JPH09100007A - Storage equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage equipment which can smoothly travel and move. SOLUTION: A storage equipment is constituted so as to be freely switched to a condition where a traveling passage of a stacker crane 5 to carry out an article is formed between plural housing shelves 2 which are supported with plural shelf rails 7 and can freely move in the juxtaposed direction and a condition where the adjacent housing shelves 2 are brought near to each other, and the stacker crane 5 is arranged so as to freely move and travel in a condition of being supported with traveling rails 12 crossing shelf rails 7, and the shelf rails 7 and the traveling rails 12 are formed in a condition of continuing in a series with each other. The shelf rails 7 are arranged in a condition of being supported with an aboveground side installing surface, and the traveling rails 12 are arranged in a condition of being placed on and supported with upper parts of the shelf rails 7, and a moving operation means is provided to move the traveling rails 12 between a support action position to guide and support the stacker crane 5 and a retreat position where the housing shelves 2 retreat from a moving passing area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided with a plurality of storage shelves each provided with a plurality of article storage sections arranged side by side, and for loading and unloading articles into and from each article storage section. And a storage device for moving the storage shelves adjacent to each other, the storage shelves being configured to be movable in the juxtaposed direction while the loads are supported by a plurality of shelf supporting rails. The traveling device is configured to be switchable between a work state for carrying in and out, in which a traveling passage of the traveling device is formed between storage shelves, and a storage state in which an adjacent shelving is brought close to each other. The present invention relates to a storage facility that is provided so as to be movable and travelable while the load is supported by a traveling rail that intersects with the shelf supporting rail.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the above storage device, as shown in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-107307, the rails for rack support and the rails for travel cross each other at substantially the same height, and Are installed so that they are both supported on the installation surface on the ground side, and at the intersection of these rails, the brim portion of the storage shelf side wheel or the traveling device side brim wheel is attached to each rail. Grooves that prevent interference are formed, and the wheels are allowed to pass through the rail intersections, and while the storage rack can be switched between the working state and the storage state, the traveling device is moved and loaded and supported. There was one that could be freely supported.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, since the above-mentioned groove is formed at each intersection of each rail, each wheel travels in the groove. In addition, there is a disadvantage in that traveling movement cannot be performed smoothly, such as vibration and noise caused by the collision of the wheel with the edge of the groove.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, it is necessary to form a groove portion at each intersection of each of the shelf supporting rail and the traveling rail, and a troublesome working step of forming a groove portion is required at a plurality of points. There is also a disadvantage that the manufacturing process becomes complicated in terms of rail manufacturing.

As a method of eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages, for example, a configuration in which the traveling rail is integrally formed on the lateral side portion of the storage shelf and is provided in a series is conceivable. According to this structure, the load of the traveling device is supported by the storage rack via the traveling rail, and it is necessary to increase the support strength of the storage rack, which is a disadvantage of complicating the structure. There are also disadvantageous aspects such as the possibility that the stored articles may be displaced due to vibration or the like when the traveling device travels.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object thereof is to make it possible to switch a storage rack between a working state and a storage state, and to support a traveling device so that the traveling device can move and run in a load supporting state. It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage facility that enables smooth traveling while suppressing generation of vibration and noise as much as possible without complicating the rail manufacturing process.

[0007]

According to the characterizing feature of claim 1, the shelf supporting rail and the traveling rail are formed in a continuous state, and the shelf supporting rail is on the ground side. The rail is installed so as to be supported by the installation surface, and the traveling rail is installed and supported on the shelf supporting rail. When the traveling rail is switched to the loading / unloading work state in which the traveling passage of the traveling device is formed by the moving operation means, the traveling rail is in a supporting action position for guiding and supporting the traveling device. Moved,
In the storage state in which the adjacent storage shelves are close to each other, the traveling rail does not obstruct the movement of the storage shelves because the storage rails are moved to the retracted position where they are retracted from the movement passage area of the storage shelves.

Since each rail is formed in a series, there is no recess or the like in the middle, so no shock is generated when the storage rack or the traveling device travels, and vibration and noise are generated. It is possible to perform smooth traveling while suppressing the above. In addition, each rail does not need to be specially processed such as a groove portion in the middle thereof, and such a special processing is unnecessary, and the manufacturing process can be simplified.

Since the traveling rails are installed in a state of being placed and supported on the shelf supporting rails, an installation error or the like occurs as compared with a configuration in which each rail is separately installed and fixed on an installation surface. There is no fear that the relative vertical positional relationship between the rails will always be maintained in the same state. As a result, it becomes easy to align each article storage unit in the storage rack with the transfer device provided in the traveling device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the moving operation means is composed of a telescopic operation mechanism that moves the traveling rail toward or away from the storage rack, the unloading operation is performed. In the working state for use, the telescopic operation mechanism moves the traveling rail to a predetermined support working position away from the storage rack, and in the stored state,
Since the traveling rail approaches the storage rack and moves to the predetermined retracted position, the switching movement of the storage rack to the storage state is not hindered.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the expansion / contraction operation mechanism moves the traveling rail toward or away from the storage rack by the movement operation force of the storage rack. By effectively utilizing the movement operation force of the storage rack, it is not necessary to provide a dedicated drive means for moving the traveling rail, and the configuration can be simplified.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the traveling rail is configured to be located at the center in the width direction of the traveling passage in the working state, and the moving operation means is for traveling. Each storage shelf located on both sides of the aisle, and a link mechanism pivotally linked to each of the traveling rails, the link mechanism switching the storage shelf between the working state and the storage state. Along with this, the traveling rails are configured to move in an interlocking manner, and the maximum separation distance between each of the storage shelves and the traveling rail is regulated to a set distance, and each of the storage shelves. It is configured to allow the approach movement of the.

Therefore, as the storage rack is switched between the working state and the storage state, the link mechanism causes the traveling rail to move interlockingly between the supporting action position and the retracted position. It is not necessary to provide a dedicated drive means such as an actuator, and it is possible to have a simple structure, and the maximum separation distance,
That is, in the working state in which the traveling passage is formed, the traveling rail can be accurately moved to the support working position by mechanically controlling the movement amount.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the link mechanism is formed of a four-bar link mechanism in which four links are pivotally connected, and a pair of nodes at diagonal positions of the link mechanism. Is pivotally connected to each of the storage shelves, and each of a pair of nodes at other diagonal positions is pivotally connected to the traveling rail via a flexible portion formed along the rail longitudinal direction. Since it is configured in a state, the location where the traveling rails are pivotally connected with each other as the storage shelves are moved toward and away from each other is located at the central portion in the width direction of the traveling passage, and the simple configuration is adopted. It can always be properly positioned in the support working position.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A storage facility according to the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of storage shelves 2 provided with a plurality of article storage units 1 along the vertical direction and the horizontal direction are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and articles are stored in each of the article storage units 1. Is configured so as to be movable, and is movable and movable both inside the traveling passage T formed between the storage shelves 2 and a standby position located outside one end side of the passage T, and A stacker crane 5 as a traveling device including a transfer device 4 for loading and unloading articles to and from the article storage sections 1 and the article loading / unloading section 3 is provided. At the standby position, the stacker crane 5 is supported by a traverser 6 as a moving carriage, and the traverser 6 is provided so as to be movable along the direction in which the storage shelves 2 are arranged side by side so that articles can be taken in and out of the transfer device 4. At the same time, a carrying device 6a for transferring the article to and from the article carry-in / out section 3 is provided, and the article carry-in / out section 3 is configured to be able to take in and take out the article.

Of the plurality of storage shelves 2, the storage shelves 2 on both sides in the left-right direction are installed in a fixed state on the floor, respectively, and the plurality of storage shelves 2 positioned between these fixed storage shelves 2a.
Are configured as movable storage shelves 2b which are movable along the arranging direction.

The movable storage shelf 2b is movably mounted and supported by a plurality of wheels 8 by a plurality of shelf rails 7 serving as shelf supporting rails fixedly installed on a floor surface as an installation surface on the ground side. The wheels 8 are rotatably driven by an electric motor so as to be movable along the direction in which they are arranged. The movable storage shelves 2 can be switched between a working state in which a work space for carrying in and out is formed between them and a storage state in which the work spaces are not formed and the storage shelves 2 are close to each other. It is configured. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a work space is formed in any one of the plurality of mobile storage shelves 2b, and the other storage space is provided so as to be in a storage state. By doing so, a working space can be formed at any place. With this configuration, the working space can be secured, but the installation space along the side-by-side installation direction of the storage shelves 2 can be minimized.

The traverser 6 supports the stacker crane 5 and is movably mounted on the two support rails 10 by wheels so as to be movable in the side-by-side direction (horizontal direction) of the storage shelves 2. The vehicle is configured to move and run by driving and rotating wheels by an electric motor.

When the traverser 6 moves to the place where the traveling passage T is formed, the stacker crane 5 can be made to travel toward the traveling passage T. This stacker crane 5 has a traveling passage T
When traveling on the right and left sides, the wheels 13 are movably mounted on and supported by the traveling rails 12 installed in a state substantially orthogonal to the shelf rails 7 and supported by the support frame 14 at the upper end portions. The guide rollers 15 on both sides are configured to be guided and supported along guide rails 16 provided on the storage rack 2. The stacker crane 5 is provided with a traveling electric motor 17, and the wheels 13 are rotationally driven by the driving force of the electric motor 17 so that the traveling rail 12 can travel. The traverser 6 is provided with a rail portion 18 and a guide rail 19 for guiding the stacker crane 5 to travel between a travel path end position in the travel passage T and a standby position mounted and supported on the traverser 6. Has been.

Although not described in detail, the transfer device 4 is provided such that it can be moved up and down by an electric motor based on a lift operation structure of a well-known structure, and transfers and stores an article in an arbitrary article storage section 1. It is configured so that the articles stored in the article storage unit 1 can be carried out. In addition, each storage rack 2 is provided with a power supply device on the rack side for supplying drive power to the stacker crane 5, and the stacker crane 5 is provided with A current collector is provided that receives power from the power feeding device while maintaining contact with the power feeding device.

The operation panel unit 25 is installed on the outer side of the traverser movement path in a fixed position.
In FIG. 5, a worker is configured to instruct work information, and a shelf control section (not shown) provided in each of the mobile storage shelves 2 and an operation panel section 23 are connected to each other, and an operation panel section 25 is connected. The electric motors of the mobile storage shelves 2 are controlled so that the traveling passage T is formed at the designated location. It should be noted that each of the movable storage shelves 2 is configured to automatically stop the movement at a predetermined stop position by detecting a detection plate previously installed on the floor surface at a position corresponding to the movement stop position by a photoelectric sensor. .

The traverser 6 and the stacker crane 5
Also, a control device as a control means for controlling the respective operations of the transfer device 4 is provided on the stacker crane 5 side, and the control information is wirelessly communicated between the operation panel section 25 and the control device by optical communication. It is configured to be transmitted by. That is, the operation panel unit 25 and the traverser 6 are communicated with each other by an optical communication device provided in the traverser 6 by an optical signal transmitted in the moving direction of the traverser 6, and the traverser 6 and the stacker crane 5 are communicated with each other. In the same manner, the optical communication devices provided in the respective spaces are configured to communicate with each other by an optical signal transmitted in the moving direction of the stacker crane 5. Based on the control information thus communicated, the traveling electric motor 1 mounted on the traverser 6
1 and the traveling electric motors 17 mounted on the stacker crane 5 are driven and controlled.

Although not shown, the traverser 6 is also provided with a photoelectric sensor for position detection similarly to the moving storage rack 2, and the movement stop corresponding to each traveling passage T designated by the operation panel section 25. At the position, the detection plate installed in advance at an appropriate place on the floor is automatically stopped at the stop position designated based on the detection information by the photoelectric sensor.

As shown in FIG. 3, the traverser 6 determines the presence or absence of the detectors 35 provided at the predetermined positions of the storage shelves 2 on the left and right sides of the storage shelves 2 side, thereby determining the traveling passage. A pair of reflective photoelectric sensors 36 for determining whether T is properly formed are provided, and the traveling rail 12 in the traveling passage T is located at an appropriate position corresponding to the wheels of the stacker crane 5. A distance-measuring optical sensor 37 for detecting whether or not there is is provided. Then, the control device confirms that each of the reflection type photoelectric sensors 36 respectively confirms the existence of the detection body 35 and that the distance measuring type optical sensor 37 confirms that the position of the traveling rail 12 is proper. The stacker crane 5 is configured to start traveling.

The shelf rail 7 and the traveling rail 12
Are formed in a continuous state, and are installed with the shelf rails 7 supported by the installation surface on the ground side, and the traveling rails 12 are installed and supported on the tops of the shelf rails 7. ing. Then, a moving operation in which the traveling rail 12 is moved to a support operation position for guiding and supporting the stacker crane 5 in the working state, and to a retracted position for retracting from the movement passage area of the storage rack 2 in the stored state. Means I are provided.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the traveling rail 12 is mounted on the lower surface of the supporting member 40 and is supported by the supporting wheels 40.
Is movably mounted and supported along the longitudinal direction thereof, and is configured to be positioned in the widthwise center of the traveling passage T in the working state. The moving operation means I is composed of the storage shelves 2 and 2 located on both sides of the traveling passage T and a link mechanism R pivotally linked to the traveling rails 12, respectively. The mechanism R is configured so that the traveling rails 12 are interlocked with each other as the storage shelves 2 and 2 are switched between the working state (see FIG. 5) and the storage state (see FIG. 6). ，
The maximum separation distance between the rail 2 and the traveling rail 12 is restricted to a set distance, and the storage shelves 2 and 2 are allowed to approach each other.

More specifically, the link mechanism R is constituted by a four-bar link mechanism in which four links 42 having substantially the same length are pivotally connected to each other by pivot pins 43. A pair of nodes at diagonal positions are provided for each storage rack 2, 2
Are rotatably and pivotally connected to the respective support frames 44 about the longitudinal axis. Also, the pivot pins 43 of the pair of nodes at other diagonal positions are inserted through the interchange elongated holes 45 (an example of the interchange portion) formed in the support member 40 along the rail longitudinal direction, and the pivot pins are supported. The link mechanism R and the support member 40, that is, the traveling rail 12 are relatively rotatable about the longitudinal axis while the pin 43 is movable along the rail longitudinal direction along the accommodation long hole 45. It is pivotally connected.

When the storage shelves 2 and 2 on both sides are moved in the separating direction so as to form the traveling passage T so that the storage shelves 2 and 2 can be switched to the working state, the traveling rail 12 is correspondingly moved to the storage rails 2 and 2. While maintaining the state of being positioned in the middle in the width direction, it moves in an interlocking manner along the shelf moving direction. Then, when the working state in which the predetermined traveling passage T is formed is switched to, the pivot pins 43 move in a direction in which they approach each other, reach the end of the interchange long hole 45, and further move. The maximum separation distance between the storage shelves 2 and 2 and the traveling rail 12 is regulated, and the traveling rail 12 is regulated to the supporting action position.

When the storage shelves 2 and 2 are switched from the working state to the storage state, the pivot pins 43 move in a direction in which they are separated from each other, and the storage shelves 2 and 2 move closer to each other. Is allowed, and accordingly the traveling rail 12
Is retracted from the supporting action position and is switched to the retracted state, each pivot pin 43 approaches the end on the opposite side of the interchange long hole 45, and the traveling rail 12 moves to the retracted position. . A rolling roller is provided at a sliding position between the pivot pin 43 and the interchange long hole 45 in order to reduce sliding contact resistance.

[Other Embodiments] (1) In the above-described embodiment, as an example of the interchangeable portion, a case where a long hole for allowing the pivot pin 43 to slide relative to the traveling rail 12 is formed. As an example, instead of such a configuration, the pivot pin is provided on the traveling rail 12 in a positionally fixed state, and the traveling rail 12 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the rail with respect to the support member on which the rolling wheels are supported. A sliding portion is configured so as to be slidable relative to each other so as to be slidable together to form an interchange portion, and the traveling rail 12 is moved along with the switching movement of the storage shelves.
May be configured to slide in the longitudinal direction.

(2) In the above embodiment, the moving operation means I
As a configuration, the storage shelves 2 and 2 and the traveling rail 12 are pivotally connected to each other through a four-bar linkage, but instead of such a configuration, the following configuration may be adopted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the traveling rail 12
Is attached and fixed to a support member 40 on which a rolling wheel 41 rolling on the shelf rail 7 is supported, and is movably mounted and supported on the shelf rail 7. A hydraulic cylinder 47, which is an example of the expansion / contraction operation mechanism S, is provided between the frame body 44 of one of the storage shelves 2 and 2 and the expansion / contraction operation of the hydraulic cylinder 47. Alternatively, the traveling rail 12 may be configured to move between the support working position and the retracted position. or,
Instead of the hydraulic cylinder, various actuators such as an electric cylinder composed of an electric motor and a screw feed mechanism may be used.

(3) As the extension / contraction operation mechanism S, instead of the configuration using the actuator for extension / contraction operation as described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, a space between the storage rack 2 and the traveling rail 12 is provided. In addition, the coil spring 48, on which the separating operation force acts in the direction of separating them, may be provided, and the restricting member 49 may be configured to restrict further movement at the set separating position. In this case, when the storage state is switched to, the traveling rail 12 moves closer to the storage shelf against the spring force of the coil spring 48 by the movement operation force of the storage shelf 2.

(4) Further, the moving operation means I may have the following configuration. Left and right storage shelves 2, 2
For the frame body 44 of one of the storage shelves 2,
A state in which the traveling rails 12 are connected via a support arm in a state of being separated by a set distance corresponding to the supporting action position, and the traveling rails 12 are placed and supported on the shelf rails 7, and a retracted state in which a set amount is increased. An elevating hydraulic cylinder for vertically swinging and raising and lowering the support arm is provided for the purpose of raising and lowering the traveling arm, and further, when the traveling rail 12 is stored and moved in the retracted state in the storage rack on the opposite side, this traveling is performed. It is also possible to form a retreat space into which the use rail 12 can enter and retract.

(5) In the above-described embodiment, the traveling rail 12 is movably mounted and supported on the shelf rail 7 via the supporting member on which the rolling wheels are supported. The rail 12 for use may be directly placed on the shelf rail 7 and supported, and the movement operation means I may be slidably moved.

(6) In the above embodiment, one traveling rail is provided in the center of the traveling passage. However, instead of such a constitution, a plurality of traveling rails are provided in the traveling passage. Good.

It should be noted that reference numerals are added to the claims for facilitating the comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1] Perspective view of storage facility

FIG. 2 is a front view of the traveling device.

[Figure 3] Plan view of storage facility

FIG. 4 is a front view of a link mechanism arrangement portion.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a link mechanism installation portion in a working state.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the link mechanism mounting portion in a stored state.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a moving operation means according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a moving operation means according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Item Storage Section 2 Storage Shelf 4 Transfer Device 5 Traveling Device 7 Shelf Support Rail 12 Traveling Rail 45 Interchange Section I Moving Operation Means R Link Mechanism S Expansion / contraction Operating Mechanism

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of storage shelves (2), each of which is provided with a plurality of article storage sections (1), are provided in a lined state, and articles are stored in the article storage sections (1). A traveling device (5) including a transfer device (4) for loading and unloading is provided, and the storage rack (2) is supported by a plurality of rack support rails (7) under the load thereof. A work state for carrying in and out, which is configured to be movable along the arranging direction and forms a traveling passage of the traveling device (5) between the adjacent storage shelves (2), and an adjacent storage shelf (2). ) Can be switched to a storage state in which they are brought close to each other, and the traveling device (5) applies a load to a traveling rail (12) that intersects the shelf supporting rail (7) in the traveling passage. A storage facility provided so as to be movable and run in a supported state, the shelf supporting rail being 7) and the running rail (1
2) is formed in a continuous state, and is installed in a state where the shelf supporting rail (7) is supported on the installation surface on the ground side, and the traveling rail (12) is the shelf supporting rail. It is installed in a state of being placed and supported on the upper part of (7), and the traveling rail (12) is moved to a supporting action position for guiding and supporting the traveling device (5) in the working state, and The storage shelves (2) in the stored state
A storage facility equipped with a movement operation means (I) for moving to a retreat position for retreating from the movement passage area. 2. The moving operation means (I) is composed of a telescopic operation mechanism (S) for moving the traveling rail (12) toward or away from the storage rack (2). Storage facility described in 1. 3. The expansion / contraction operation mechanism (S) moves the traveling rail (12) toward or away from the storage rack (2) by a movement operation force of the storage rack (2). The storage facility according to claim 2. 4. The traveling rail (12) is configured so as to be positioned at the center in the width direction of the traveling passage in the working state, and the movement operating means (I) is provided on both sides of the traveling passage. Each storage rack (2) located,
(2) and a link mechanism (R) pivotally linked to each of the traveling rails (12), the link mechanism (R) is configured such that the storage rack (2) is in the working state. The traveling rail (12) is configured to move in conjunction with the switching to the storage state, and the storage shelves (2),
The maximum separation distance between (2) and the traveling rail (12) is regulated to a set distance, and the approach movement of each of the storage shelves (2) and (2) is allowed. The storage facility according to claim 1, which is provided. 5. The link mechanism (R) is composed of a four-bar link mechanism in which four links are pivotally connected to each other, and a pair of nodes at diagonal positions of the link mechanism (R),
The storage racks (2), (2) are pivotally connected to each other, and a pair of nodes at other diagonal positions respectively travel through the interchangeable portion (45) formed along the rail longitudinal direction. The storage facility according to claim 4, wherein the storage facility is configured so as to be pivotally connected to the rail for use (12).