JPH10203612A - Movable rack equipment with safety device in passage - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform detection of foreign matter infiltrated in a passage by a wide range so as to perform the detection without faulty operation though using a contactless system. SOLUTION: In an outward lower part of both surfaces in a running direction of a movable rack 2, by providing a photoelectric switch, not only a worker but also foreign matter in small/large size can be detected in a wide range by a contactless system. Even when the movable rack 2 is long in a cross direction, by a set of projector 22 and light receiver 23, an optical axis 24 of long distance can be formed. At running time in a forward direction of the movable rack 2, by the photoelectric switch in a forward direction side, at running time in a return direction, by the photoelectric switch in a return direction side, foreign matter can be detected. By setting an emitting direction of light of the optical axis 24 in a reverse direction to each other, of the adjacent movable racks 2, from the projector 22 of one movable rack 2, even when emitted light is spread, faulty detection, such that the light can be received by the light receiver 23 of the other movable rack 2, can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a movable shelf facility installed in, for example, a narrow space in a warehouse, and to a non-contact type movable shelf facility with a safety device in a passage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of movable shelf equipment, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-132009 is known. That is, a photoelectric switch that forms an optical axis in a lateral direction along this surface is provided outside the opposing surfaces of the plurality of movable shelves. These photoelectric switches are mounted at substantially the middle positions of the movable shelves in the vertical direction.

According to this, when the movable shelf is moved while the worker is in the work passage, the optical axis of the photoelectric switch is blocked by the worker before the movable shelf comes into contact with the worker. And the movable shelf is brought to an emergency stop by this detection.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional type, since the photoelectric switch is provided only on one surface side of the movable shelf in the traveling direction, the other surface on which the photoelectric switch is not provided has a work passage. When the movable shelf is moved so as to fill the gap, the movable shelf may come into contact with and collide with a worker in the work passage.

[0005] Also, since the photoelectric switch is mounted at a substantially middle position in the vertical direction of each movable shelf, the level from the floor to the optical axis is high. Therefore, for example, a small article may accidentally fall on the floor when loading or unloading a load, and if the small article is at a low level, it may not be detected by the photoelectric switch. On the other hand, it can be detected by another object detection device provided at the lower part of the movable shelf, but since this other object detection device is a contact type, the structure becomes complicated and expensive.

Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a non-contact type passage capable of detecting in a wide range from a small one to a large one that has penetrated into the passage and detecting the passage without malfunction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a movable shelf facility with an internal safety device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, a movable shelf with a safety device in a passage according to the present invention reciprocates on a fixed path via traveling wheels. A plurality of free movable shelves are provided, and a drive device and a control panel are provided on these movable shelves in conjunction with the traveling wheels. A photoelectric switch that forms an optical axis in the lateral direction is provided, and the photoelectric switch is configured by a light projector that emits light and a light receiver that receives the emitted light, and on the opposing surfaces of the adjacent movable shelves, The radiation direction of light of the optical axis formed on the outer lower part of one surface and the light radiation direction of the optical axis formed on the outer lower part of the other surface are set to be opposite to each other. It was done.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the photoelectric switches are provided at the outer lower portions on both sides in the traveling direction of the movable shelf, not only the worker who has entered the passage but also small foreign objects to large foreign objects. It is possible to detect by a non-contact method in a wide range up to. Therefore, when the movable shelf is moved in a state where a foreign object has entered the work passage, the optical axis of the photoelectric switch is blocked by the foreign object before the movable shelf comes into contact with the foreign object. The drive unit can be stopped and braked via the control panel to emergency stop the movable shelf. Moreover, since the photoelectric switch is composed of a light emitter and a light receiver, even if the movable shelf is long in the horizontal direction (that is, in the width direction), a long distance optical axis is formed by one set of the light emitter and the light receiver. I can do it.

Further, when the movable shelf is traveling in the forward direction, foreign substances can be detected by the photoelectric switch in the forward direction, and when the movable shelf is traveling in the backward direction, the photoelectric switch in the backward direction can be detected. Can be used to detect foreign matter. Moreover, by setting the light emission directions of the optical axes to be opposite to each other, even if the light emitted from the projector of one of the movable shelves spreads out of the adjacent movable shelves, the other movable shelves opposed to the light can be spread. It is possible to prevent erroneous detection such as reception by the light receiver on the shelf.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the movable shelf facility with a safety device in a passage according to the first aspect, each movable shelf is provided on a lower frame body and on the lower frame body. A plurality of traveling wheels and a stopper protruding in the traveling direction of the movable shelf are mounted on the lower frame body, and the stopper body is mounted on both side ends of the lower frame body, and the photoelectric switch is mounted on the lower frame body. The stoppers are mounted at positions closer to the lower frame than the ends of the stoppers.

Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the photoelectric switch is mounted at a position closer to the lower frame than the tip of the stopper body, adjacent movable shelves abnormally approach due to some operation error or trouble. In this case, since the stopper body of one movable shelf contacts the other movable shelf side, the photoelectric switch is protected by the stopper body and does not contact the opposing movable shelf. Therefore, damage of the photoelectric switch of each movable shelf can be prevented.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
Description will be made based on the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a pair of front and rear fixed shelves, and a plurality of movable shelves 2 which can reciprocate in the direction between the fixed shelves are arranged between the fixed shelves 1. Each movable shelf 2 is composed of a lower frame 3 and a shelf 4 installed on the lower frame 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower frame 3
Are located on the left and right sides with respect to the traveling direction of the movable shelf 2, the lower intermediate frames 7 located on the inner side, and the lower lower frames 5 and 6 and The connection member 8 is connected to form a square frame. Incidentally, a square pipe material is used for the connecting member 8. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the side lower frames 5 and 6 and the intermediate lower frame 7 are respectively formed by a pair of side plate portions 11 and an upper plate portion 12 continuously provided between upper ends of both side plate portions 11. , Is formed in a gate shape with an open bottom surface.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower side frames 5, 6
A pair of front and rear running wheels 13 are provided in the middle lower frame 7, and the running wheels 13 run on a plurality of rails 15 laid on a floor 14. A motor 16 (an example of a driving device) that is linked to the traveling wheels 13 is attached to the intermediate lower frame 7. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the movable shelf 2 is provided with a control panel 17 for controlling the drive of the motor 16.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the entire length of the lower side frames 5, 6 is formed to be longer than the entire length of the intermediate lower frame 7, so that the front ends of the lower side frames 5, 6 are connected to the intermediate lower frame. 7 protrudes forward from the front end by a certain length, and the rear ends of the side lower frames 5 and 6
Projecting a certain length behind the rear end.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, both front and rear end surfaces of the lower side frames 5 and 6 are covered with end cover plates 18, respectively. That is, these end cover plates 18 are inserted between the front and rear ends of the pair of side plates 11 of the lower side frames 5 and 6 and are attached by bolts. As shown in FIG. 6, the lower portions of the end cover plates 18 project below the lower surfaces of the side lower frames 5 and 6, respectively.

A cylindrical stopper body 19 made of rubber is provided above the front and rear ends of the lower side frames 5 and 6. Brackets 20 are mounted between the side plates 11 of the lower frames 5 and 6 and inside the end cover plate 18. The stoppers 19 are mounted on the brackets 20. The tip of the stopper body 19 protrudes from the through hole 21 formed in the end cover plate 18 in the traveling direction of the movable shelf 2 (front-back direction).

As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the back surface of the lower part of the end cover plate 18 provided at one of the front and rear ends of the one side lower frame 5 (ie, inside the lower side frame 5). , A light projector 22 is attached. Light receivers 23 are attached to the lower back surface of the end cover plate 18 provided at the front and rear other end portions (that is, inside the lower side frame 5).

Further, a photodetector 23 is attached to the lower back surface of the lower end cover plate 18 provided at the front and rear ends of the lower side frame 6 on the other side (ie, inside the lower side frame 6). . Further, the lower surface of the lower portion of the end cover plate 18 provided at the other front and rear ends (that is, the inside of the lower side frame 6)
, Light projectors 22 are respectively mounted.

The wirings of the light projector 22 and the light receiver 23 are connected to the control panel 17 from the lower frames 5, 6 through the inside of the connecting member 8, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the light emitting portion of the light projector 22 is located below the lower surfaces of the lower side frames 5 and 6, and the light receiving portion of the light receiver 23 is also lower than the lower surfaces of the lower side frames 5 and 6. It is located below. The light projector 22 and the light receiver 23 are examples of a photoelectric switch.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, light is emitted from the light projector 22 at one end of the lower frame 5 on one side to the light receiver 23 at one end of the lower frame 6 on the other side. An optical axis 24 is formed between the light projector 22 and the light receiver 23. Similarly, light is emitted from the light emitter 22 at the other end of the lower side frame 6 on the other side to the light receiver 23 at the other end of the lower side frame 5 on one side. An optical axis 24 is formed therebetween.

Also, due to the difference in the total length of the lower frames 5 and 6 on the both sides and the intermediate lower frame 7, the two optical axes 24
Pass through the outside of the middle lower frame 7 and the outside of the connecting member 8 located at the front and rear ends. Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the optical axis 24 is set at a position below the stopper body 19 and closer to the inside of the lower frame body 3 than the tip end surface of the stopper body 19. . That is, the photoelectric switch forms a horizontal optical axis 24 along the one surface below the lower surface of the connecting member 8 and outside the outer surface.

As shown in FIG. 1, adjacent movable shelves 2
In (2), the radiation direction (b) of the light forming the optical axis 24 of one movable shelf 2 and the radiation direction (b) of the light forming the optical axis 24 of the other movable shelf 2 opposed thereto Are set in opposite directions. That is, the optical axis 24 formed on the outer lower part of one of the opposing surfaces of the adjacent movable shelf 2
The light emission direction (a) and the light emission direction (b) of the optical axis 24 formed at the outer lower part of the other surface are set to be opposite to each other.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower frame 3
On the upper part, the shelf 4 is placed and fixed by bolts. A plurality of compartments 25 are formed in the shelf 4 in the vertical and horizontal directions.

The fixed shelf 1 is composed of a lower frame 28 mounted and fixed on the floor 14 and a shelf 29 installed on the lower frame 28. A plurality of compartments 30 are formed in the shelf 29 in the vertical and horizontal directions.

The operation of the above embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, one or a plurality of movable shelves 2 travel on a fixed path 31 to form a work passage 32 in front of a target movable shelf 2. A load can be put in and taken out of the target compartment storage space 25. At that time, if the movable shelf 2 moves while the worker is in the work passage 32, first, before the movable shelf 2 comes into contact with the worker, the light from the projector 22 to the light receiver 23 is The optical axis 24 is interrupted by the worker, whereby the worker is detected and a stop signal is given to the control panel 17, the motor 16 is stopped and the brake is applied, and the movable shelf 2 is brought to an emergency stop.

In such a detection, the light projector 22 and the light receiver 23 of the photoelectric switch are moved downward along the surface of the movable shelf 2 with respect to the lower surface of the connecting member 8 and outward with respect to the outer surface. Since they are attached to the front and rear ends of the side lower frames 5 and 6 so as to form the optical axis 24,
As shown in FIG. 5, the optical axis 24 is set at a low level from the floor 14. Therefore, not only the worker, but also a small foreign matter that has fallen into the work passage 32 from the shelf 4 can be detected in a non-contact manner. As described above, since it is possible to detect a wide range of small foreign substances to large foreign substances, the safety in the working passage 32 is increased.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the optical axis 24 is formed on each of the front and rear sides of the movable shelf 2, so that when the movable shelf 2 is traveling in the forward direction A, Optical axis 24
When the movable shelf 2 is traveling in the backward direction B, the foreign matter can be detected by the optical axis 24 on the backward direction B side. As described above, foreign matters can be detected on both front and rear sides of the movable shelf 2, so that the safety in the work passage 32 is further increased.

Further, when the adjacent movable shelves 2 approach each other abnormally due to some operation error or trouble, the stopper 19 of one movable shelf 2 and the stopper 19 of the other movable shelf 2 come into contact with each other. Emitter 22 and receiver
The stopper 23 is protected by these stopper members 19 and does not contact the opposing movable shelf 2. Thereby, each movable shelf 2
Of the light emitter 22 and the light receiver 23 can be prevented.

Further, by using the light projector 22 and the light receiver 23 as the photoelectric switch, even if the movable shelf 2 is long in the horizontal direction (that is, in the width direction), the one set of the light projector 22 and the light receiver 23 becomes longer. A distance optical axis 24 can be formed. Therefore, foreign substances can be detected by the small number of light emitters 22 and light receivers 23, so that cost reduction can be realized.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the radiation direction (a) of the light forming the optical axis 24 of one adjacent movable shelf 2 and the optical axis 24 of the other movable shelf 2 opposed thereto are formed. Is set in the opposite direction to the direction of light emission (b)
The erroneous detection that the light emitted from the light projector 22 of one movable shelf 2 is received by the light receiver 23 of the other movable shelf 2 is prevented.

In the above embodiment, each movable shelf 2
May be provided with a display lamp or a buzzer, and when a foreign substance is detected, the display lamp is turned on or the buzzer sounds. 6, an emblem 33 or a seal for indicating that the optical axis 24 is formed may be attached to the front end face and the rear end face of the lower frame body 3.

[0033]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the photoelectric switches are provided at the outer lower portions on both sides in the traveling direction of the movable shelf, not only the worker who has entered the passage but also a small foreign object is provided. Non-contact detection is possible in a wide range from large to large foreign substances, thereby increasing the safety in the working passage. Moreover, since the photoelectric switch is composed of a light emitter and a light receiver, even if the movable shelf is long in the horizontal direction (that is, in the width direction), a long distance optical axis is formed by one set of the light emitter and the light receiver. As a result, foreign substances can be detected with a small number of light emitters and light receivers, so that cost reduction can be realized.

Further, when the movable shelf is traveling in the forward direction, foreign substances can be detected by the photoelectric switch in the forward direction, and when the movable shelf is traveling in the backward direction, the foreign substance switch can be detected by the photoelectric switch in the backward direction. Foreign matter can be detected. As described above, foreign objects can be detected on both sides of the movable shelf in the traveling direction, so that the safety in the work passage is further increased. Moreover, by setting the radiation directions of the light of the optical axis to be opposite to each other, even if the light emitted from the projector of one of the movable shelves spreads out of the adjacent movable shelves, the other movable shelf opposes the other. Erroneous detection, such as being received by a photodetector, can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention,
When the adjacent movable shelves abnormally approach each other due to some operation mistake or trouble, the stopper body of one movable shelf comes into contact with the other movable shelf side, so that the photoelectric switch is protected by the stopper body, and the opposing movable shelf is protected. Never touch. Therefore, damage of the photoelectric switch of each movable shelf can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of an embodiment of the present invention and is a plan view of a movable shelf facility with a safety device in a passage.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the movable shelf facility with a safety device in the passage.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a lower frame body in the movable shelf facility with a safety device in the passage.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway enlarged view of one of front and rear ends of a lower frame body in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 4;

6 is a view taken in the direction of arrows BB in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Movable shelf 3 Lower frame body 4 Shelf 13 Wheels for traveling 16 Motor (drive device) 17 Control panel 19 Stopper body 22 Projector (photoelectric switch) 23 Receiver (photoelectric switch) 24 Optical axis 31 Constant path 32 Work path Radiation direction b Radiation direction

Claims (2)

[Claims] A plurality of movable shelves capable of reciprocatingly traveling on a fixed path via traveling wheels; and a driving device and a control panel interlocked with the traveling wheels provided on the movable shelves. A photoelectric switch that forms an optical axis in a lateral direction along this surface is provided on each of the outer lower portions on both sides in the traveling direction of the shelf, and the photoelectric switch is formed by a light emitting device that emits light and a light receiving device that receives the emitted light. In the opposing surfaces of the adjacent movable shelves, the light emitting direction of the optical axis formed on the outer lower portion of one surface and the optical axis formed on the outer lower portion of the other surface The movable shelves with the safety device in the passage, wherein the directions of the light emission are set to be opposite to each other. 2. Each of the movable shelves is composed of a lower frame body and a shelf provided on the lower frame body, and the lower frame body has a plurality of traveling wheels and protrudes in the traveling direction of the movable shelf. 2. The stopper according to claim 1, wherein said stopper is mounted on both side ends of said lower frame, and said photoelectric switch is mounted at a position closer to a lower frame than a tip of said stopper. Movable shelves with safety devices in the aisles.