of load line 4 may be arranged in parallel in the vertical direction.

[0043]

Since the article handling apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, a desired type of article is taken out of the articles stored in a narrow space consisting of a plurality of rows and a plurality of stages of storage lines. It is possible to convey to a desired load line and to load a desired type of articles to the load line.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the outline of one embodiment of an article handling apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an AA view of the article handling apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the gravity roller conveyor, a transfer line, an article take-out device, etc. shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view showing a downstream end portion of the gravity roller conveyor shown in FIG. 3 and a main part of an article removing device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method for arranging articles for goods.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Storage Line (Gravity Roller Conveyor) 4 Load Alignment Line 21 First Transport Line 22 Second Transport Line G Article

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An article handling device for arranging articles stored in a plurality of rows and a plurality of rows of storage lines in a plurality of load arranging lines. One article taken out from a plurality of rows of storage lines in the same row. A first transport line for transporting the articles to the load-alignment line and a second transport line for transporting the articles taken out from the storage lines in a plurality of rows on the same stage to the load-alignment lines. Equipment for handling goods. 2. A plurality of first transfer lines are provided,
Each load line for aligning the articles transported by the plurality of first transport lines is the same as each load line for aligning the articles transported by the second transport line. The article handling device according to claim 1. 3. A plurality of load alignment lines are arranged at substantially the same height, and a second transport line is arranged near the height of the plurality of load alignment lines. The article handling device according to item 2.