JPH11310310A - Article storage management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the efficiency of returning work. SOLUTION: An article storage management system is provided with a carrying means TP for carrying a container for housing a plurality of articles between a reception section K for receiving the lending/returning the articles and a shelf R for housing a plurality of containers, a managing means for managing the lending/returning of the articles by executing the carrying operation of the carrying means while managing the housing position of each container housed in the shelf R and the article filling factor of each container, and an instructing means for instructing the work of the managing means. The instructing means instructs a refilling mode for refilling the other container with the article from a given container to provide an empty container, and the managing means controls the carrying operation of the carrying means TP such that following the instruction of the refilling mode made by the instructing means, a container having a filling factor not filled is carried to a place for carrying out refilling work.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a transporting means for transporting a container for accommodating a plurality of articles between a receiving section for accepting a rental return of an article and a shelf for accommodating the plurality of containers, and An article provided with management means for executing the transport operation of the transport means and managing lending and return of the article while managing the storage position of each container stored on the shelf and the filling rate of the article in each container. Regarding storage management system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In such an article storage management system, a large number of articles are intensively stored on shelves to reduce storage space, while saving labor for lending and returning articles. In addition, as a conventional example of such a system, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-285621 discloses a book storage management system for storing and managing books as articles. And, in this book storage management system, while managing the filling rate of books in each container and managing each book to be stored in the container, when returning returned books to the warehouse, automatically from the container with the lower filling rate When the selected book is carried out to the reception unit and the book to be returned is stored in the container, the container is returned to the shelf again and stored.

[0003]

However, in the prior art, the containers with low filling rates are carried out to the receiving section during the return operation, so that the filling rates of the containers stored in the shelves are high on average. As the number of returned books is large, the containers often fill up before all the returned books are stored in the container, and every time the containers are full, we accept containers from the shelf Since it is necessary to carry out to the department,
Return work could not always be performed efficiently.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide an article storage management system capable of improving the work efficiency of return work.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the instructing means for instructing the management means to perform an operation refills an empty container by refilling the article stored in the container with another container. The refilling mode is configured so that the refilling mode can be instructed, and the management means, when instructed by the refilling mode by the instructing means, unloads a container whose filling rate is not full to a work location where refilling is performed. So that the transfer operation of the transfer means is controlled. Therefore, at the time of return work, the empty container created in the refill mode is carried out to the reception unit, and even if there are many returned items, it is possible to sufficiently store the items in the empty container, The work efficiency of the return operation can be improved without unnecessarily unloading the container from the shelf.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the refilling mode, the number of outgoing containers and the number of containers to be set can be selected by the instructing means, and the managing means can control the number of outgoing containers. When the setting mode is selected, the transport operation of the transport unit is controlled so as to carry out the unfilled containers by the number set by the instruction unit to the work site, and the number of containers to be created setting mode When is selected, the operation of the transporting means is controlled so that containers having a filling rate of not full are carried out to the work site until empty containers of the number set by the instruction means are created. It is configured. Therefore, the number of outgoing containers can be set easily, and the number of empty containers to be created can be set as needed. It can be selected and becomes easy to use.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the management means manages, for each container, whether or not there is a delivery record to the reception unit within the set period, and in the refill mode, the management means keeps track of the delivery record. The operation of the transporting means is controlled so that the empty container is carried out to the work site in preference to the container with a proven track record. In other words, in the refill mode, containers having no track record have been given priority over containers having a track record, and are transported to the work site, so articles without track records can be collected and stored in another container,
The article can be appropriately stored by storing the container at the back of the shelf.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the management means is configured to control the transport means in the refill mode so as to preferentially carry out a container having a low filling rate to the work place. ing. Therefore, since the container with a low filling rate is preferentially carried out to the work place, at the work place,
The work of taking out articles from the container can be reduced,
Work efficiency in the refill mode can be improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the refilling mode, the management means gives priority to a container having no delivery record over a container having a delivery record, and fills the containers having no delivery record. The operation of the transporting means is controlled so that the container with a low rate is preferentially carried out to the work site. Therefore, it is possible to collect and store articles having no track record in a separate container, and to improve work efficiency in the refill mode.

According to the present invention, the management means stores the classification data of each container, the identification data of the articles stored in each container, and the size of each article in association with each other. Based on the stored information, while managing the filling rate of the articles in each container, each article is sorted according to size and managed to be stored in the container. Compared to what is stored,
It can be stored in the container without any gaps, and the storage efficiency of articles can be improved. Further, in the refill mode, the size of the article stored in the container can be selected by the instruction means, and the management means stores the article of the size indicated by the instruction means in the refill mode. And, since the container is configured to control the transfer operation of the transfer means so as to carry out a container whose filling rate is not full to the work place, it is possible to create an empty container for each size of the article, It is possible to execute the refilling of the articles as needed.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a plurality of containers having different sizes are provided as containers, and the shelves are provided with storage portions corresponding to the plurality of containers having different sizes. The container can be efficiently stored in the storage section of the shelf. Further, the management means executes the management of the filling rate of the articles in each container based on the size information of each container, and reliably manages the filling rate of the articles in each container, and further, in the refill mode. The configuration is such that the size of the container can also be instructed by the instructing means, and the managing means stores the article of the instructed size in the refilling mode in the size instructed by the instructing means, and It is configured to control the transfer operation of the transfer means so as to carry out a container whose filling rate is not full to the work place, so that the container refilling operation can be performed according to the size of the container, which is necessary. It is possible to execute the refilling work according to the condition.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the storage location for storing empty containers is provided in the middle of the transport path between the receiving section and the shelf, and the management means is provided in the refill mode.
When the entry of the empty container is instructed, the transport operation of the transport unit is controlled so that the container is transported to the storage location for storage. Therefore, when storing the returned articles, empty containers can be carried out to the receiving unit from the storage location provided between the receiving unit and the shelf, and the containers are carried out from the shelf to the receiving unit. Compared with the container, the transport distance of the container can be shortened, and the return work efficiency can be further improved.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the rack includes a plurality of racks each having a plurality of article storage sections arranged in the depth direction of the shelf and positioned between both ends in the depth direction of the shelf. The transport path of the transport means is provided so as to be freely movable in the depth direction of the shelf and selectively forms the transport path of the transport means between adjacent rack parts. It is possible to reduce the storage space without having to provide
In the refill mode, the transport operation of the transport means is controlled so that the shelf is maintained in a state of forming one of the plurality of transport paths and the container is transported to the work site through the selected transport path. , So that one of a plurality of transport paths is selected artificially or automatically, and the containers are conveyed to the work site in a concentrated manner through the selected transport path without reselecting the transport path. The refilling operation can be performed efficiently.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a receiving unit K for accepting the lending or return of a book as an article, a shelf R for storing a plurality of containers Y for storing a plurality of books, and the size and thickness of the book are input. Station S, which also functions as a measuring unit for transporting the container Y between the receiving unit K and the shelf R, or between the work station S and the shelf R, and stored in the shelf R A management unit P (see FIG. 12) is provided for executing the transport operation of the transport unit TP and managing the lending and returning of books while managing the storage position of each book and the filling rate of books in each container Y. Thus, a book storage management system for storing and managing books as articles is configured.

The book storage management system according to the present embodiment is a so-called closed-type book storage unit in which books are exchanged between a user and a librarian in a reception unit K. Store books on shelves where possible,
The description will be made assuming that the library is provided in a library having a so-called open book storage unit. That is, the shelf R and the work station S are installed in the basement of a building constituting the library, and the reception unit K is provided on the first floor of the building.

In this embodiment, basically, A
Books of each size of 4, A5, B5, B6, A
Two-size newspapers and other odd-sized books are treated as books. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the width L and height H of the container Y in the shelf R in the state of being stored in the shelf R are different from each other, and the width W in the shelf depth direction is the same. , A large container YL and a small container YS are prepared. The large container YL basically stores A2 size newspapers (see FIG. 9A) and A4 size and B5 size books (see FIG. 9B). Basically, YS stores A5 size and B6 size books (see FIGS. 10A and 10B) and other odd-sized books (see FIG. 10C). Become.

For books stored in each container Y, the above-mentioned filling rate management, that is, the filling rate of books in each container Y is managed. For this reason, the form of storing books, newspapers, and books in each container Y is also defined, and the filling rate is managed. More specifically, in the large container YL, the newspapers are sequentially stacked and stored in a flat configuration (see FIG. 9A).
Or, a vertically placed form in which books of A4 and B5 are arranged in two rows in a vertical posture (see FIG. 9B) is selected.
In FIG. 10, the A4 and B5 books are arranged in one row in a horizontal portrait orientation (see FIG. 10A), and the A5 and B6 books are arranged in two rows in a vertical orientation (FIG. (B)) and a flat-laying type (see FIG. 10 (c)) in which books are sequentially stacked and stored. When the book is stored by selecting a vertically placed form in which the books are arranged in two rows in a vertical posture, the partition M is set in the container Y. And in each storage form, newspapers, books,
And the maximum dimension in the direction in which books are arranged, that is, the maximum dimension that can store books is preset, and the filling rate becomes higher as the empty dimension obtained by sequentially subtracting the thickness of the book from the maximum dimension is smaller, In the present embodiment, the empty space is referred to as an empty space. In addition, in each container Y,
A bar code display BC for displaying a container number for identifying each container Y as a bar code is mounted.
By the way, on this barcode display body BC, the container number is described in a numerically visible manner.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 8, the shelf R has a shelf RL for a large container for storing a large container YL and a shelf RL for a small container for storing a small container YS. And a shelf RS. Each of the large container shelves RL and the small container shelves RS includes a plurality of rack portions 1L and 1S having a plurality of storage portions 40 for the containers Y in the longitudinal direction and the vertical direction, which are arranged side by side in the shelf depth direction. ing. The rack portion located between both ends of the plurality of rack portions 1L and 1S is configured to be freely movable in the depth direction of the shelf, and the moving passage T of the stacker crane 2 is selected between adjacent rack portions 1. Is formed. Further, a traverser 3 for carrying the stacker crane 2 thereon is provided so as to travel along one end of the shelf R in the width direction. Then, the storage portions 40 of the rack portions 1L and 1S are, as shown in FIG.
The pair of left and right article holding units 40A is configured to support one container Y in the depth direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the receiving unit K
Is a service counter K1 for the librarian to exchange books with the user, a service station T1 provided adjacent to the service counter K1 for relaying books, and a reference counter K
2, and a reference station T2 that is provided adjacent to the reference counter K2 and that relays books for transport, like the service station K2. The service counter K1 and the reference counter K2 can basically perform the same operation, but usually, the service counter K1 is mainly used. When the work amount of the service counter K1 is too large, the work is assisted or when the service counter K1 or the service station T is used.
The reference counter K2 and the reference station T2 are used, for example, when the work is continued when performing the first maintenance work.

The transfer means TP will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a conveyor 5 for forming a U-shaped work station is installed corresponding to a work station S provided under the building. Then, the stacker crane 2 transfers the container Y to the conveyor 5,
That is, the container Y is carried out. When the traverser 3 is located at a position corresponding to the work station S, a transfer conveyor 3A for receiving the container Y unloaded from the work station forming conveyor 5 is provided. The transfer of the container Y to the transfer conveyor 3A, that is, the transfer of the container Y is performed.

A high-speed vertical lifter 6 is installed from the basement of the building to the vicinity of the service station T1 on the first floor. As shown in FIG. 8, a conveyor corresponding to the basement of the high-speed lifter 6 and an intermediate part between the upper and lower parts are a conveyor 7 for entering the shelf R and a conveyor 8 for exiting from the shelf R.
And is installed. The stacker crane 2 transfers the containers Y to the storage conveyor 7 and the storage conveyor 8.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a portion corresponding to the first floor of the high-speed lifter 6 is connected to a conveyor 4 for forming a square-shaped service station.
The conveyor 4 includes a turn conveyor section 4A for changing the direction of the container Y.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, a first relay conveyor 9 is provided at the upper end of the portion corresponding to the basement of the high-speed lifter 6. The first relay conveyor 9 includes an unloading conveyor unit 9A and an infeed conveyor unit 9B for transferring the container Y to and from the track-type transfer cart 10.
And The track-type transport vehicle 10 performs transport between a second relay conveyor 11 provided below the reference station T2 and the first relay conveyor 9 connected to the high-speed lifter 6. Second
The relay conveyor 11, like the first relay conveyor 9, includes an unloading conveyor unit 11A and an unloading conveyor unit 11B for transferring the container Y to and from the track-type carrier 10. As shown in FIG. 4, a lifter 13 for vertical transport is provided between the second relay conveyor 11 and a reference station forming conveyor 12 provided corresponding to the reference station T2.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 7, the transfer of books between the open book storage unit and the fully closed book storage unit, the service counter K1 and the service station T1, A hand-held trolley D used for transporting books in the library, such as transport of books between libraries, transport between the reference counter K2 and the reference station T2, and transport of books newly stored in the library.
Are provided.

The management means P will be described. FIG.
As shown in the figure, a host controller P1 that manages the library storage information of the entire library and a system controller P2 that is installed under the building and manages the entire library storage management system are communicably connected. The management means P includes a host controller P1 and a system controller P2. The host controller P1 includes a first terminal 21 installed at the service counter K1, a second terminal 22 installed at the reference counter K2, a third terminal 23 installed at the work station S, a library management room. The fourth terminal 24 installed on the service floor of the user and the fifth terminal 24 installed on the service floor of the user.
Many terminals such as the terminal 25 are connected.

The fourth terminal 24 inputs information relating to a newly received book, such as the title of a book newly received in the library, to the host controller P1, and registers the information as a book managed in the library. An issuing machine 24A is provided that issues a bar code display B as a display device for displaying identification data for identifying the book to be stored and, in the present embodiment, the book number. On the barcode display B, the book number is displayed as a barcode, and in addition, the book number is written in a number so as to be visible. It should be noted that the issued barcode display body B is naturally attached to a book to be stored by sticking or the like. Also, the book on which the barcode display B is attached, that is, the host controller P
The books registered in 1 are transported to various places using the cart D. Then, when the storage is managed in the fully enclosed storage unit, the storage unit is transported to an underground work station S. In addition, about the work in the work station S,
This will be described later as “initial registration work”.

The fifth terminal 25 is used for the purpose of searching for a book that the user wants to borrow, and lends printed with information of the book to be borrowed, that is, various information such as a book name and a book number for identifying the book. A printer 25A for outputting a request is provided. When borrowing a book stored in the closed-type storage unit, the request for lending is given to a librarian at the service counter K1.

The first to third terminals 21 to 23 are used to search for books stored and managed in the library and to check the lending status of books.
It is used to search the management information of the host controller P1, input various kinds of information to the host controller P1, such as information on lending and returning of registered books, and information on removing registration of registered books. And a bar code reader BR for reading a bar code display B attached to the book, provided in the first and second terminals 21 and 22.
And a printer RT for outputting various information.

Like the first and second terminals, the system controller P2 searches for management information of the host controller P1 such as searching for books stored and managed in a library, and lending status of books, etc. It is also used for inputting various information to the host controller P1, such as information on lending and returning books that have been registered, information on removing registration of registered books, and the like. Like the two terminals, it has a barcode reader BR and a printer RT, and in addition to its intended use, manages the operation of the book-closed storage unit, that is, the book storage management system as a whole.

In addition, the system controller P2 includes a first setting device U1 installed at the service station T1, a second setting device U2 installed at the reference station T2, and a second setting device U2 installed at the work station S. 3 setting device U3, a measuring device J installed at the work station S for use as a measuring device for measuring the size and thickness of a book, installed near the work station S, and monitors the operation status of the transport device TP. Terminal U4, a shelf management controller U5 for managing the operation of the shelf R configured as a movable shelf provided with the stacker crane 2 and the traverser 3, and a transport controller U6 for managing the operation of the transport means TP. Is connected. The transport controller U6 is composed of a number of controllers installed corresponding to the high-speed lifter 6 and the conveyors, respectively.

Each of the first to third setting devices U1 to U3 includes a barcode reader CR for reading the barcode display BC of the container Y and the barcode display B of the book. , Information for specifying the container Y for storing and retrieving books and information for specifying the book for storing and retrieving books can be input.

As shown in FIG. 13, the measuring instrument J
A rectangular mounting table 30 to be used as a measurement point in a book, and an L-shaped positioning body 3 erected at a corner of the mounting table 30
And a thickness detection sensor 32 using an ultrasonic sensor or the like, a size detection sensor 33 for width detection using an ultrasonic sensor or the like, and a size detection sensor 34 for height detection using an ultrasonic sensor or the like. . Then, the book is placed on the mounting table 31 with the corners of the book abutted against the positioning body 31.
, The thickness detection sensor 32 measures the distance from its own installation position to the top surface of the book,
The thickness of the book is measured, and the size detection sensors 33 and 34 are measured.
However, the size including the width and height of the book is measured by measuring the distance from its own installation position to the side of the book. The measurement of the thickness and the size of the book is basically performed on the book registered in the host controller P1 and designated to be managed by the closed-type book storage management system. First, as described in "Initial registration work" described later, the identification number of the book to be measured is input by the barcode reader CR, and the book number for identifying the book to be measured is firstly entered. The measurement is performed in the order of inputting and specifying the book to be measured and then starting the actual measurement.

The operation of the book storage management system will be described below. As the work of this system, there are "ordinary receiving work" and "empty space designation receiving work" as receiving work, and "normal outgoing work" and "carpooling receiving work" as outgoing work. As work
There are operations such as "refilling work", "collection inspection work", "relocation", "initial registration work", etc. "Normal warehousing work" and "normal warehousing work" are normal warehousing work,
The other work is a special loading / unloading work. Next, each work will be described. The selection of which of these operations to execute is made by the first to third terminals 21 to 23 and the first to third setting devices U1 to U2.
1 to 23 and the first to third setting devices U1 to U2 function as the instruction means. Although these operations can be performed in various places, in the following description, mainly the portions to be executed will be specified and described.

[Normal Warehousing Operation] The normal warehousing operation is mainly performed using the service counter K1, and as shown in FIG.
The barcode reader BR of the first terminal 21 reads the barcode display B of the returned book returned from the user, and inputs the identification information of the book to be returned, that is, the book number. Next, the books to be returned are placed on the trolley D as required and transported to the service station T1. After "normal stocking" is set by the first setting device U1, the barcode reader B reads the barcode display B of the returned book and inputs the identification information of the book to be returned, that is, the book number. If there are a plurality of books, the book numbers of the plurality of books are inputted sequentially. When the input of the book number is completed, the setting is input. In accordance with the input of the setting, the system controller P2 basically searches the small container YS for the container Y capable of storing the set book, and carries out the searched container Y to the service station T1. A work command is issued to the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6. Then, the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6 operate to carry out the instructed container Y, and the target container Y is transported to the service station T1. The container Y to be carried out can be carried out to the service station T1 in a short time.
And the container Y on the side of the traverser 3 in the width direction of the rack portions 1L and 1S is preferentially carried out. When the container Y arrives, the identification information of the container Y is input by, for example, reading the barcode indicator BC of the container Y using the barcode reader CR. Then, the barcode display B of the book to be returned is read by the barcode reader CR, and after inputting that the book is stored in the container Y, the book is read.
To be stored. When all the books that can be stored in the container Y are stored, the completion is input. As the completion is input, the system controller P2 instructs the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6 to carry the container Y in which books have been stored into the shelf R. Then, the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6 operate to carry the commanded container Y to the shelf R, and the target container Y is carried to the shelf R. At this time, the system controller P2 determines whether or not the book instructed to enter remains remains, and if so, searches for a container Y for storing the remaining book in the same manner as described above. . The subsequent procedure is the same as described above.

[Empty Space Designated Warehousing Operation] This empty space designated warehousing operation is performed by the barcode reader BR provided in the first terminal of the service counter K1 in the same manner as the normal warehousing operation. And enter the book number of the book to be returned. And
The book to be returned whose book number has been input is loaded on a trolley D and transported to the service station T1 as necessary. Next, after setting “empty space designation storage” in the first setting device U1, subsequently, necessary items are input based on the content displayed on the display screen of the first setting device U1 shown in FIG. . That is, judging from the size of the book to be stored, a type selection is input, a desired empty space and a required number of containers are input, and setting completion is input by operating a setting button. Here, as the empty space, in the case of a flat type container, 30 c from the empty container
m can be selected in the range of up to 60 cm from the empty container in the case of a vertical single-row container, and can be selected in the range of up to 120 cm from the empty container in the case of a vertical two-row container. it can. By the way, in the above display screen,
On the side of the space selection, the number of containers currently existing for each space is displayed.

In response to the input, the system controller P2 searches for the set container Y, and searches the set container Y.
Is sent to the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6, and the commanded container Y is transported to the service station T1. The container Y to be carried out can be carried out to the service station T1 in a short time. For example, the rack portion 1 on the side close to the delivery conveyor 8 can be used.
L and 1S and the container Y on the traverser 3 side in the width direction of the rack portions 1L and 1S are conveyed preferentially. When the container Y arrives, the barcode display B of the container Y is displayed using the barcode reader CR in the same manner as in the “ordinary storage operation”.
By reading C, the identification information of the container Y is input. Then, after reading the barcode display B of the book to be returned with the barcode reader CR, the book is stored in the container Y. When all the books that can be stored in the container Y are stored, the completion is input. As the completion is input, the system controller P2 instructs the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6 to carry the container Y in which the books have been stored into the shelf R, and the container Y It is carried into shelf R. At this time, the system controller P
2 judges whether the instructed container Y remains or not,
If it remains, the remaining container Y is searched for as described above, and the subsequent procedure is the same as above.

[Normal Outgoing Work] The normal outgoing work is performed by passing the above-mentioned loan request form to a librarian at the service counter K1. The librarian
After "normal delivery" is set in the first setting unit U1, the book number described in the lending request is input. When there are a plurality of books, it is a matter of course to input the book numbers for all the books. Although not illustrated, as the identification information of the book is input, the identification number of the container Y such as the book number and the book name of the input book, the container number for identifying the container storing the book, In addition, the type of the book is displayed on the display screen of the first setting device U1. When the input of the book identification information is completed, the setting is input.

In accordance with the input of the setting, the system controller P1 searches for the storage position of the container Y for storing the input book, and stores the searched container Y in the service station T.
The work command to carry out the work to the storage controller 1 is sent to the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6. Then, the shelf controller U5 and the transport controller U6 operate to carry out the instructed container Y, and the target container Y is transported to the service station T1. When the container Y arrives, the identification information of the container Y is input by, for example, reading the barcode indicator BC of the container Y using the barcode reader CR. Along with the input, although not illustrated, the book number of the book to be taken out from the container Y and the book name are displayed on the display screen of the first setting device U1.
When the displayed book is taken out of the container Y and the barcode display body B of the book is read by the barcode reader CR, a portion of the displayed book corresponding to the book from which the barcode is read, It changes to a color different from other parts, such as red, to clearly indicate that the book is taken out.

When the removal of all books for the container Y is completed, the completion is input. When the completion is input, the system controller P2 instructs the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6 to carry the container Y from which the books have been taken out to the shelf R. It is carried in. At this time, the system controller P2 determines whether the instructed container Y remains or not, and if so, searches for the remaining container Y in the same manner as described above. Is the same as above. When all the books described in the lending request have been taken out, the librarian inserts the lending request in one of the books. Then, if necessary, the taken-out books are placed on the trolley D, carried to the service counter K1, and handed to the user.

[Carpooling garage operation] This carpooling garage operation is a book returned from the user when performing the above-mentioned "ordinary cargo-out operation", and there is a book that can be stored in the container Y that has been carried out. In this case, books are stored in the container Y and stored in the container Y, and in the above-described “ordinary unloading work”, when the removal of all books for the container Y is completed, the “completed” Instead of typing,
The process is started by setting “joining-in parking”. Then, in the same manner as the normal warehousing operation, the carpooling warehousing operation reads the barcode display body B of the book to be warehousing with the barcode reader CR and confirms the book name displayed on the display screen while checking the container Y To store books. When all the books have been stored, the settings are entered. As the setting is input, the system controller P2 instructs the shelf controller U5 and the transport controller U6 to carry out the work to the shelf R in order to carry the work completed container Y to the shelf R. It is carried in. At this time, the system controller P2 determines whether or not the container Y instructed for delivery remains, and if so, searches for the remaining container Y in the same manner as described above. The subsequent procedure is the same as described above. When all the books described in the lending request have been taken out, the librarian inserts the lending request in one of the books. Then, if necessary, the taken-out books are placed on the trolley D, carried to the service counter K1, and handed to the user.

[Refilling Operation] In this refilling operation, in order to create an empty container Y, the books are refilled so as to increase the filling rate of the containers Y by refilling the books. This is performed at the work station S. That is,
After "refilling" is set in the third setting device U3 provided in the work station S, subsequently, necessary items are input based on the content displayed on the display screen of the third setting device U3 shown in FIG. I do. First, a delivery setting method is selected. As the delivery setting method, there are a delivery container number setting for specifying the total number of containers Y to be delivered and a creation empty container number setting for designating the number of containers to be created by the refilling operation, and one of these is selected. By the way, in the case of setting the number of outgoing containers,
Although the number of empty containers created as a result of the refilling operation is unknown, it is easy to grasp the amount of work.
Next, the type of the container Y is selected, the number of containers is continuously input, and the setting is input. By the way, when the type of the container Y is selected, the entire state including the current filling rate of the type of the container Y is displayed, which is a guide for setting the number of containers. ing.

As the above settings are input, the system controller P2 searches for the set container Y,
A work command for unloading the searched container Y to the work station S is sent to the shelf management controller U5 or the transfer controller U6.
, And the commanded container Y is transported to the work station S. When the container Y arrives, the identification information of the container Y is input by, for example, reading the barcode indicator BC of the container Y using the barcode reader CR. With the input of this information, the display screen of the third setting device U3
The book number and book name are displayed for all books currently stored in the container Y. Next, there are work to take out books to empty the container Y and work to store books to fill the container Y. If there is a book to be taken out, , Which can be arbitrarily selected, the taking-out operation will be described first.

After the identification information of the container Y is inputted, the book is taken out from the container Y and the bar code display B of the book is read by the bar code reader BR. With this reading,
Of the book information displayed on the display screen, the part corresponding to the book whose barcode has been read changes to a different color from the other parts, such as red, to clearly indicate that the book has been taken out. . After taking out all the books from the container Y, the system controller P
2 is a container R where all the books have been taken out and become empty.
Work is sent to the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6 to carry the container Y into the shelf R.
It is carried in. Subsequently, the system controller P2
Is to search for a container Y to be transported next to the work station S, and issue a work command to unload the searched container Y to the work station S to the shelf management controller U5 and the transfer controller U6 in the same manner as described above. The commanded container Y is transported to the work station S.

In the storing operation, after the identification information of the container Y is input, first, the third setting device U3 performs a setting process of the storage. Subsequent to the setting of the storage, the barcode display B of the container Y is read by the barcode reader CR,
The container Y for storing books is determined. Next, the book to be stored is determined by reading the barcode indicator B of the book to be stored with the barcode reader BR, and then the book is stored in the container Y. In this way, books are sequentially stored until the container Y is full, and when the container Y is full, completion is input. As the completion is input, the system controller P2 instructs the shelf controller U5 or the transport controller U6 to carry out the work to the shelf R in order to carry the work Y to the shelf R. It is carried in. At this time, the system controller P
2 judges whether or not the container Y to be taken out remains,
If it remains, the remaining container Y is searched for as described above, and the subsequent procedure is the same as above.

As described above, the refilling operation is basically performed in such a manner that after taking out the work, the books taken out by the taking out work are stored in the container Y by the storing work. The unloading operation and the storing operation are usually performed manually, but may be automatically performed by a robot or the like.

Incidentally, in the present embodiment, since the shelf R is configured as a movable shelf, the container Y handled in this refilling operation is an empty one of the rack portions 1L and 1S of the shelf R. It is desirable to preferentially select a rack portion where there are many containers Y having a lot of space, and store and unload the containers Y in the rack portion in a concentrated manner, so that the moving passage T of the stacker crane 2 is selectively provided. The container Y is formed and maintained in that state, and the container Y is carried out. And the rack portions 1L and 1S so selected.
Of containers Y stored in the container Y
It is preferable that the priority is given to the container Y having a track record and the container Y having more empty space is given priority in each case where there is no track record or when there is a track record. In the present embodiment, the system controller P2 Automatically selects the container Y to be taken out based on the priority relationship. Further, in the above-mentioned priority relationship, since the delivery to the service station T1 can be performed in a short time, for example, the rack portion 1 on the side close to the delivery conveyor 8
L and 1S and the container Y on the traverser 3 side in the width direction of the rack portions 1L and 1S are conveyed preferentially. It is carried out preferentially from the container Y on the side of the entry / exit section E for entry / exit.

In this way, an empty container Y is produced while being carried out from the container Y having a low filling rate to the work station S, reducing the unloading work at the work station S and improving the work efficiency of the refilling work. This is particularly effective in the case of a large number of books to be stored in the "ordinary receiving work", and the books can be sufficiently stored in this empty container Y, and the work efficiency of the "normal receiving work" can be improved. Can be improved.

[Book Collection Checking Operation] In this book collection checking operation, the books stored in the container Y are stored in the system controller P.
2 is to check whether or not 2 is as stored, and is mainly performed at the work station S. That is, after "collection check" is set by the third setting device U3 provided in the work station S, the necessary items are subsequently determined based on the content displayed on the display screen of the third setting device U3 shown in FIG. Enter First, the type of the container Y is selected. Next, among the shelves RL or RS corresponding to the type of the selected container Y, that is, the large container YL or the small container YS, the rack part 1L or 1S to be operated is selected, and the number of containers to be checked is determined with a ten key. And then enter the settings. It should be noted that the rack portions 1L and 1S of each of the shelves RL and RS are given an aisle number in the order of arrangement, and the aisle number is displayed in FIG.

In accordance with the input of the setting, the system controller P2 searches the set container Y, and issues a work command to carry out the searched container Y to the work station S to the shelf management controller U5 or the transport controller U6. Thus, the commanded container Y is transported to the work station S. When the container Y arrives, the barcode reader CR
The identification information of the container Y is input by reading the barcode indicator BC of the container Y using With the input of this information, the book number and book name of all the books currently stored in the container Y are displayed on the display screen of the third setting device U3. When this display is performed, all the books in the container Y are temporarily taken out of the container Y, for example, by being transferred to the cart D. When the removal is completed, the barcode display B of the removed book is read by the barcode reader CR, and the information for determining the book to be stored is input again. Then, the book is stored in the container Y. become. Along with the above reading, the part corresponding to the book whose barcode has been read among the information of the displayed book displayed on the display screen is changed to a color different from other parts such as red, It is clearly indicated that the book is stored in the book and stored again. Therefore, if the display does not change even when the barcode is read, the book is a book in which the system controller P2 does not properly manage book storage. As a process for such a book, the third setting device U3 instructs a storage and stores it in the container Y, or sets a deletion and performs a separate process.

In this way, the work of storing all the books taken out of the container Y in the container Y is performed.
When all the books have been stored, all the book information displayed on the display screen should change to a different color, such as red, from the other parts. In some cases. In such a case,
The system controller P2 stores information on books that are not stored in the container Y as stored, and sets deletion. Upon completion of the operation for one container Y, when the completion is input, the system controller P2 instructs the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6 to carry the container Y for which the collection inspection has been completed to the shelf R. , And the container Y is carried into the shelf R. At this time, the system controller P2 determines whether or not the next container Y to be transported remains in the work station S, and if it remains, searches for the next container Y, and searches in the same manner as described above. A work command to carry out the container Y to the work station S is issued to the shelf management controller U5 and the transfer controller U6, and the commanded container Y is carried to the work station S. The subsequent procedure is the same as described above.

[Relocation] This relocation operation aims at rearranging the containers Y having no track record of loading and unloading to the rear side of the shelf R within a set period such as six months or one year. When "relocation" is set from the third setting device U3 of the work station S,
The rearrangement work is started. That is, the system controller P2 searches for the container Y that has not been delivered during the set period and the position in the shelf where the container Y is stored, based on the retrieval result of the container Y that is stored and managed.
Next, among the containers Y located on the back side of the shelf R with respect to the container Y having no delivery record, the container Y having the delivery record is searched for, and the container Y having the delivery record is stored in the shelf R. It is moved to a temporary storage section provided in advance. Then, the container Y having no delivery record was stored in the storage section 40 in which the container Y having the delivery record was stored, and finally the container Y having the delivery record was stored with the container Y having no delivery record. It is stored in the storage section 40. By the above procedure, the rearrangement of the containers Y is performed so that the container Y having no delivery record is located on the deeper side of the shelf than the container Y having the delivery record.

[Initial Registration Work] As described above, this initial registration work is performed on books specified to be managed by the closed-type book storage management system among books registered by the host controller P1. And is mainly executed at the work station S. That is, when "initial registration" is set from the third setting device U3 of the work station S, the initial registration work is started, and is displayed on the display screen of the third setting device U3 shown in FIG. Based on the contents, the user proceeds while inputting necessary items. On the display screen shown in FIG. 17, "information of a book to be registered" transmitted from the host controller P1 to the third setting device U3 via the system controller P2 is displayed. Further, as described in the description of the fourth terminal 24, the book to be registered is placed on the cart D and transported to the work station S in advance. The operator inputs information of a book to be registered. This input method is to directly select the book to be registered by clicking the mouse or the like from the display screen, read the barcode display B of the book to be registered with the barcode reader CR, or change the book number of the book. Input using the numeric keypad on the display screen. As the book to be registered is selected, the portion of the book information displayed on the display screen corresponding to the selected book changes to an inverted display state, and the book is selected. You can see that it was done correctly.

Next, the book to be registered is set at the measurement location of the measuring instrument J, and the start of measurement of the measuring instrument J is instructed by using the size reading button on the display screen. When the measurement by the measuring instrument J is completed, the measurement result and the registration date are displayed. That is, the height, width, and thickness of the book are displayed, the registration date is displayed, and the book type (A4, B5, etc.) determined from the height and width is also displayed. By the way, when the measurement fails, the registered data can be modified by specifying the size input / change of the display screen. In this way, the book registration is performed sequentially, and when the book registration is completed, the completion of the setting of the display screen is designated.

With the input of the setting completion, the system controller P2 sets the container Y for storing the registered books.
And a work command to carry out the searched container Y to the work station S is issued to the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6. Then, the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6 operate to carry out the commanded container Y, and the target container Y
Is transported to the work station S. When the container Y arrives, the identification information of the container Y is input by, for example, reading the barcode indicator BC of the container Y using the barcode reader CR. Then, the bar code display B of the book stored in the container Y is read by the bar code reader CR,
After inputting that the book is stored in the container Y, the book is stored in the container Y. When all the books that can be stored in the container Y are stored, the completion is input.

As the completion is input, the system controller P2 instructs the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6 to carry the container Y in which books have been stored into the shelf R. Then, the shelf management controller U5 and the transport controller U6 operate to carry the commanded container Y into the shelf R, and the target container Y
Is carried into the shelf R. At this time, the system controller P2 determines whether or not books that have been initially registered and have not yet been stored, that is, books that need to be stored remain, and if so, a container Y for storing the remaining books. Will be searched in the same manner as described above. After that, the procedure is the same as above.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a case where a book is used as an article has been described, but various articles other than books (for example, a CD or a tape cassette) may be used.

[Another Embodiment] (1) In the above embodiment, when the unloading operation of the container Y carried out to the work station S is completed in the “refilling operation”, the empty container Y is created. Although it is configured to be stored in the shelf R, in the "refilling operation", as the storage of the empty container is instructed, the container Y is placed between the receiving unit K and the shelf R. It may be configured to be stored in a storage location provided in the middle of the transport route between the two.

That is, as shown in FIG. 18, a storage conveyor 41 for transferring the container Y from the first relay conveyor 9 at the upper end, which is a part corresponding to the basement of the high-speed lifter 6, is provided. 41 is configured so that the container Y can be freely transferred between a first stacking conveyor 9 and a stacking type storage device 42 as a storage location for storing the empty container Y. And the storage device 42 includes a storage device 42A for a large container for storing the large container YL,
Storage device 4 for small containers for storing small containers YS
2B are provided, and the storage conveyor 41 also includes a storage container 41A for large containers that can be transferred between the storage device 42A for large containers and the first relay conveyor 9, and a storage device 42B for small containers. A storage conveyor 41B for small containers that can be transferred between the first relay conveyor 9 and the first relay conveyor 9 is provided.

That is, when the unloading operation and the storing operation in the “refilling operation” are performed at the work station S, when the unloading operation is completed, the empty containers Y are stacked and the side of the work station S is stacked. To be kept at When the unloading operation and the storing operation in the “refilling operation” are performed at the service station T1 or the reference station T2, when the unloading operation is completed, the empty container Y is stored in the storage device 42. For this purpose, a command is issued to the transport controller U6. Then, the transport controller U6 operates to store the commanded container Y in the storage device 42, and the target container Y is stored in the storage device 42.

In this way, the empty container Y is stored in the storage device 4
In the case of “normal warehousing work”, the empty container Y stored in the storage device 42 may be preferentially transported to the service station T1 while being stored next to the work station S or the work station S, or It may be possible to select whether to transport the container Y from the shelf R or transport the container Y from the storage device 42.

(2) In the above embodiment, "refilling work"
, The rack portions 1L and 1S for unloading the container Y are automatically selected to selectively form the moving passage T of the stacker crane 2, but the receiving unit K is provided with a selecting device. , 1L, 1S for unloading the container Y
May be configured to be artificially selectable.

(3) In the above embodiment, the rack portion 1
The L and 1S storage sections 40 include a pair of left and right container support sections 40A.
Is configured to support one container Y in the depth direction. However, a plurality of left and right article holding portions are provided in the storage portions of the rack portions 1L and 1S in the depth direction, and a plurality of containers Y in the depth direction are provided. May be supported.

(4) In the above embodiment, in addition to the normal warehousing work of “normal warehousing work” and “normal warehousing work”,
"Receiving work with designated empty space", "Carpooling work",
It is configured so that each of the special restocking work of “refilling work”, “collection inspection work”, “relocation” and “initial registration work” can be executed. And "refilling work" may be used as long as the work of "refilling work" can be performed.

(5) In the above embodiment, the rack portion located between both ends of the plurality of rack portions 1L and 1S is a movable type which is configured to be able to be driven and moved in the depth direction of the shelf. Alternatively, the fixed type may be fixedly installed so as to form a moving passage of the stacker crane 2 between the adjacent rack portions 1, and the rack portions 1L and 1S of the shelf R are rotated up and down or horizontally so that the fixed position is established. Rotary rack type that can be moved to the article loading / unloading section

(6) In the above embodiment, the bar code display B of the book and the bar code display BC of the container Y are used.
Although the book is configured to be stored and managed, other storage media such as an IC chip may be used instead of the barcode.

(7) In the above embodiment, a plurality of types of containers Y having different sizes are provided. However, the size of the containers Y is not limited to two types, and may be three or more types. Types may be used. Further, as another form of the container Y,
A large container for transportation may store a plurality of sub-containers, and the sub-container may be configured to store an article to be managed.

(8) In the above embodiment, a so-called free-location type storage mode is used in which the articles are sorted according to size and stored in the container Y, and the storage positions of the containers Y on the shelf R are appropriately changed. Is the shelf R of each article
The storage location of the fixed location type in which the storage position of the storage location is fixed may be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire book storage management system.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a part of a reception unit.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the entire reception unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of another receiving unit.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the entirety of another reception unit.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing shelves and work stations.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a work station.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing shelves and transport means.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a storage state of the container.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a storage mode of another container.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a storage unit of the shelf.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a control configuration.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a measurement state of a measurement unit.

FIG. 14 shows a display screen.

FIG. 15 shows a display screen.

FIG. 16 shows a display screen.

FIG. 17 shows a display screen.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a shelf and a transport unit according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21, 22, 23 Instructing means 40 Storage section 42 Storage location K Receiving section P Management means R Shelf S, T1, T2 Work location TP Transport means U1, U2 Instructing means Y Container

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Miwa Jun 2-3-10 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Inside Maruzen Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Morita Yukio 3-2-1 Motejima, Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Shares (72) Inventor Hironobu Kawabe 3-2-11 Motejima, Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Daifuku Co., Ltd.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A transport means for transporting a container for accommodating a plurality of articles between a receiving unit for accepting lending and returning of articles and a shelf for accommodating a plurality of the containers; An article storage management system provided with management means for performing a transfer operation of the transfer means while managing a storage position of a container and a filling rate of an article in each container, and managing lending and return of the article. An instruction unit for instructing the management unit to perform an operation is configured to be capable of instructing a refill mode for creating an empty container by refilling an article stored in a container with another container, wherein the management unit is As the refilling mode is instructed by the instructing means, the transport operation of the transporting means is controlled so as to carry out a container whose filling rate is not full to a work location where the refilling operation is performed. Is composed Storage management system. 2. The refilling mode is configured so that the number of outgoing containers setting mode and the number of containers to be prepared setting mode can be selected by the instructing means, and the managing means selects the outgoing containers number setting mode. When the number of the containers set by the instruction means, to control the transport operation of the transport means so as to carry out the containers not full filling rate to the work location, the number of created containers setting mode When selected, the operation of the transport unit is controlled so that containers not filled are filled to the work site until empty containers of the number set by the instruction unit are created. The article storage management system according to claim 1, wherein the article storage management system is configured as follows. 3. The management means manages, for each container, whether or not there has been a delivery record to the reception unit within a set period, and in the refill mode, a container having no delivery record has been recorded. 3. The article storage management system according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the transport unit is controlled so that the transport unit is transported to the work site with priority over a certain container. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the management means controls the transport means in the refilling mode so as to give priority to a container having a small filling rate and carry it out to the work place. Or the article storage management system according to 2. 5. In the refilling mode, the management means gives priority to a container having no delivery record over a container having a delivery record, and gives priority to a container having a low filling rate among containers having no delivery record. 4. The article storage management system according to claim 3, wherein the article storage management system is configured to control the operation of the transport unit so that the article is carried out to the work place. 6. The management means stores the classification data of each container, the identification data of the articles stored in each container, and the size of each article in association with each other, and, based on the stored information, stores each of the containers. In the refill mode, the size of the article stored in the container is controlled by the instruction means. In the refilling mode, the management means stores articles of the size indicated by the instruction means, and unloads a container whose filling rate is not full to the work place. The article storage management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the article storage management system is configured to control a transport operation of the transport unit. 7. A plurality of types of containers each having a different size are provided as the containers, the shelf is provided with storage portions corresponding to each of the plurality of containers each having a different size, and the management means is configured to store the articles of each container. The management of the filling rate is configured to be executed based on the size information of each container, and in the refill mode, the size of the container can be instructed together by the instruction means, and the management means However, in the refilling mode, the transport is performed such that a container of the size indicated by the instruction means and of the indicated size is stored, and a container having a full filling rate is unloaded to a work place. 5. The article storage management system according to claim 4, wherein the article storage management system is configured to control a transport operation of the means. 8. A storage location for storing an empty container is provided in the middle of a transport path between the receiving unit and the shelf, and the management unit is created in an empty state in the refill mode. The container is configured to control a transfer operation of the transfer unit so as to transfer the container to the storage location and store the container in accordance with an instruction to store the container.
8. The article storage management system according to any one of items 7. 9. The rack is provided with a plurality of racks each having a plurality of article storage sections vertically and horizontally and arranged in a shelf depth direction, and a rack portion located between both ends in the shelf depth direction can be driven and moved in the shelf depth direction. A transport path of the transport unit is selectively formed between adjacent rack portions, and the management unit forms one of a plurality of transport paths in the refill mode. The transport operation of the transport means is controlled so that the shelf is maintained in a state and a container is transported to the work site through the transport path selected. Item storage management system according to claim 1.