JPH11165808A - Article delivery device for automatic storage and retrieval system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a delivery device wherein the standby time of an article on an auxiliary carrying means is minimized and it is not necessary to stop an entire main carrying means during transfer to the main carrying means. SOLUTION: A main carrying means is composed of an independent carrying part 6 independently driven in the same direction as that of a main carrying means 5 and a main carrying part 7 for carrying an article between independent carrying parts, an auxiliary carrying means 4 and the main carrying means 5 are usually placed in an operative state, and when the independent carrying part 6 is transferring an article or when an article is approaching the independent carrying part 6 from the main carrying part 7, the auxiliary carrying means 4 is stopped immediately before the article is transferred to the independent carrying part 6, and when the article is transferred from the auxiliary carrying means 4, the independent carrying part 6 is stopped and, when the article is approaching the independent carrying part 6 from the auxiliary carrying means 4, or during the transfer of the article from the auxiliary carrying means 4 to the independent carrying part 6, the main carrying part 7 is stopped immediately before the article is transferred to the independent carrying part 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an article unloading device in an automatic warehouse.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an article unloading device in an automatic warehouse, an article take-out means for reciprocating between rows of article storage shelves and taking out articles from the article storage shelves, and each article storage shelf are arranged. And an auxiliary transport means for transporting the articles taken out by the take-out means are generally used. Then, a self-propelled trolley is used as the main transport means, and the articles transported from each auxiliary transport means are transported to a predetermined location.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional unloading device, since the main transport means is a self-propelled trolley, even if articles are transported by the auxiliary transport means, an empty trolley arrives. , The goods must wait on the auxiliary transport means. As a result, the auxiliary transporting means stops, and the article take-out means stops accordingly, so that the unloading function in one article storage shelf stops, which is extremely inefficient. In order to solve this problem, an unloading device is used which connects each auxiliary transport means with a conveyor type main transport means orthogonal to the auxiliary transport means and transports the concentrated transport to a certain location. This system was also inefficient because the entire conveyor had to be stopped when transferring the garbage.

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventor of the present invention minimizes the standby time of articles on the auxiliary transport means and minimizes the time when articles are transferred from the auxiliary transport means to the main transport means. We have invented an unloading device that does not require stopping the entire main transfer means.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an article unloading apparatus in an automatic warehouse, wherein a plurality of rows of article storage shelves for storing articles and articles are reciprocated between the rows of the article storage shelves. An article taking-out means for taking out an article from a storage shelf;
A plurality of auxiliary transport means for transporting the articles taken out by each article take-out means, and a main transport means arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the auxiliary transport means at a respective end position of each auxiliary transport means; The main transport means comprises a main transport means for transferring the articles transported by the transport means from each auxiliary transport means and transporting the articles. An independent transport unit that is independently driven in the same direction, and a main transport unit that transports articles between the independent transport units. In each individual transport unit, the transport control unit usually includes an auxiliary transport unit and a main transport unit. The transport means should be in operation,
When the independent transport section is in a state of transferring the articles, or when the articles are approaching from the main transport section to the independent transport section, the auxiliary transport means is stopped immediately before transferring the articles to the independent transport section, and the auxiliary transport is performed. When the articles are transferred from the means, the independent transport section is stopped, and when the articles are approaching from the auxiliary transport section to the independent transport section, or when the articles are being transported from the auxiliary transport section to the independent transport section. Is designed to stop immediately before the main transport unit transports the article to the independent transport unit.

[0006] With the above construction, the articles taken out of the article storage shelf by the article take-out means are conveyed in the direction of the main conveyance means by the auxiliary conveyance means. At this time, the articles are placed on the independent conveyance section. If not, the article on the auxiliary transport means is transferred to the independent transport section, and the article is transported by the main transport section by driving the independent transport section. Conversely, when an article is placed on the independent transport section and is being transported, or when an article is approaching the independent transport section, the article on the auxiliary transport means has come to just before the independent transport section. At this point, the auxiliary transport means stops, and the article stands by on the auxiliary transport means. Then, when the article on the independent transport section moves and the system capable of receiving the article on the independent transport section is established, the independent transport section stops, and the article on the auxiliary transport section is transported as described above. Next, when the article of the main conveyance means approaches the independent conveyance section when the article is transferred from the auxiliary conveyance means to the independent conveyance section, the article of the main conveyance means is moved to the independent conveyance section only at this time. The main transport unit stops immediately before the main transport unit stops, and the main transport unit starts operating when the transfer from the auxiliary transport unit to the independent transport unit is completed. As described above, if there is room to place articles on the main transport means, it is possible to interrupt the articles on the auxiliary transport means and carry them out as if they were collected.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an article unloading device (1) in an automatic warehouse according to the present invention mainly comprises an article storage shelf (2), an article unloading means (3), an auxiliary transport means (4),
And a main transport means (5) comprising an independent transport section (6) and a main transport section (7), wherein the transport path is controlled by the transport control means so that the article (A) can be conveniently unloaded. ing.

In the article storage shelf (2), shelves on which articles can be placed back to back are arranged in a plurality of rows in the same direction, and an article (A) is stored in each shelf. The article take-out means (3) is provided between the respective rows of the article storage shelves (2) arranged in a plurality of rows as described above, and connects between the respective rows of the article storage shelves (2). The specific article (A) is reciprocated along the rail (2a) to take out a specific article (A) from the article storage shelves facing each other, and is placed on the auxiliary transport means (4). The method of taking out a specific article (A) by the article take-out means (3) and placing it on the auxiliary transport means (4) is performed by a known computer control.

[0010] The same number of auxiliary transport means (4) as the number of article take-out means (3) are successively arranged on each article storage shelf (2). That is, the article storage shelves (2) arranged in a plurality of rows
One set of shelves facing each other
An article take-out means (3) of the machine is arranged, and one auxiliary transport means (4) is arranged for each one article take-out means (3). The auxiliary transport means (4) employs a conveyor type transport means, and the article (A) placed on the auxiliary transport means (4) is transported away from the article storage shelf (2). . At the end position of the auxiliary transport means (4), a conveyor type main transport means (5) for transporting the article (A) in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the auxiliary transport means (4) is arranged. The means (5) is composed of an independent transport section (6) at a point of contact with the auxiliary transport means (4) and a main transport section (7) for transporting the article (A) between the independent transport sections (6). You. Then, the article (A) transported from the auxiliary transport means (4) is transferred to the independent transport section (6) and transported in the direction of the main transport means (5) orthogonal to the auxiliary transport means (4), and further the main transport. The sheet is transferred to the section (7). Therefore, all the articles (A) taken out from each article take-out means (3) and placed on each auxiliary conveyance means (4) are transferred from each auxiliary conveyance means (4) to the independent conveyance section installed in each of them. The sheet is transferred to the main transfer section (7) via (6).

Next, in the article unloading device (1) having the above structure, in the process of transferring the articles from the auxiliary conveying means (4) to the main conveying means (5), the articles (A) collide with each other. The transfer control means provided to prevent the occurrence of the transfer and to efficiently transfer will be described.

FIG. 3 shows the main transport following the auxiliary transport means (4), the independent transport section (6), the main transport section (7), and the independent transport section (6) in the main part of the article unloading device (1). Part (7 ′), article detection device (D1), article detection device (D
2), a motor (M1) for operating the independent transport section (6),
The motor (M2) for operating the main transport unit (7) and the motor (M3) for operating the auxiliary transport unit (4) are schematically shown. The transport control means includes an article detection device (D1) installed at the end position of the auxiliary transport means (4) and an article detection device (D2) installed at an end of the main transport unit on the independent transport unit side. The electric signal drives and stops the motor (M1) for operating the independent transport unit (6), the motor (M2) for operating the main transport unit (7), and the motor (M3) for operating the auxiliary transport unit (4). It is to let. A timer is attached to the motor (M3) for operating the auxiliary transport means (4), and an electric signal is first sent to the timer, and then the motor (M3) is driven after a certain period of time. ing.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the control flow of the transport control means. Hereinafter, the flow of the article will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the auxiliary transport means (4)
The motor (M
1), the motor (M2), and the motor (M3) are all in a driving state, and this driving state continues as long as no article is detected by the article detection device (D1). Therefore, since the main transport unit (5) is operating, the articles placed on the main transport unit (5) are sequentially transported. And
If the article (A1) is detected by the article detection apparatus (D1) and the article is not detected by the article detection apparatus (D2), the motor (M1) stops, and the article (A1) is moved to the auxiliary transport unit ( Transfer from 4) to the independent transport section (6). Until the transfer is completed, the article detection device (D2)
If the article is not detected by the
When 1) is released, the motor (M1) is driven, and the article (A1) is moved from the independent transport section (6) to the main transport section (7 ').
Transported to If the article detection device (D2) detects the article (A2) before the article (A1) is transferred from the auxiliary conveyance means (4) to the independent conveyance section (6), the motor ( M2) stops and the article (A2) enters a state of waiting at the end of the main transport section (7), that is, immediately before the independent transport section (6). Then, when the article (A1) has completed the transfer from the auxiliary transport means (4) to the independent transport section (6) and the article detection device (D1) is released, the motor (M1) and the motor (M2) are turned off. When driven, the article (A1) is transported from the independent transport section (6) to the main transport section (7 '), and the article (A2) is transported from the main transport section (7) to the independent transport section (6). . At this time, the motor (M
1), (M2), and (M3) are all driven.

Next, the article (A) is detected by the article detection device (D1).
When the article (A2) is detected by the article detection device (D2) when the item (1) is detected, the motor (M3) is stopped, and the article (A1) is moved to the vicinity of the end of the auxiliary transport means (4). That is, the state is a standby state immediately before the independent transport section (6). Then, when the article (A2) is conveyed from the main conveyance section (7) to the independent conveyance section (6) and the article detection device (D2) is released, a timer attached to the motor (M3) is activated, and for a certain period of time. After the elapse, the motor (M3) starts driving. This timer is for driving the motor (M3) after the article (A2) is transported from the independent transport section (6) to the main transport section (7 '). Is set by the transport speed of the independent transport section (6). Then, the article (A1) waiting in the auxiliary transport means (4) is transferred to the independent transport section (6) by the driving of the motor (M3) and transported to the main transport section (7 ').

As the article detection devices (D1) and (D2) used in the above embodiment, it is preferable to use a photosensor using a photoelectric tube or the like.

With the above construction, the article (A) taken out of the article storage shelf (2) by the article take-out means (3) is moved in the direction of the main conveyance means (5) by the auxiliary conveyance means (4). Transported to the independent transport unit (6)
If the article (A) is not placed on the auxiliary transport means (6), the article (A) on the auxiliary transport means (4) is transferred to the independent transport section (6). When the independent transport section (6) is driven, the article is moved by the main transport means (5).
To be transported. Conversely, the independent transport section (6)
When the article (A) is placed on the auxiliary transport means (4), and the article (A) is approaching the independent transport section (6). At the point just before the independent transport section (6), the auxiliary transport means (4) stops and the article (A) waits on the auxiliary transport means (4). And the article (A) on the independent transport section (6)
Moves, and when the system capable of receiving the article (A) on the independent transport section (6) is ready, the independent transport section (6) stops,
As described above, the article (A) on the auxiliary transport means (4) is transported. Next, from the auxiliary transport means (4) to the independent transport section (6)
When the article (A) of the main transport means (5) approaches the independent transport section (6) when the article (A) is in a state of being transferred to the main transport means (5), only when this occurs, Article (A)
Is stopped immediately before the independent transport section (6), the main transport section (7) stops, and when the transfer from the auxiliary transport means (4) to the independent transport section (6) is completed, the main transport section (7) is stopped. 7)
Will work. If there is room to place the article (A) on the main transport means (5) in this way, the articles (A) on the auxiliary transport means (4) should be interrupted as if they were collected and carried out. Becomes possible.

As described above, the article unloading device (1) in the automatic warehouse according to the present invention is provided on the main transport means (5).
If there is enough time and space to transfer the article (A) from the auxiliary transport means (4), the article (A) can be interrupted on the main transport means (5) which is continuously transported.
Since the standby time of the article (A) on the auxiliary transport means (4) is reduced, transport efficiency is improved. Moreover, since the main transport section (7) does not stop when the article (A) is transported from the auxiliary transport section (4) to the independent transport section (6), the transport speed does not decrease, so that it is efficient. .

The transport control means is not limited to the one shown in the present embodiment. If there is a space and a time allowance for the article to be interrupted on the main transport means as described above, it becomes independent from the auxiliary transport means. Any configuration may be used as long as the control is such that the articles can be transferred to the transport section and the articles can be controlled so as not to collide with each other on the independent transport section.

[0020]

As described above, the article unloading device in the automatic warehouse according to the present invention is continuously conveyed if the main conveyance means has sufficient time and space to transfer the articles from the auxiliary conveyance means. Since the articles can be interrupted on the main transport means, the standby time of the articles on the auxiliary transport means is reduced, and the main transport means is stopped even when the articles transfer from the auxiliary transport means to the main transport means. Can be minimized, so that the unloading efficiency can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially omitted perspective view of an article unloading device in an automatic warehouse according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the article unloading device in the automatic warehouse according to the present invention as viewed from the plane side.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a main part of an article unloading device in the automatic warehouse according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control flow of a transport control unit in the article unloading device in the automatic warehouse according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Article unloading apparatus 2 ... Article storage shelf 2a ... Rail 3 ... Article removal means 4 ... Auxiliary conveyance means 5 ... Main conveyance means 6 ... Independent conveyance parts 7, 7 ' … Main transport unit A… Article D1, D2 Article detector M1… Motor of independent transport unit M2… Motor of main transport unit M3… Motor of auxiliary transport unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] A plurality of rows of article storage shelves for accommodating articles; article removal means for reciprocating between rows of the article storage shelves to remove articles from the article storage shelves; A plurality of auxiliary transport means for transporting the articles taken out by the means, and a main transport means arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the auxiliary transport means at each end position of each auxiliary transport means, wherein each auxiliary transport means Main transport means for transferring the conveyed articles from each auxiliary transport means and transporting the transported articles, wherein the main transport means is in the same direction as the transport direction of the main transport means at a contact point with each auxiliary transport means. An independent transport unit that is driven independently, and a main transport unit that transports articles between each independent transport unit. In each individual transport unit, the auxiliary transport unit and the main transport Means is in the state running,
When the independent transport section is in a state of transferring the articles, or when the articles are approaching from the main transport section to the independent transport section, the auxiliary transport means is stopped immediately before transferring the articles to the independent transport section, and the auxiliary transport is performed. When the articles are transferred from the means, the independent transport section is stopped, and when the articles are approaching from the auxiliary transport section to the independent transport section, or when the articles are being transported from the auxiliary transport section to the independent transport section. (4) An article unloading device in an automatic warehouse, wherein the main transport section stops immediately before transferring articles to an independent transport section.