JPH107210A - Automatic storing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the operating efficiency by precisely perceiving the time of replacement of a collector ring so as to minimize the number of count of stoppage of operation. SOLUTION: A sprocket 7, which is pivotally supported by a truck 4, is engaged with an engagement guiding member 9, which is installed along a conductive rail, so that the amount of rotation of the sprocket 7 is detected by a pulse generator 10. Based on the amount of rotation detected, a travel distance of the truck 4 is obtained by a first controller 12. When this travel distance reaches a value set in advance, a warning is given to an operation panel 16 via a second controller 15, thereby informing a person in charge that the collecting ring has been worn out to the limit of replacement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for moving a movable body to the side of a storage shelf and transferring goods between the two, by operating a delivery means provided on the movable body or the storage shelf or both of them. The present invention relates to an improvement in an automatic storage device that automatically transfers articles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an automatic storage device of this type, a mast is erected on a stacker crane as described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 3-118999, and a lifting table is moved along a predetermined position along the mast. Up and down to the side of the rack,
2. Description of the Related Art There is known an automatic warehouse in which a slide fork provided on the lift table is operated to extend and retract to automatically transfer articles between the lift table and a rack. The delivery of goods in this automatic warehouse is performed by expanding and contracting the slide fork by driving a motor. The procedure for supplying electric power to the motor is to provide a conductive rail on the mast and to collect current (contacts). Is provided on the elevating table, and the current collector is always slid on the conductive rail with the elevating operation of the elevating table, so that electric power is externally supplied to the motor.

[0003] As another automatic storage device, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-89610, a trolley is moved to a predetermined storage shelf side along a transport path, and the trolley and the storage shelf are moved. There is known a mechanical parking device in which a conveyor provided in both of them is operated to automatically transfer a vehicle between a cart and a storage shelf. Vehicle delivery in this mechanical parking device is performed by operating the conveyor by driving a motor, and the procedure for supplying power to the motor is to extend a power supply line along the transport path and collect the power. Electrons are provided on the truck, and the current collector is constantly slid on the power supply line with the traveling operation of the truck, so that electric power is externally supplied to the motor.

[0004]

By the way, in the automatic storage device as described above, the current collector always slides on the conductive rail or the power supply line with the movement of the lifting platform or the trolley. It wears out gradually, and when the wear becomes severe, it is necessary to replace it with a new collector. The current practice is that the managers have been replaced by visual inspections periodically at certain intervals based on their experience.

However, the wear amount of the current collector naturally varies depending on the difference in the frequency of use of the automatic storage device, that is, the number of times of delivery of articles and the number of times of entry and exit, so the manager has much experience. Nevertheless, it is difficult to grasp accurately, and therefore it is necessary to increase the number of inspections.

[0006] In addition, the fact that the number of inspections increases,
In the inspection, the operation of the apparatus must be stopped to stop the power supply, so that the operation efficiency is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to accurately detect the time to replace a current collector and to reduce the number of operation stoppages for inspection to the minimum necessary for operation. The goal is to increase efficiency.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention monitors the sliding distance or sliding time of a current collector instead of a visual check by an administrator to reduce the amount of wear of the current collector. Is accurately grasped.

More specifically, the present invention includes a moving body that moves on a conveyance path on which a number of storage shelves are arranged side by side and transfers articles to and from the storage shelves. The present invention is directed to an automatic storage device in which the provided current collector is slid on a conductive rail provided along the transport path to supply power required for article transfer between the storage shelf and a moving body. The following solutions were taken.

That is, a first solution of the present invention is to provide a wear amount detecting means for detecting the wear amount of the current collector.
Further, there is provided an accumulating means for accumulating output values of the wear amount detecting means and outputting a set value reaching signal when the accumulated value reaches a preset set value. Further, an alarming means is provided for receiving a set value reaching signal of the accumulating means and issuing an alarm.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a moving distance detecting means for detecting a moving distance of the moving body is employed as the wear amount detecting means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, a rotating body rotatably supported by the moving body is provided as the moving distance detecting means, and the rotating body is engaged with the rotating body. Then, an engagement guide member that is rotationally guided with the movement of the moving body is provided along the conductive rail. Further, a rotation amount detector for detecting the rotation amount of the rotating body is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the moving distance detecting means includes a storage shelf position corresponding to the current position of the moving object and a storage shelf position corresponding to the arrival destination. The difference between the numbers is obtained, and the moving distance is obtained by the product of the difference and the parallel pitch of the storage shelves.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a moving time detecting means for detecting a moving time of the moving body is used as the wear amount detecting means.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a moving time detecting means for detecting a moving time of the moving body is used as the wear amount detecting means. Then, the output value of the traveling time detecting means is accumulated by the accumulating means,
A product of the accumulated value and the average speed of the moving object is obtained, and when the integrated value reaches a preset set value, a set value reaching signal is output.

With the above arrangement, in the first to sixth solutions of the present invention, when the wear amount of the current collector reaches a certain amount, an alarm is issued and the manager replaces the current collector. The wear amount of the current collector is estimated from the moving distance of the moving body in the second to fourth solving means, and is estimated from the moving time of the moving body in the fifth and sixth solving means.

Therefore, the replacement time can be accurately detected as compared with the case of relying on the experience of the manager, and the number of inspections, that is, the number of operation stoppages of the apparatus is reduced to a necessary minimum, thereby improving the operation efficiency.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 8 shows a mechanical parking device as an automatic storage device. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 1 denotes a transport path provided in, for example, a basement parking section, and a large number of storage shelves 2, 2,...
On the transport path 1, two traveling rails 3, 3 are laid along the entire length of the transport path 1, and a carriage 4 as a moving body is mounted on the travel rails 3, 3, and the transport path 1 Travels to the side of the predetermined storage shelf 2 and the vehicle M
The vehicle M is delivered and received.

As shown in FIG. 2, one conductive rail 5 is laid along one side of the transport path 1 along the entire length of the transport path 1. On the other hand, the trolley 4 is provided with a current collector 6. The current collector 6 always slides on the conductive rail 5 and slides on the conductive rail 5 as the trolley 4 moves. The power required for the delivery of the vehicle M between the current collector and the vehicle is taken in from the current collector 6 and supplied to the carriage 4. The electric power supplied to the cart 4 is supplied not only to a power source for running the cart 4 itself, but also to a conveyor or a telescopic fork (not shown) as a delivery means provided on the cart 4 or the storage shelf 2 or both. It is used as a power source for operation, and supplies power to a motor as this power source to drive the motor, so that the vehicle M is automatically transferred between the cart 4 and the storage shelf 2. .

In the mechanical parking device thus configured, in the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
The carriage 4 has a sprocket 7 as a rotating body and a shaft 8.
On the other hand, the transport path 1 is provided with a rail-like elongated engagement guide member 9 along the conductive rail 5 over the entire length of the transport path 1. A large number of engagement holes 9a, 9a,... Are formed in the engagement guide member 9 at a predetermined pitch.
are engaged with the respective engaging holes 9a and are guided to rotate as the carriage 4 moves. Thereby, the moving distance of the carriage 4 is accurately converted into the rotation amount of the sprocket 7.

A pulse generator 10 as a rotation amount detector is connected to the shaft 8 of the sprocket 7, and a pulse signal is output from the pulse generator 10 in accordance with the moving distance of the bogie 4. That is, the pulse generator 10 detects the rotation amount of the sprocket 7, that is, the movement amount of the bogie 4. Therefore, the above-mentioned sprocket 7, engagement guide member 9
The pulse generator 10 constitutes a moving distance detecting means for detecting the moving distance of the cart 4. Trolley 4
The movement distance of the current collector 6 corresponds to the sliding amount and the sliding time of the current collector 6 sliding on the conductive rail 5. Therefore, the wear amount of the current collector 6 increases as the moving distance of the truck 4 increases. For example, the moving distance detecting means may include a current collector 6
It can be said that it is a wear amount detecting means for detecting the wear amount of the above.

The pulse generator 10 has a counter 1
1, the counter 11 counts pulse signals output from the pulse generator 10. Further, the counter 11 is connected to a first controller 12 as an accumulating means.
2 is set to read the data of the counter 11 periodically and accumulate it, and when the accumulated value (traveling distance) L reaches a preset value (a value obtained by multiplying the current collecting life distance L1 by the safety factor k). A value arrival signal is output from the first optical communication device 13 to the second controller 15 via the second optical communication device 14.

The counter 11, the first controller 12, and the first optical communication device 13 are provided on the carriage 4, while the second optical communication device 14 and the second controller 15 are provided on a transport path. The wall 17 that is the fixed side of the back
, And signals are exchanged between the two while the carriage 4 is running.

Further, the second controller 15 is connected to an operation panel 16 as alarm means provided on a fixed side, and outputs an alarm output signal to the operation panel 16 upon receiving the set value reaching signal of the first controller 12. And issue an alarm. Then, the manager confirms this alarm and replaces the worn current collector 6 with a new current collector 6. At this time, the manager operates the operation panel 16 and inputs to the second controller 15 that the current collector 6 has been replaced. The second controller 15 outputs the current collecting exchange signal from the second optical communication device 14 to the first controller 12 via the first optical communication device 13, and the first controller 12 receiving the current collecting exchange signal outputs The data of the total value (traveling distance) L of the data counted by 11 is cleared to zero, that is, cleared.

Next, the timing setting for exchanging the current collector 6 in the mechanical parking device configured as described above will be specifically described with reference to the control flowcharts of FIGS.

At the time of loading and unloading, the carriage 4 travels on the transport path 1.
At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the first controller 12
The data of the first optical communication device 13 is read (step S
1) It is determined whether or not a command to clear the data of the total value (travel distance) L of the counter 11 has been issued (step S).
2). If this determination is NO, it is considered that the current collector 6 has not worn much and the replacement time has not come, and
The pulse signal of the pulse generator 10 output according to the rotation of the sprocket 7, that is, according to the traveling distance of the bogie 4, is counted by the counter 11, and the counted value (count value) is obtained.
Are read into the first controller 12 and totalized (steps S3 and S4). It is determined whether or not the accumulated value (traveling distance) L is larger than a preset value (a value obtained by multiplying the current collecting life distance L1 by the safety factor k) (step S5).
If the determination is YES, it is considered that the current collector 6 has worn out and the replacement time has come, and an alarm signal is output to the first optical communication device 13 (step S6). If this determination is NO, it is considered that the current collector 6 is not so worn and the replacement time has not come, and the process returns to step S1. On the other hand, if the determination in step S2 is YES, it is considered that the current collector 6 has worn out and the replacement time has come, and after the accumulated value (traveling distance) L of the counter 11 has been cleared (step S7), the second
The warning signal of the current collector exchange time is turned off to the optical communication device 14 (step S8).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the second controller 15 reads the data of the operation panel 16 (step S9), and determines whether or not the exchange of the current collector 6 has been completed (step S10). If the determination is NO, the current collector 6
Is not so worn and the exchange time has not come, the data of the second optical communication device 14 is read (step S11), and then it is determined whether or not the current collector exchange time alarm has been issued (step S11). Step S12). This judgment is Y
In the case of ES, it is considered that the current collector 6 has worn out and the replacement time has come, and an alarm signal of the current collector replacement time is output to the operation panel 16 (step S13). If this determination is NO, it is considered that the current collector 6 is not so worn and the replacement time has not come, and the process returns to step S9. On the other hand, if the determination in step S10 is YES, the warning signal to the operation panel 16 at the current collector exchange time is turned off (step S1).
4).

As described above, in this embodiment, since the replacement time of the current collector 6 is controlled based on the rotation amount of the sprocket 7, the rotation amount of the sprocket 7 accurately corresponds to the traveling distance of the truck 4. The wear amount of the current collector 6 can be controlled with high accuracy, so that the timing of replacement can be accurately detected as compared with the case of relying on the experience of a manager. Operational efficiency can be improved by minimizing it.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 5 and 6 show a control block and a control flowchart of a mechanical parking device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Since the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment except that it is measured and input to the counter 11, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Note that the above control flowchart is as follows:
In the first embodiment, the control flowchart of the control device provided on the truck shown in FIG. 3 is used, and the control flowchart of the control device provided on the transport path side is the same as FIG. 4 shown in the first embodiment. Shall be substituted.

That is, in the present embodiment, the replacement time of the current collector 6 is managed not by the traveling distance of the truck 4 but by the traveling time of the truck 4. The output value of the timer 18 as a detecting means is accumulated, the product of the accumulated value (running time) T and the average speed V of the bogie 4 is obtained, and the integrated value T × V is set to a preset value (collecting current). When the life distance L1 is multiplied by the safety factor k), a set value reaching signal is output.

Therefore, in this example, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

In this example, although the replacement time of the current collector 6 is controlled by the traveling time of the truck 4, the traveling distance obtained by multiplying the average speed V of the truck 4 is finally observed. The output value of the timer 18 is accumulated without using the average speed V of No. 4, and the accumulated value (running time) T is set to a preset value (a value obtained by multiplying the current collecting life time T1 by the safety factor k). When reaching, the first controller 12 may output a set value reaching signal. However, in terms of accuracy, the method using the above average speed V is superior to this method, and the method using the mileage according to the first embodiment is more excellent than these methods. In any case, it goes without saying that these methods are much better than the traditional ones that rely on the intuition of the caretaker.

(Embodiment 3) A mechanical parking device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is similar to Embodiment 1 in that
The amount of wear of the current collector 6 is controlled by the traveling distance of. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the difference in the number of shelves between the storage shelf position A corresponding to the current location of the cart 4 and the storage shelf position B corresponding to the arrival destination is determined, that is, the difference (B− The moving distance is obtained by the product of the difference (B-A) and the parallel pitch C of the storage shelves with A) as a count value. Therefore, in this example, the first embodiment
The sprocket 7, the engagement guide member 9 and the pulse generator 10 used in the above are unnecessary, and the structure can be simplified.

The other parts are the same as those of the first embodiment, so that the control blocks and the control flowchart are omitted. Therefore, also in this example, the same operation and effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

In each of the above-described examples, the mechanical parking device that transports the vehicle M on the carriage 4 and conveys it horizontally has been described. However, an elevator-type mechanical device that transports the vehicle M on an elevator and conveys it vertically. The present invention can be applied to a parking device or the like. Further, the article to be transported is not limited to the vehicle M, and may be any article that needs to be stored.
The automatic storage device is not limited to its name, and may be any storage device such as a warehouse.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The wear amount of the current collector provided on the moving body is detected by the wear amount detecting means, and the output values of the wear amount detecting means are accumulated. When the accumulated value reaches a preset set value, a set value reaching signal is outputted. Is output to the alarm means and an alarm is issued, so that the wear amount of the current collector can be known accurately without relying on visual inspection based on the experience of the manager, and the number of operation stoppages of the device is required by the appropriate number of inspections Operational efficiency can be improved by minimizing it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a mechanical parking device as an automatic storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a layout diagram showing a layout of a cart and control devices in a transport path.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart of a control device provided on a bogie side in the mechanical parking device as the automatic storage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart of a control device provided on a transport path side in the mechanical parking device as the automatic storage device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a mechanical parking device as an automatic storage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart of a control device provided on a bogie side in a mechanical parking device as an automatic storage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a mechanical parking device for explaining a procedure for obtaining a moving distance of a bogie in a mechanical parking device as an automatic storage device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the mechanical parking device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Conveyance path 2 Storage shelf 4 Dolly (moving body) 5 Conductive rail 6 Current collector 7 Sprocket (rotating body) 9 Engagement guide member 10 Pulse generator (rotation amount detector) 12 First controller (cumulative means) 16 Operation panel ( Alarm means) 18 Timer (moving time detecting means) M Vehicle (article)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A moving body that moves along a transport path on which a number of storage shelves are arranged side by side and transfers articles to and from the storage shelves. An automatic storage device that slides on a conductive rail provided along a transport path to supply electric power required for delivery of articles between the storage shelf and a moving body, wherein the wear amount of the current collector is reduced. Means for detecting the amount of wear, accumulating output values of the means for detecting wear, and outputting a set value reaching signal when the accumulated value reaches a preset set value. An automatic storage device comprising: a warning unit that receives a value arrival signal and issues a warning. 2. The automatic storage device according to claim 1, wherein the wear amount detecting means is a moving distance detecting means for detecting a moving distance of the moving body. 3. The moving distance detecting means is provided along a rotating body rotatably supported by the moving body and a conductive rail, and is engaged with the rotating body and guided to rotate as the moving body moves. The automatic storage device according to claim 2, further comprising: an engagement guide member that detects the rotation of the rotating body; and a rotation amount detector that detects a rotation amount of the rotating body. 4. The moving distance detecting means calculates a difference in the number of shelves between a storage shelf position corresponding to the current position of the moving object and a storage shelf position corresponding to the arrival destination, and calculates the difference and the parallel pitch of the storage shelves. 3. The automatic storage device according to claim 2, wherein the moving distance is obtained by the product of: 5. The automatic storage device according to claim 1, wherein the wear amount detecting means is a moving time detecting means for detecting a moving time of the moving body. 6. The wear amount detecting means is a moving time detecting means for detecting a moving time of the moving body, and the accumulating means accumulates an output value of the moving time detecting means,
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a product of the accumulated value and the average speed of the moving body is obtained, and a set value reaching signal is output when the integrated value reaches a preset set value. Automatic storage device.